Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
Independent records-search resource. This website is not a government agency, police department, sheriff's office, jail, prison or courthouse. Search coverage varies by source and jurisdiction. Some links may lead to third-party services, and compensation may be received when a partner service is used.
Find the Correct WV Jail Record
The official regional jail search lets you look up a person by last name, while the Daily Incarcerations tool helps identify recent admissions by county or institution.
This guide explains which search to use, how to find the correct regional jail and where to check court cases, visits, mail, funds, calls, release alerts and older records.
What Are You Trying to Find?
West Virginia provides separate searches for jail custody, daily admissions, prison custody and court cases.
Fast rule: use jail search for the person, Daily Incarcerations for county or admission routing, prison search for state custody and court search for the legal case.
How to Search WV Regional Jail Inmates
The official portal requires at least the first three letters of the last name. The first name field is optional.
Open the official regional jail search
Use the West Virginia government OIS portal rather than a copied roster, mugshot archive or paid people-search website.
Enter at least three last-name letters
Start with the legal last name. A shorter partial search can help when the complete spelling is uncertain.
Add the first name only when needed
Use the optional first-name field to narrow common last names. Avoid over-restricting the first search.
Try common name variations
Test a maiden name, former surname, hyphenated spelling, middle initial or a version without Jr., Sr., II or III.
Open the full result
Compare the full name, birth date, gender, institution and any available booking, charge or custody details.
Verify important information separately
Call the facility for urgent custody questions and use the appropriate court record for charges, bail and case outcomes.
Official accuracy warning: WV DCR states that the displayed information can change quickly and may not reflect the person’s true current location, release date or status.
Jail Search vs Daily Incarcerations vs Prison Search
These tools are related but not interchangeable.
| Official search | Best use | Search input | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional jail inmate search | Finding a named person in the regional jail system | At least three letters of the last name; first name optional | May lag behind release, transfer or correction activity |
| Daily Incarcerations | Reviewing admissions by county or institution | Select one of West Virginia’s 55 counties | Not a complete historical roster or guaranteed real-time count |
| Prison offender search | Checking people in West Virginia prison custody | OID digits or first and last name | A county or regional jail detainee may not appear here |
| WV court-record search | Checking filed cases, hearings, bail orders and disposition | Name or case number | Does not always prove present physical custody |
What a Regional Jail Result Can and Cannot Tell You
The portal is a custody-information tool, not a final criminal-history report.
| Information | What it may help confirm | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Name and birth date | Whether the result likely belongs to the correct person | Identity when other details conflict |
| Facility | The regional institution currently associated with the record | That no transfer or release is underway |
| Booking or admission information | A reported custody event | Conviction or final sentencing |
| Charge information | The allegation or custody basis shown in the jail system | The final filed charge or court disposition |
| Sentencing information | A jail-system entry related to the person | The complete events of the underlying criminal action |
| Booking photograph | The image associated with a booking record | Guilt, conviction or present custody |
Official disclaimer: WV DCR states that the presence of a person’s information is not an indication of guilt or innocence and directs users to the court with jurisdiction for the underlying criminal action.
Which West Virginia Regional Jail Serves Your County?
West Virginia’s ten regional jails collectively serve all counties. Use this table to identify the likely facility, then confirm the person through the official search.
| Regional jail | Location and main phone | Counties served |
|---|---|---|
| Central Regional Jail | Sutton — 304-765-7904 | Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis, Nicholas, Roane and Webster |
| Eastern Regional Jail | Martinsburg — 304-267-0045 | Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan |
| North Central Regional Jail | Greenwood — 304-873-1384 | Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt and Wood |
| Northern Regional Jail | Moundsville — 304-843-4067 | Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler and Wetzel |
| Potomac Highlands Regional Jail | Augusta — 304-496-1275 | Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral and Pendleton |
| South Central Regional Jail | Charleston — 304-558-1336 | Jackson and Kanawha |
| Southern Regional Jail | Beaver — 304-256-6726 | Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming |
| Southwestern Regional Jail | Holden — 304-239-3032 | Boone, Logan, McDowell and Mingo |
| Tygart Valley Regional Jail | Belington — 304-637-0382 | Barbour, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker and Upshur |
| Western Regional Jail | Barboursville — 304-733-6821 | Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam and Wayne |
County-search tip: if the person’s county is known but the facility is not, use Daily Incarcerations by county first, then open the matching facility page for contact and visitation details.
Why Someone May Not Appear in the WV Jail Search
A missing result can have several explanations. Use the known custody timeline to choose the next step.
“I am trying to confirm current custody for [full legal name], with an approximate booking date of [date]. The person is not appearing in the online search. Can you confirm whether this is the correct facility or direct me to the appropriate official source?”
West Virginia DCR and Regional Jail Contact Numbers
Call the individual facility for a person-specific custody question. Use the central offices for statewide routing, policy or records guidance.
WV Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation
1409 Greenbrier Street
Charleston, WV 25311
Use for statewide DCR routing and general agency questions.
Regional Jail Central Office
The official inmate-search page lists this number for central regional-jail contact and PREA routing.
How to Check the Court Case After a Jail Search
The jail system itself warns that sentencing information is not intended to reflect the full underlying criminal action. Use the West Virginia Judiciary record system for the case.
Magistrate Court search
Useful for many criminal complaints, warrants, initial appearances, bail matters and misdemeanor proceedings.
Open Magistrate Record SearchCircuit Court search
Useful for felony and other Circuit Court case activity across all 55 counties.
Open Court Record AccessCounty court information
Use when you need the clerk’s address, telephone number or courthouse information for a specific county.
Find Court Information by CountyCertified or complete documents
Contact the clerk in the county where the case was filed when online summaries are insufficient.
Review Public Court ResourcesSave These Details From the Jail Result
- Full legal name
- Birth date
- Regional jail or institution
- Booking or admission date
- County connected to the case
- Charge description
- Case number when shown
- OID or other identifier
Document limit: the Magistrate Record Search provides case information, but the court documents themselves must be requested from the clerk in the county where the case is filed.
How Regional Jail Visitation Actually Works
There is no single statewide walk-in schedule. Each facility publishes its own days, appointment method, visitor limits and identification requirements.
Confirm the current facility
Search the inmate immediately before making plans because transfers can change the correct visitation office.
Open that facility’s official page
Read the current non-contact visitation instructions rather than using an old schedule from a directory.
Determine who starts the request
At some facilities the inmate submits a visitation request. Other facilities instruct the visitor to call on specific scheduling days.
Prepare visitor information
Facilities may request the visitor’s date of birth, address, telephone number, driver’s-license number and license expiration date.
Arrive early with valid identification
A late arrival may shorten or cancel the appointment. Walk-in visitation may be prohibited.
Examples of Facility-Specific Differences
| Facility example | Current official guidance | Practical lesson |
|---|---|---|
| Western Regional Jail | Appointments are scheduled by telephone on designated days; the facility states there is no walk-in visitation. | Call during the listed scheduling window and have all adult visitor details ready. |
| Southern Regional Jail | The inmate submits a request; visits are non-contact, scheduled in advance and generally 30 minutes. | Coordinate with the inmate before calling or travelling. |
| Potomac Highlands | Visits are scheduled one day in advance by telephone and visitors should arrive at least 15 minutes early. | Late arrival can reduce the available visit time. |
| North Central | The inmate submits a request, and visitor-number and visit-frequency limits apply. | Do not assume the visitor can initiate every appointment. |
Always recheck: operational needs, housing status and security restrictions can change visitation even after an appointment is requested.
How to Send Money or Pay for Communication
WV DCR uses different account types for trust funds, telephone calls and family messaging or video visits.
| Service | Official route | Telephone support | What to verify first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inmate trust account | ConnectNetwork website, mobile app or lobby kiosk | Deposits: 888-988-4768 Support: 888-428-1845 |
Full name, OID and present facility |
| AdvancePay calls | ConnectNetwork | Payments: 800-483-8314 Support: 877-650-4249 |
Correct receiving telephone number and account |
| Messaging and video visits | GettingOut website or app | 866-516-0115 | Whether the facility and inmate currently support the requested service |
Payment scam warning: do not send money to a private person who contacts you and claims to represent the jail. Start from the DCR page and follow its official provider link.
How to Mail a Letter to a WV Regional Jail Inmate
DCR directs friends and family to send letters through a centralized mailing address. The envelope and letter must identify one inmate correctly.
Current Letter Address Format
Inmate’s First and Last Name and OID Number
Full Name of Facility — no abbreviations
PO Box 336
Phoenix, MD 21131
Rules That Can Cause the Mail to Be Returned
- Include the inmate’s first and last name
- Include the correct OID number
- Write the full facility name without abbreviations
- Include the sender’s complete first and last name
- Include a complete return address
- Do not use sender initials only
- Do not include photographs
- Do not include attachments or enclosures
- Send only a handwritten or typed letter
- Address one inmate per envelope
Important change: photographs and other attachments are not permitted in this centralized letter process. A noncompliant envelope may be returned to the sender.
How to Receive WV Inmate Release Alerts
West Virginia VINE provides custody-status information and can register users for automatic notifications when an offender’s status changes.
WV VINE Telephone
Use to check custody information or register for available telephone notifications.
Online Registration
Search the person and choose available notification options through the official West Virginia VINE portal.
DCR explains that VINE does not place a notification call during the movement from one facility to another. Notification occurs after the person is entered at the new facility.
Do not rely on one alert alone: verify urgent custody or release information with the holding facility or court.
How to Request a Regional Jail Record
The live inmate search is not designed to provide every historical booking record, certified court document or complete incarceration file.
Identify the exact record
Decide whether you need a booking record, booking photograph, incarceration record, incident record, jail file or court document.
Identify the likely custodian
DCR, the arresting police agency, county prosecutor and court clerk may hold different records.
Collect narrow identifying details
Use the full legal name, birth date, OID when known, facility, county and approximate booking date.
Ask for one clearly described item
A narrow request is easier to route and process than a request for every record connected to a person.
Ask about fees and restrictions
Availability can depend on privacy, security, investigative, court-sealing and record-retention rules.
I am requesting the publicly releasable [booking record, booking photograph or incarceration record] for [full legal name], believed to have been held at [facility] on or about [date]. The known OID or case number is [number]. Please advise whether your office holds the record, whether fees or redactions apply and whether electronic delivery is available.
DCR’s FOIA policy applies across its facilities and work units. Use the agency contact form or main number to identify the correct records custodian before submitting sensitive personal information.
Booking-Photo Reuse Restrictions
The official search disclaimer permits personal informational viewing but expressly restricts arrest-photo compilations and databases. It also places responsibility on anyone who republishes inaccurate or improper information.
Do not create a copied mugshot archive: consult the current DCR terms before reproducing booking photographs or publishing inmate information. A jail-search result should never be presented as proof of guilt.
Reentry, Housing, Treatment and Family Support
DCR regional-jail resource guides point families and people leaving custody toward statewide health, housing, employment and recovery assistance.
West Virginia 211
Dial 2-1-1 for confidential referrals involving housing, food, health, financial needs, substance-use services and other community support.
Open an Official Regional Jail Resource GuideHelp4WV
The DCR guide lists the statewide behavioral-health referral and outreach line as 1-844-HELP4WV.
Call 1-844-HELP4WVJobs and Hope
The official resource guide includes Jobs and Hope as a statewide recovery and employment-support route.
Open Jobs and Hope WVCounty-specific help
Each regional-jail guide may list local treatment, counseling, employment and housing resources for the counties served.
Open DCR Resource GuidesDirectory caution: resource-guide listings can change. Confirm availability, eligibility and current contact information directly with the service provider.
How to Report Sexual Abuse or Harassment
WV DCR states that it investigates allegations of sexual abuse or harassment regardless of the source and may refer appropriate matters for criminal investigation.
PREA Reporting Line
Use the official reporting route when the concern involves sexual misconduct in DCR custody.
Additional PREA Contact
Email reports may be sent to dcrprea@wv.gov.
A useful report should identify the incident, victim, suspected person and approximate date and time when known. DCR states that anonymity can be protected when requested.
Immediate danger: a person in custody should notify available facility staff immediately. Outside callers should contact the facility or emergency services when there is an immediate threat to life or safety.
Before You Rely on a WV Jail Record
Complete these checks before sharing information, sending money, travelling, arranging a visit or making an important decision.
- I used the official WV government search.
- I entered at least three correct last-name letters.
- I matched the birth date and facility.
- I checked whether a transfer may have occurred.
- I used the court record for the criminal case.
- I confirmed the facility before visiting or paying.
- I recorded the source and date checked.
- I did not treat a jail listing as proof of guilt.
WV Regional Jail Inmate Search FAQs
How do I search West Virginia regional jail inmates?
Open the official West Virginia regional jail inmate search and enter at least the first three letters of the person’s last name. A first name is optional. Confirm the full name, birth date, facility and available booking information before relying on a result.
What is the West Virginia Daily Incarcerations search?
Daily Incarcerations is a separate official view that lets users select a county and review recent admissions by institution. It is not a complete historical arrest database and may not reflect immediate custody changes.
Why is someone not showing in the WV regional jail search?
The booking may still be processing, the name may be entered differently, the person may have been released or transferred, or the person may be held in a prison, community-corrections facility, federal facility or another state.
How do I find which West Virginia regional jail serves a county?
Use the county-to-facility table in this guide or the official DCR facility pages. West Virginia’s ten regional jails collectively serve all fifty-five counties.
Is the WV regional jail search the same as the prison search?
No. The regional jail search covers people listed in the jail system, while the prison offender search is a separate tool for people in West Virginia prison custody. Check both when a transfer may have occurred.
How do I check charges, bail or a court case after a jail search?
Use the jail result for available custody and booking information, then search the official West Virginia Judiciary magistrate or circuit court system. The court record is the better source for filed charges, bail orders, hearings and dispositions.
How do I schedule a visit at a West Virginia regional jail?
Open the official page for the specific regional jail because schedules and procedures differ. Some facilities require the inmate to request the visit, some require advance telephone scheduling, and walk-in visits may not be allowed.
How do I send money or pay for calls and video visits?
West Virginia DCR directs trust-account deposits and telephone payments through ConnectNetwork and calling or video-visit services through GettingOut. Confirm the inmate’s name, OID and facility before paying.
What address should I use to mail a West Virginia inmate?
Letters must include the inmate’s first and last name, OID number and the full facility name, followed by PO Box 336, Phoenix, Maryland 21131. A complete sender name and return address are required.
How do I request a West Virginia regional jail record or booking photo?
Identify the exact record and likely custodian, then use the West Virginia DCR contact and FOIA process. Include the legal name, approximate booking date, facility, OID when known and the specific document requested. Release restrictions and fees may apply.
Mugshot Record Excavator: Official Jail, Court & Booking Verification Tool
Use this tool to build a safer official-record search plan, generate better search queries, decode booking terms, score match confidence, prepare a records request, and avoid wrong-person mistakes. It runs in your browser and does not submit your entries.
Build a practical official-record search plan
This does not search hidden records. It creates a safer step-by-step path to find the right official jail, sheriff, court, state, or federal source.
Match confidence calculator
Use this before assuming a mugshot, arrest listing, or booking entry belongs to the right person.
Booking and jail-record field decoder
Select a term commonly found on jail rosters, inmate searches, booking pages, and court follow-up records.
Generate a records request note
Create a clean, polite request note for a sheriff’s office, jail, court clerk, police department, or public-records office.
Problem solver: missing, old, or confusing results
Choose the issue you’re facing and get a practical next-step checklist.
Generated result
Your plan, links, decoded explanation, request note, or checklist will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Add a state, county/city, name, date, and goal. The tool will create an official-source search path and copyable verification log.
Browser-only privacy note: this tool does not send your entries to this website.