West Virginia Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records 2026

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West Virginia statewide · Jail, court, police and criminal-history guide

West Virginia Criminal Records Lookup: Search the Right System Across All 55 Counties

A West Virginia arrest may create a regional-jail booking, police report, magistrate case, circuit court case, State Police criminal-history entry and Division of Corrections record. Those records are maintained by different offices and can display different stages of the same case.

This guide explains what each official system contains, what it leaves out, how to verify identity, how to request the underlying documents, which fees apply and what to do when a record is incorrect or eligible for expungement.

Choose the correct search Search live custody Fix a missing result
Do not identify a person from a name or mugshot alone. Compare the birth date, age, booking date, OID number, case number, county and arresting agency. A booking charge is an allegation—not a conviction or final court disposition.
55 counties

Circuit and magistrate searches provide statewide county coverage.

10 regional jails

The regional network serves all West Virginia counties.

Free magistrate search

Name or case-number search with up to 30 results.

$25 clerk search

Written magistrate criminal-history search per name.

VINE hotline

1-866-984-8463

Start here

Choose the record that answers your actual question

DCR JAIL SEARCH Was the person arrested recently?

Use Daily Incarcerations or Offender Search for Jails to locate a current regional-jail booking and identify the facility.

Best for: recent intake, current custody, regional jail, booking identity and release monitoring.
MAGISTRATE OR CIRCUIT COURT What happened to the charge?

Search magistrate court for misdemeanors and early felony proceedings. Search circuit court for felony prosecution and final circuit-level orders.

Best for: filed charges, bond, hearings, amendments, dismissal, plea, judgment and sentencing.
POLICE OR BACKGROUND CHECK Do you need the incident or full history?

Request the police report from the agency that created it. Use an authorized State Police and IdentoGO process when a formal criminal-history check is required.

Best for: arrest narrative, fingerprint-supported history, employment, housing or licensing.
Best full-picture sequence: Find current custody, record the official identifiers, search both court levels when appropriate, obtain the final disposition and request the police report only when the underlying incident details are needed.

Choose the problem you need to solve

The procedures and important official details are explained inside this article.

Recent booking workflow

How to find someone recently arrested in West Virginia

Identify the county where the arrest occurred Search the location of the arrest—not simply the person’s residence. A person from one county may be booked into the regional jail serving another group of counties.
Use Daily Incarcerations for recent admissions This is the first practical check when the arrest occurred recently and the person may have just entered the regional-jail system.
Use Offender Search for Jails Enter at least the first three letters of the last name. The first name is optional and should be added only when too many results appear.
Check spelling and alternate names Try a maiden name, former surname, alias, hyphen variation, suffix or shortened first name.
Open every plausible match Compare age, date of birth, booking date, facility, charges, arresting agency and OID or booking identifiers.
Save the custody identifiers Write down the full name as shown, OID number, facility, admission date, charges and related court information.
Search the court record separately DCR warns that its sentencing information is not intended to reflect the complete underlying criminal action. Confirm the legal case through the court with jurisdiction.
Recent-arrest delay: Identification, fingerprinting, medical screening, property inventory, charging documents and transportation can delay the public listing. Retry later and contact the arresting agency or facility when timing is critical.
Open all DCR live searches
County-to-facility finder

Which West Virginia regional jail serves each county?

West Virginia’s 10 regional jails collectively serve all 55 counties. The facility receiving a person can depend on the arrest county, available housing, classification and transfer decisions.

Regional jail county coverage and main phone
Regional jail Counties normally served Main phone
Central Regional Jail Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis, Nicholas, Roane and Webster. 304-765-7904
Eastern Regional Jail Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan. 304-267-0045
North Central Regional Jail Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt and Wood. 304-873-1384
Northern Regional Jail Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler and Wetzel. 304-843-4067
Potomac Highlands Regional Jail Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral and Pendleton. 304-496-1275
South Central Regional Jail Jackson and Kanawha. 304-558-1336
Southern Regional Jail Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming. 304-256-6726
Southwestern Regional Jail Boone, Logan, McDowell and Mingo. 304-239-3032
Tygart Valley Regional Jail Barbour, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker and Upshur. 304-637-0382
Western Regional Jail Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam and Wayne. 304-733-6821
Facility assignment is not permanent. Medical needs, security classification, court transportation, overcrowding and DCR operations can result in transfer to a different jail or correctional facility.
Custody-result decoder

How to interpret a West Virginia jail or offender result

Common offender-search fields and practical meaning
Field What it usually identifies What it does not prove Next action
OID number The offender identifier used by DCR. The final legal outcome of each charge. Use it when contacting a facility or creating an approved service account.
Booking or admission date When the person entered the listed custody episode. The exact offense date or filing date. Compare it with the known arrest timeline.
Current location The facility or supervision location presently listed. That the person will remain there. Confirm before traveling, mailing or scheduling a visit.
Charge or offense An allegation, conviction or generalized offense entry depending on the system. That the initial jail wording became the final conviction. Search the magistrate and circuit court records.
Bond information The bond presently associated with a case or charge. That payment will clear every charge, warrant or detainer. Confirm every case and hold with the facility and court.
Projected release A date calculated from current custody and sentence information. A guaranteed physical-release time. Use VINE and confirm with DCR when release timing matters.
Parole status The person may be under community supervision rather than physically incarcerated. That all supervision conditions or cases are displayed. Use the court record and appropriate parole office for confirmation.
Mugshot or photograph An identification image associated with custody. Guilt, conviction or current custody. Confirm with official numbers and biographical identifiers.
Reuse warning: DCR states that a person or organization republishing inaccurate offender information may be responsible for claims arising from improper disclosure, including defamation or invasion of privacy.
Troubleshooting

No West Virginia arrest record found? Check these causes

The arrest was very recent The person may still be in transport, identification, intake, medical screening or booking.
The name is recorded differently Search only the first three surname letters and try aliases, former names, suffixes and spelling variations.
The person was released quickly A current-jail search may no longer show the person. Search the court record or request the booking record.
The person was moved to prison Switch from the jail search to the DCR prison search.
The person discharged from DCR The active prison search does not display people who discharged or left DCR custody.
The case exists only in magistrate court Search the statewide Magistrate Record Search rather than relying on DCR.
The felony moved to circuit court Search WVPASS using the county, name or case number.
The arrest occurred outside West Virginia Search the state and county where the arrest actually happened.
The record is sealed, expunged or confidential Juvenile, sealed, expunged and legally protected information may be removed from public access.
A municipal court handled the matter Local ordinance or municipal matters may require contact with the city court rather than the statewide criminal searches.
Useful call script “I am trying to confirm whether [full legal name], date of birth [date], was booked or is currently held. The arrest may have occurred on [date] in [county] through [agency]. I have [OID, booking, citation, report or case number]. Can you confirm whether the person is in intake, released, transferred or listed under another name?”
Court-result decoder

What common West Virginia criminal-case entries mean

Case terms and the document you should verify
Entry Plain-language meaning What to verify
Complaint filed A criminal complaint was presented in magistrate court. Read the complaint and later court actions.
Preliminary hearing A magistrate-level proceeding in a felony matter. Check whether the case was bound over, dismissed or otherwise resolved.
Bound over The felony matter moved toward circuit court consideration. Search WVPASS for the related circuit court case.
Indictment A grand jury returned formal felony charges. Read each count and any later amended indictment.
Dismissed The specified charge or case was dismissed. Determine whether dismissal was with or without prejudice and whether another charge remained.
Acquitted or not guilty The defendant was not found guilty of the resolved count. Check whether every count received the same result.
Guilty plea The defendant entered a plea accepted by the court. Review the exact conviction count and sentencing order.
Convicted The court entered a conviction after plea or trial. Obtain the judgment and sentencing order.
Deferred adjudication The matter may be held under statutory conditions before a final qualifying dismissal. Read the agreement, conditions and final dismissal order.
Closed The case is not shown as active. Closed does not identify the outcome; find the disposition or final order.
Formal-use rule: Use a certified disposition, judgment or order rather than a search screenshot when an institution requires official proof.
Official criminal history

West Virginia State Police background checks and IdentoGO

The West Virginia State Police Criminal Identification Bureau provides criminal-record information for purposes including employment, housing, licensing, certification and personal information.

Authorization requirement: A private request for another person’s fingerprints, photographs or criminal records must be accompanied by written authorization signed and acknowledged by that person.
Ask the requesting organization for its service code Employers, licensing boards and regulated programs may use different IdentoGO service codes and result-delivery rules.
Register through IdentoGO Enter the correct service code, legal name, contact information and requested identity details.
Select an appointment location Choose an available enrollment center and save the confirmation number.
Bring acceptable identification Use the identity documents listed during registration. Expired or mismatched identification may prevent fingerprinting.
Complete electronic fingerprinting West Virginia State Police states that standard public background checks are processed through IdentoGO rather than at State Police Headquarters or an ordinary local law-enforcement office.
Follow the service-specific result method Some results go directly to the requesting board or employer and may not be handed to the applicant.
Scheduling help

855-766-7746

WVSP Criminal Records

304-746-2418

Criminal Records fax

304-746-2294

Why no single price is listed here: The final cost and result destination depend on the service code, whether the request includes state or federal history, and the licensing or employment program. Confirm the displayed total before submitting payment.
Schedule the required background check
Incident and arrest reports

How to request the report behind a West Virginia arrest

Send the request to the agency that created the record
Arresting agency Record custodian Typical documents
City police department City police records custodian or chief-designated office. Incident report, arrest report, citation, body-camera or supplemental records when releasable.
County sheriff Sheriff or county records custodian. Deputy report, arrest record, service record, photographs or related documents.
West Virginia State Police Superintendent through the WVSP FOIA process. Trooper incident or arrest reports and other nonexempt records maintained by WVSP.
DCR facility Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation records office. Custody records subject to DCR policy, privacy rules and statutory restrictions.
Court Magistrate or circuit court clerk. Complaints, indictments, docket entries, orders, judgments and dispositions.

Information that helps the custodian locate the record

Full legal name of the arrested person
Date of birth when known
Incident or arrest date
Street, city and county
Arresting department or WVSP detachment
Trooper, officer or deputy name
Incident or report number
Citation or booking number
Magistrate or circuit case number
Specific documents or recordings requested
Copy-ready West Virginia FOIA request
Under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report or citation, probable-cause narrative and releasable supplemental reports relating to [full legal name], date of birth [date if known], for the incident occurring on or about [date] at [location]. The believed arresting agency or detachment is [agency]. Known identifiers are report number [number], citation or booking number [number] and court case number [number]. Please identify any withheld material and the legal exemption relied upon.

What West Virginia FOIA requires

Reasonable specificity

The request must describe the information sought clearly enough for the custodian to identify responsive records.

Maximum five-day response

Excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, the custodian must provide records, arrange inspection or issue a written denial.

Actual reproduction cost

A public body may recover reasonable copying costs but may not charge search, retrieval or staff-hour fees.

West Virginia State Police FOIA delivery

Mail
Superintendent
ATTN: FOIA Request
West Virginia State Police
725 Jefferson Road
South Charleston, WV 25309-1698
Fax and phone

FOIA fax: 304-746-2246

Legal Section / main information: 304-746-2100

Crash-report information: 304-746-2128

Possible exemptions: Active investigative details, confidential informant information, victim or witness data, juvenile information, medical records, personal identifiers and security-sensitive material may be redacted or withheld.
Ask for existing records—not explanations. FOIA does not require the agency to answer legal questions, analyze evidence or create a new report that does not already exist.
Warrant safety

How to check a possible active West Virginia warrant

Magistrates issue and record arrest warrants, but West Virginia does not provide one public statewide portal that should be treated as complete for every unserved warrant.

Identify the likely county Use the citation, criminal complaint, arrest location or known court case.
Search magistrate court information Look for the person, case number, agency, docket entries and bond information.
Search circuit court when a felony is involved An indictment, capias or circuit-level warrant may relate to a separate case number.
Contact the responsible agency Verify the status with the county sheriff, city police, State Police detachment or court clerk.
Confirm identity Compare full name, date of birth, county and case number before assuming the warrant belongs to a specific person.
Use a safe resolution plan A person checking their own status should consult a West Virginia attorney or the responsible court and law-enforcement agency.
Never confront or attempt to detain anyone. Publicly available information may be incomplete, delayed, recalled, served or associated with another person who has a similar name.
Victim notification

West Virginia VINE custody and release notifications

Phone

1-866-WV4-VINE

Availability

Custody information and support are available 24/7.

Email alerts

Registration is available through VINELink.

Transfer notice

Notification waits until the offender reaches the new facility.

Written requests

Required for formal release and parole-hearing notification.

Search the offender carefully Compare name, age, facility and OID information.
Register a phone number or email Follow the system prompts and keep the registration details secure.
Keep contact information current Update changed phone numbers or email addresses.
Send formal written notices to both agencies Victims seeking notification of release and parole hearings should submit written requests to DCR and the West Virginia Parole Board because they are separate entities.
Automatic VINE registration: DCR states that a victim who submits a written notification request to the Division is automatically registered for automated VINE notification.
Do not rely on VINE as the only safety plan. Maintain contact with the prosecutor, victim advocate, law enforcement and trusted support contacts.
DCR Victim Services
1409 Greenbrier Street
Charleston, WV 25311

304-558-2036, extension 24733

VINE live action

Phone: 1-866-984-8463

Use VINELink for email registration and account management.

Search and register with WV VINE
After locating current custody

West Virginia DCR inmate mail, calls and video visits

Ordinary scanned-mail address

Use this format exactly
Inmate’s First and Last Name and OID Number
Full Name of Facility — no abbreviations
P.O. Box 336
Phoenix, MD 21131

Mail preparation rules

Use the inmate’s exact first and last name
Include the correct OID number
Write the complete facility name
Include the sender’s full first and last name
Include a complete return address
Send a handwritten or typed letter only
Items not allowed in ordinary scanned mail: Photographs, attachments and enclosures are prohibited. One envelope may be addressed to only one offender. Violations can cause the entire mailing to be returned.

Calls and video visits

DCR uses GettingOut for offender calls and video visitation. The facility’s own classification, schedule, visitor approval and operational rules still apply.

Confirm the current facility and OID Do not fund an account using an old custody result.
Create or access the provider account Use accurate identity and contact information.
Select the correct facility and offender Compare the OID and full legal name before payment.
Review the displayed price and facility rules Charges and appointment availability can vary by service and facility.
Keep receipts and confirmation numbers These are needed when a payment or scheduled session does not post correctly.
Scam warning: DCR release, bond or account payments should never be made to an individual through gift cards, cryptocurrency or a personal payment account.
Manage calls or video visits
Separate public-safety search

West Virginia Sex Offender Registry limitations

The West Virginia State Police registry contains public information about people required to register under the state Sex Offender Registration Act. It is not a complete list of every arrest, accusation or criminal case involving a sexual offense.

Information can change

Registry details may be undergoing verification or may not yet reflect an unreported change.

No individual risk rating

WVSP states that it does not assess a specific risk of reoffense for each displayed registrant.

Safety use only

The information may not be used to threaten, intimidate or harass a registered person.

Report an incorrect registry entry

Phone: 304-746-2133

Email: registry@wvsp.gov

Before relying on a match

Compare the full name, photograph, birth information, address, status and conviction details.

Run the live registry search
Record correction

How to correct an inaccurate West Virginia record

Contact the agency that controls the incorrect field
Incorrect information Correct office Evidence to prepare
Jail identity, OID, location or custody status DCR facility or Offender Information System staff. Government ID, OID, booking details and exact disputed field.
Police incident or arrest report The police department, sheriff or State Police unit that created it. Report number, certified court documents and specific correction requested.
Magistrate case information Magistrate court clerk in the filing county. Case ID, court order and exact docket or party error.
Circuit court case or disposition Circuit clerk in the county of prosecution. Circuit case number, judgment, amended order or dismissal.
WVSP criminal-history record WVSP Criminal Records and the agency that submitted the information. Fingerprint-supported identity and certified disposition.
FBI portion of a background check Submitting agency and FBI challenge process. FBI record copy, fingerprints and certified court correction.
Private mugshot or people-search site Private publisher after the official source is corrected. Corrected record, certified disposition or expungement order.
Save the inaccurate result Record the URL, access date, OID, report number, case number and disputed wording.
Identify the original data source DCR cannot correct a court judgment, and a court clerk cannot rewrite a police incident report.
Obtain the controlling document Use a certified dismissal, judgment, amended order, identity document or fingerprint-supported record.
Submit a narrow written challenge Quote the incorrect field and state the precise requested correction.
Keep written confirmation Save the corrected report, agency letter, court order and delivery proof.
Recheck connected systems A corrected court disposition may need to flow to the clerk, WVSP, DCR, arresting agency, FBI and private publishers.
Use the WVSP challenge form when appropriate. The State Police forms page includes a Challenge of Criminal History Record process and a Court Disposition Report form for correcting or completing state history information.
West Virginia record relief

Dismissal, misdemeanor and felony expungement procedures

Eligibility is case-specific. The rules differ for acquittals, dismissed charges, diversion, misdemeanors, multiple misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies. A missing online case does not prove that an expungement order exists.

Path 1: Acquittal or qualifying dismissal

Waiting period

No sooner than 60 days after the acquittal or dismissal order.

Where to file

Circuit court in which the charges were filed.

Filing fee

No filing fees or costs under §61-11-25.

  • The person must have been found not guilty or received a qualifying dismissal.
  • The dismissal cannot have been exchanged for a guilty plea to another offense resulting in conviction.
  • Successful pretrial diversion or deferred adjudication can qualify when statutory conditions are met.
  • A person previously convicted of a felony is not eligible under this specific non-conviction section.
  • Criminal investigation reports are excluded from the records covered by this section.
  • When granted, agencies ordered to expunge must certify completion to the court within 60 days.
Correct form: Form SCA-C903 is the Judiciary motion for expungement following acquittal or dismissal for reasons other than entry of a plea.

Path 2: Eligible convictions under §61-11-26

Standard conviction-expungement waiting periods
Conviction category Waiting period When the clock begins
One eligible misdemeanor One year From the latest of conviction, completion of incarceration or completion of supervision.
Multiple eligible misdemeanors Two years From the latest last conviction, incarceration completion or last supervision completion.
Eligible nonviolent felony Five years From the latest of conviction, completion of incarceration or completion of supervision.

Common categories excluded from standard conviction expungement

Felony crimes of violence against a person
Certain felonies involving a minor victim
Specified sexual offenses
Offenses involving a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument
Specified domestic-violence offenses
Stalking or harassment offenses specified by statute
Driving under the influence convictions
Certain license, animal-cruelty or commercial-driving offenses
Burglary involving a regularly used dwelling
A conviction judicially found to be sexually motivated
This is not the complete statutory exclusion list. Review the current version of §61-11-26 and obtain legal advice before paying a filing fee.

Information required in the conviction petition

Current name and every former legal name or alias
Every address since the offense
Date of birth and Social Security number
Arrest date and court of jurisdiction
Complaint, indictment, summons or case number
Statute and offense of conviction
Victim names or statement that no victim was identifiable
Current or prior restitution and protective orders
Disposition and sentence
Reason expungement is requested
Treatment, employment and rehabilitation history
Prior expungement or similar relief

Who must receive a copy of the petition?

State and prosecution

West Virginia State Police Superintendent and the prosecuting attorney for each county of conviction.

Arrest and confinement

The arresting law-enforcement agency and the superintendent, warden or Corrections official for any institution of confinement.

Disposing courts

The circuit, magistrate or municipal court that disposed of the criminal charge.

Service details from the Judiciary form: The certificate-of-service section provides for first-class mail, hand delivery or certified mail with return receipt and requires identifying every state or local agency whose record would be affected.

Opposition, reply and court review

Petition and supporting documents are filed The petition must be verified under oath and complete.
Interested parties may oppose within 30 days Agencies, prosecutors, victims or another interested party may file supporting documentation and sworn statements.
The petitioner may reply within 30 days The reply period runs from service of the notice of opposition.
The circuit court acts within 60 days of filing The court may grant, return the petition for correction, set a hearing or deny it when the filing shows legal ineligibility.
The petitioner carries the burden Eligibility and rehabilitation must be shown by clear and convincing evidence.
Agencies certify completion after a granted order Agencies ordered to expunge must certify compliance to the court within 60 days.

Published conviction-expungement costs

Standard fees under current West Virginia law
Charge Amount When it applies
Circuit court civil filing fee $200 Collected in advance for a standard conviction-expungement petition.
WVSP order-processing fee $100 Paid after a standard conviction expungement is granted.
Additional service or copy costs Varies Certified mailing, copies, document certification or other case-specific services.
Non-conviction petition under §61-11-25 $0 filing fee For a qualifying acquittal or dismissal petition under that section.

Approved treatment, recovery or job-readiness pathway

Reduced waiting periods under §61-11-26a
Eligible category Reduced timing Additional proof
One misdemeanor After 90 days of approved treatment or completion of an approved job-readiness course, and after incarceration or supervision ends. Treatment-compliance documentation or course-completion certificate.
Multiple misdemeanors One year after the latest relevant conviction, incarceration or supervision date. Applicable treatment or job-readiness documentation.
Nonviolent felony Three years after the latest relevant conviction, incarceration or supervision date. Applicable treatment or job-readiness documentation.
Fee benefit: The $100 State Police order-processing fee is waived for an eligible petition filed through the approved treatment, recovery or job-readiness pathway.

Forms matched to the situation

West Virginia Judiciary expungement forms
Form Use
SCA-C900 Instructions for a conviction-expungement petition.
SCA-C903 Acquittal or dismissal for reasons other than entry of a plea.
SCA-C906 Petition for misdemeanor violations and eligible traffic citations.
SCA-C907 Petition for eligible felony violations.
SCA-C912 Victim’s notice of opposition to a criminal-offense expungement petition.
One-time limitation: West Virginia law generally permits relief under the conviction-expungement sections only once. Do not file without identifying every eligible conviction and county that may need to be included.
Disclosure after expungement: Covered proceedings are generally treated as never having occurred, but specified law-enforcement, prosecution or incarceration employment applications and legally required criminal-history checks can remain subject to statutory exceptions.
Download the correct expungement form
State contact directory

West Virginia arrest and criminal-record contacts

Contact the office responsible for the record
Office Contact Best reason to call
WVSP main information 304-746-2100 State Police department routing, Legal Section and general information.
WVSP Criminal Records 304-746-2418 State criminal-history and expungement-processing questions.
IdentoGO 855-766-7746 Fingerprint appointment and enrollment support.
WVSP FOIA fax 304-746-2246 Written State Police public-record requests.
WVSP crash reports 304-746-2128 State Police motor-vehicle crash report information.
DCR central office 304-558-2036 DCR routing, victim services and statewide correctional contacts.
VINE 1-866-984-8463 Custody search and notification registration.
Sex Offender Registry 304-746-2133 Reporting inaccurate registry information.
Magistrate payment technical support 304-414-0265 Technical help with the official magistrate payment system, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET.
County-specific questions: Use the West Virginia Judiciary Court Information by County directory for magistrate clerk, circuit clerk, judge and courthouse contact details.
Central records location

West Virginia State Police Headquarters

Mailing and FOIA location
West Virginia State Police
725 Jefferson Road
South Charleston, WV 25309
Important visit warning

Public fingerprint background checks are not performed at headquarters. Schedule through IdentoGO instead.

Official fact integration

What was extracted into this guide

DCR
Custody search rules

Jail and prison search inputs, active-record limits, regional-jail coverage, mail instructions and VINE procedures.

CTS
Court-search rules

Statewide magistrate and circuit access, document limitations, clerk validation and the $25 written magistrate search.

CIB
Background-check process

Authorization, IdentoGO scheduling, service-code warning and State Police Criminal Records contacts.

FOIA
Public-record requirements

Five-day response rule, reasonable specificity, actual reproduction costs and no search or staff-hour fee.

EXP
Expungement procedures

Waiting periods, petition contents, service parties, opposition deadlines, fees and official form selection.

SAFE
Identity safeguards

Same-name protection, presumption of innocence, warrant safety and private-publication warnings.

Frequently asked questions

West Virginia arrest and criminal-record questions answered

Is there one statewide West Virginia arrest search?

No. DCR provides custody searches, the Judiciary provides magistrate and circuit case searches, State Police maintains criminal-history records, and local law-enforcement agencies maintain their own arrest and incident reports.

How do I search a West Virginia regional-jail inmate?

Use Offender Search for Jails and enter at least the first three letters of the last name. Add the first name only when needed.

How do I search a West Virginia prison offender?

Enter at least the first four digits of the OID number or the first three letters of both the first and last name.

Why is a former offender missing from the prison search?

The active prison search is for people under DCR supervision, in prison or on parole. People who discharged or moved out of DCR custody do not appear.

Does a DCR result show the final court outcome?

Not necessarily. DCR expressly directs users to the court with jurisdiction for the underlying criminal action. Search the magistrate and circuit records and obtain the final order.

Is the magistrate case search free?

Yes. The online Magistrate Record Search is free and returns up to 30 results. It does not provide the actual court documents.

How much is a clerk-performed magistrate history search?

The statutory fee is $25 per name for a written criminal-history search performed by the magistrate court clerk, subject to listed exemptions.

Where can I search West Virginia felony cases?

Use WVPASS for circuit court records from all 55 counties. Circuit courts handle all felonies and certain misdemeanors.

How do I obtain a certified disposition?

Contact the magistrate or circuit court clerk in the county where the case was filed. Provide the exact case number and request the final disposition, judgment or order with certification.

Can I obtain a background check at State Police Headquarters?

No. WVSP directs public background-check applicants to schedule through IdentoGO.

Can a local police station fingerprint me for the WVSP background check?

WVSP states that all standard background checks go through IdentoGO. Follow any special out-of-state or card-submission instructions supplied by the requesting agency.

How do I request a State Police arrest report?

Send a written FOIA request to the Superintendent, ATTN: FOIA Request, 725 Jefferson Road, South Charleston, WV 25309-1698, or fax it to 304-746-2246.

How quickly must an agency answer a FOIA request?

Within a maximum of five days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, the custodian must provide the record, arrange inspection or issue a written denial.

Can the agency charge me for staff search time?

No. West Virginia FOIA permits reasonable actual reproduction costs but prohibits search, retrieval and man-hour fees.

How do I check an active warrant?

Search the relevant magistrate or circuit case and contact the sheriff, police department, State Police detachment or court clerk in the responsible county.

Is West Virginia VINE free?

Yes. Call 1-866-WV4-VINE or use VINELink to search custody and register for status notifications.

What information is needed for inmate mail?

Use the inmate’s full name, OID number and complete facility name. Include the sender’s full name and return address. Ordinary letters go to P.O. Box 336, Phoenix, MD 21131.

Can I send photographs in DCR scanned mail?

No. DCR states that photographs, attachments and enclosures are not permitted in ordinary scanned correspondence.

How long must I wait after a dismissed charge?

A qualifying non-conviction petition may be filed no sooner than 60 days after the acquittal or dismissal order.

What are the conviction-expungement waiting periods?

One year for one eligible misdemeanor, two years for multiple eligible misdemeanors and five years for an eligible nonviolent felony, calculated from the latest relevant conviction, incarceration or supervision date.

How much does a standard conviction expungement cost?

The circuit court filing fee is currently $200. A person who obtains a standard expungement order must also pay $100 to WVSP for processing, plus any applicable service or copying costs.

Which form is used after an acquittal or dismissal?

West Virginia Judiciary form SCA-C903 is designed for acquittal or dismissal for reasons other than entry of a plea.

Which forms are used for conviction expungement?

Use SCA-C906 for eligible misdemeanors and traffic citations or SCA-C907 for eligible felonies, together with the SCA-C900 instructions.

Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

County Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not the West Virginia Judiciary, Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, State Police, a regional jail, court clerk, prosecutor or law firm.

Custody, charges, warrants, court status, background-check procedures, fees and expungement laws can change. Confirm the person with multiple identifiers and obtain the current official record before making an employment, housing, licensing, financial, legal, safety or publication decision.

Every arrested person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. This page provides procedural information and is not legal advice.

Last official-source review: July 23, 2026.

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