>Kanawha County Arrest Records Online

Kanawha County, West Virginia Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Kanawha County, West Virginia?

Arrest records in Kanawha County, West Virginia are public documents accessible to all citizens. This public accessibility is established under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (WVFOIA), codified in West Virginia Code §29B-1-1 et seq., which mandates that government records, including arrest records, be available for public inspection unless specifically exempted by statute. The WVFOIA operates under the principle that governmental transparency is essential to a functioning democracy, allowing citizens to monitor the activities of law enforcement agencies operating within Kanawha County.

Public access to arrest records serves multiple governmental and societal purposes. These records document the actions of law enforcement officials, provide statistical data for policy analysis, and inform community members about potential public safety concerns. However, certain information within arrest records may be redacted to protect ongoing investigations or the privacy of victims, witnesses, or juveniles pursuant to West Virginia Code §49-5-101.

Members of the public seeking arrest records should be aware that while these documents are public, the process of obtaining them requires following established procedures and may involve administrative fees as permitted under §29B-1-3(5).

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Kanawha County?

Kanawha County arrest records are available through various online platforms maintained by county and state agencies. The Kanawha County Sheriff's Office maintains a searchable database of active warrants and recent arrests within their jurisdiction. Additionally, the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation provides an online offender search tool that includes information about individuals currently incarcerated in state facilities.

The West Virginia Judiciary also maintains the Magistrate Case Record Search system, which allows public access to court records related to arrests and subsequent legal proceedings. However, pursuant to West Virginia Supreme Court Administrative Rule 15.04, these online records may not contain all information available in the physical court files.

Online records are subject to the following limitations:

Records may not be updated in real-time
Certain sensitive information is redacted in accordance with West Virginia Code §29B-1-4
Technical limitations may occasionally affect system availability
Historical records may not be fully digitized

How to Look Up Kanawha County Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple official channels exist for accessing arrest records in Kanawha County. Individuals seeking these records may utilize any of the following methods:

Kanawha County Sheriff's Office
301 Virginia Street East
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 357-0200
Official Website

The Sheriff's Office maintains records of arrests conducted by county deputies. Records requests may be submitted in person Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, or through their online Warrants Search portal.

Kanawha County Clerk's Office
409 Virginia Street East
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 357-0130
Official Website

The County Clerk maintains court records related to arrests and prosecutions. Public terminals are available for searching these records during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

West Virginia State Police - Troop 4, Headquarters
725 Jefferson Road
South Charleston, WV 25309
(304) 746-2100

For arrests conducted by state troopers within Kanawha County, records may be requested through the State Police headquarters. Requests require submission of Form SP-170 along with applicable fees as established in West Virginia Code §15-2-24(h).

Charleston Police Department
501 Virginia Street East
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 348-6400

For arrests within Charleston city limits, records may be requested from the Records Division, open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Pursuant to West Virginia Code §29B-1-3, agencies must respond to records requests within five business days. Fees for copies of records are established by each agency in accordance with §29B-1-3(5) and typically range from $0.25 to $1.00 per page.

Contents of a Kanawha County Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by Kanawha County law enforcement agencies contain standardized information as required by West Virginia Code §15-2-24. These records typically include:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory charges filed at the time of arrest with corresponding West Virginia Code citations
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Agency responsible for the arrest (e.g., Kanawha County Sheriff's Office, Charleston Police)
Booking photographs ("mugshots") and fingerprint records
Physical descriptors including height, weight, eye color, hair color, and identifying marks
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Residential address as provided by the arrested individual
Case or incident number assigned by the arresting agency
Initial court appearance information, including magistrate name and bail determination
Detention facility information if the individual was remanded to custody

Certain information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records in accordance with West Virginia Code §29B-1-4, including:

Social Security numbers
Driver's license numbers
Medical information
Information related to juvenile co-defendants
Information that would compromise ongoing investigations
Victim identifying information in certain cases

The Active Inmate by Sentencing County database maintained by the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority provides additional information about individuals who remain in custody following arrest.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Kanawha County

West Virginia law provides mechanisms for the expungement of certain arrest records under specific circumstances. The West Virginia Legislature has established expungement procedures through West Virginia Code §61-11-25 and §61-11-26, which allow for the removal of arrest records from public access under qualifying conditions.

Individuals may petition for expungement in Kanawha County if their case meets one of the following criteria:

The charge was dismissed or the individual was acquitted at trial
The individual completed a pre-trial diversion program resulting in case dismissal
The individual was convicted of certain misdemeanors and has completed all sentence requirements
The individual was convicted of certain non-violent felonies and has completed all sentence requirements plus the required waiting period

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Kanawha County Circuit Court, located at:

Kanawha County Circuit Court
111 Court Street
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 357-0400

Petitioners must provide certified copies of relevant court documents, pay the filing fee established by West Virginia Code §59-1-11(a)(6), and serve copies of the petition on the prosecuting attorney and arresting agency. A hearing will be scheduled where the court will determine if the statutory requirements for expungement have been satisfied.

If granted, the expungement order directs all government agencies to seal the records related to the arrest. Pursuant to §61-11-25(d), the individual may then legally deny the existence of the expunged arrest record except in limited circumstances specified by statute.

Search Arrest Records in Kanawha County

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