West Virginia Inmate Search

Are West Virginia Inmate Records Public Information?

Yes. Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, West Virginia inmate records are considered public information. Members of the public who need to secure inmate records should submit a request to the Department of Corrections or the county sheriff. This request can be made by mail to the official address.

Inmate records allow interested persons to see information about persons who are incarcerated in any correctional facility in West Virginia. The process of a West Virginia inmate search will provide inquirers with information such as the name, birth date, physical description, charges, sentencing information, release date, and conviction status of inmates. Any member of the public may access this information per the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Inmate records are considered public in the United States and, therefore, are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:

The location of the sought-after record, including the state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.

How to Find Someone in Jail in West Virginia

West Virginia residents who need to find someone in jail or if someone is in jail in West Virginia should contact the office of the local sheriff should contact their local sheriff's office or jail division. Calhoun County, for example, provides an easy way of reaching the sheriff for such lists and details of someone in jail. The database contains the inmate's information. Alternatively, requestors may also visit the sheriff’s office during work hours or call their official line. The website feature enables individuals to determine who's in custody in jail or recently incarcerated.

Unlike the West Virginia Corrections Department inmate locator, WV county corrections departments do not provide such easy aid for members of the public to find out what jail someone is in or why a person is in jail. Thus, people must conduct an independent search of each local jail facility to find someone in a West Virginia jail.

How to Perform a West Virginia County Jail Inmate Search

Whether an inmate is incarcerated in jail or in prison depends on the severity of the crime and the duration of sentencing in the state of West Virginia. The same inmate search tool works for finding a person in jail; only this time, the searcher specifically selects "offender search (jails)" to access the central database for jail inmate records in West Virginia.

How to Get Approved to Visit an Inmate in West Virginia Prisons and Jails

Intending visitors must first conduct a West Virginia inmate search to find the facility at which the inmate is being housed. One way to do this is to use the prison lookup tool to access a list of daily incarcerations as well as offenders incarcerated at both West Virginia jails and prisons. Visitation rules vary with the facility. Still, the method of scheduling visitations remains the same: all jails and prisons in West Virginia only allow for visits to be scheduled by phone.

Certain facilities, such as the Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility and the Eastern Regional Jail and Corrections Facility, require that visits be scheduled by phone one day in advance. Also, visitors must be well-dressed and present a valid, government-issued photo ID upon entry to the facility.

How Do I Contact Inmates in West Virginia Prisons or Jails?

Anyone who wishes to initiate contact with an inmate in West Virginia can do so through mail or phone. Interested respondents may complete the To access telephone services, interested persons may download and use the GettingOut app provided by the WV Division of Corrections for calls and video visits to inmates.

This application can be easily downloaded via the following sources:

Website: Visit GettingOut.com.

App store: Available for iOS or Android devices.

Close relatives of an incarcerated inmate may also send mail to the prisoners in Arkansas state facilities. The state has an online approved vendor or through regular mail. Senders must include their names and complete return address in the upper left hand of the envelope.

The inmate’s receiving address should follow this format:

How to Send Money to an Inmate in West Virginia Prison and Jail

The WVDCR allows interested parties to deposit funds into an inmate's account using three methods. The fastest method is to deposit the money electronically, either online on the ConnectNetwork website or via the payment service provider app. Another online option is JailATM, which requires the sender to create an account from which they may electronically deposit funds into an inmate's account. Besides online deposits, interested persons may (888) 988-4768 to send money to inmates by phone, using Site ID 179 to process the deposit.

How to Find a County Inmate Roster in West Virginia

Anyone who needs to find a county inmate roster in West Virginia should use the West Virginia inmate lookup provided by the WV Department of Corrections to carry out a search. Also, the sheriff’s office provides information regarding inmates. The WV county inmate roster is considered public information. As such, the website is constantly updated with information on inmates in West Virginia Prison or Jail. The county inmate roster is done with the provision of the inmate’s first and last name (in partial or full)

How to Perform a West Virginia Prison Inmate Search

Through the WVDCR website, you can use their prison lookup tool to perform an inmate lookup in West Virginia jails and prisons, as well as daily incarcerations. All inmate records and West Virginia inmate search are public and therefore can be searched by any interested parties. All information is regularly updated but may not reflect accurately, given that inmate location, release date, status, and other information changes quickly. Parties searching for daily incarcerations must only provide the county in which they are searching before accessing the daily records or incarcerations. For jail and prison West Virginia inmate searches, only the name and last name of the inmate are required to conduct the search. Juvenile records are not public in the state of West Virginia, and therefore, an inmate search will not provide information on juvenile offenders. Individuals having issues locating an inmate should contact the WVDCR directly at (304) 558-2036.

West Virginia State Prisons and County Jails: Understanding the Difference

West Virginia's state prisons and county jails are operated by the West Virginia Department of Corrections. The department is responsible for the custody and care of prisoners, as well as their rehabilitation and reentry into society.

There are a total of 13 state prisons in West Virginia, which house an average of 3,817 inmates each day. The majority of these inmates are incarcerated for non-violent offenses. Mount Olive Correctional Complex is considered the biggest prison in West Virginia. It is managed by the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation and houses over 1,000 inmates.

The county jails in West Virginia are operated by individual counties. There are a total of 11 county jails in the state, which house an average of 1,281 inmates each day. These inmates are typically awaiting trial or sentencing, or they may be serving short-term sentences for less serious offenses.

Inmates in both state prisons and county jails have access to education and job training programs, as well as health care and mental health services. These programs are designed to help inmates successfully reenter society after their release.

How Do I Find Out an Inmate Release Date?

Inmate release date is available on an inmate's records. Interested persons may obtain this information online or by contacting the jail administrator unless a court or the record custodian makes the information private for safety reasons. In such cases, only the inmate's immediate family members, crime victims, attorneys, and authorized criminal justice officials will have access to the inmate's exact release date.

Facilities Operated by the West Virginia Department of Corrections

The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (WVDOCR) is the government agency responsible for the security and supervision of offenders remanded in jails and prisons all over the state. Respondents can easily find each facility by using the West Virginia inmate lookup tool. Prisons and Jails under the supervision of WVDOCR include:

The following are their addresses and contact information:

Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Diagnostic & Detention
One Lory Place,
Julian, WV 25529

Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center
106 Martin Drive,
Mt. Hope,
WV 25880

J.M. Chick Buckbee Juvenile Center
One Jerry Lane,
Augusta, WV 26704

FAQs

How do I find recent arrests in West Virginia? ›

Residents can request records by forwarding criminal record requests to the West Virginia State Police. The West Virginia circuit and district courts where criminal cases were filed also provide access to criminal records. County sheriffs and jails also provide access to copies of criminal records and information.

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How can I find out if someone is in jail in Virginia? ›

Electronic inmate searches can be conducted on the Virginia Department of Corrections website using the inmate locator feature. Alternatively, they can request physical copies of the records by sending Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in person, by mail, email, fax, and over the phone.

What phone service does Roanoke City Jail use? ›

GTL ConnectNetwork provides the services to communicate with friends and family housed in the Roanoke City Jail.

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How to send money to inmate in Roanoke City Jail? ›

Certified checks and money orders must be made out to the order of the Roanoke City Jail Inmate Fund and put the inmate's name in the memo section. There is also a kiosk in the main jail lobby that accepts cash ($5 or more) or credit/debit cards.

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How many inmates are at Western Virginia Regional Jail? ›

Inmates. The Jail holds both male and female inmates for its four member agencies, federal and state responsible inmates, and contract inmates for other localities. The Jail's inmate population varies from day to day, in 2016 the average daily population was 814.

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What is the salem jail today? ›

Visiting the Old Salem Jail

And, yet, nearly 200 years later, it still stands; a posh apartment complex with people vying for entry. While you can't visit the apartment building itself, be sure to stop at the A&B Restaurant downstairs which is open to the public.

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How many state prisons are in Virginia? ›

About the Agency

The Department of Corrections (DOC), which oversees the operation of the Commonwealth's adult correctional facilities, operates approximately 50 institutions statewide.

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How do I look up a charge in West Virginia? ›

Users are instructed to call or visit the magistrate court clerk in the county where a case is filed to obtain copies of specific court records. The clerk will charge a nominal fee required by law. The search system helps callers and visitors to know what to ask for and which county they need to contact.

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How do I access local mugshots? ›

Your local police station should have arrest records for the city. Stop in during normal business hours to request a report. You may need to fill out a form and pay a processing fee. Arrest records are public records, so they should be generally available.

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Is there an app to see local mugshots for free? ›

JailBase app lets users search for mugshots, arrest records using facial recognition.

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How do I find out if someone is in local jail? ›

Members of the public who wish to obtain records of inmates incarcerated in county or city jails may contact the local arresting agency. Most local jail administrators provide inmate information on their website for each public access.