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.
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Find a West Virginia Inmate Using the Right Official Search
If you are trying to find someone arrested or incarcerated in West Virginia, the fastest method is to first identify what type of custody the person is likely in. West Virginia uses a statewide regional-jail system for most local jail custody, while people serving state prison sentences use a separate West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation search.
Which West Virginia Inmate Search Should You Use?
The official West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation search page provides several different tools. Choosing the correct one prevents one of the most common problems: searching the prison database for someone who is still in a regional jail.
| Your situation | Best official resource | What it is useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Recent arrest or regional-jail custody | Offender Search (Jails) | Finding a named person currently or recently associated with the WV regional-jail system. |
| Arrest or booking happened very recently | Daily Incarcerations | Reviewing recent admissions by county or correctional institution. |
| Person is serving a state sentence or has moved from jail to prison | Offender Search (Prisons) | State correctional custody and other DCR offender records available through the prison search. |
| You need the criminal case, bond or hearing | West Virginia Judiciary Court Record Access | Magistrate and circuit court information rather than jail-custody information. |
| Person may be in federal custody | Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator | Federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present. |
West Virginia’s system differs from states where every county sheriff maintains a separate online jail roster. Most county arrests are routed through regional correctional facilities operated by the state. That means a person arrested in one county may physically be housed in another county.
For more detail about this statewide system, see our WV Regional Jail inmate search and jail roster guide.
How to Search the WV Regional Jail System
- Open the official WV DCR Offender Search. Go to dcr.wv.gov/offendersearch.
- Select “Offender Search (Jails).” Use this option when the person was recently arrested, is awaiting court, or is believed to be held at a West Virginia regional jail.
- Enter the last name. The current jail-search workflow accepts a partial or full last name. Using at least the first three letters can help when you are unsure of the complete spelling.
- Add the first name if needed. The first name helps narrow common surnames but is not always necessary for the first search.
- Complete the verification step. The state system may require a CAPTCHA before displaying matches.
- Compare the matching records carefully. Check the full legal name and any available identifying details rather than assuming the first matching result belongs to the person you want.
- Confirm the facility. Note the regional jail or correctional institution shown in the record. This determines where to call, how visitation works and which facility name to use for mail.
- Verify urgent information directly. If you are planning a visit, release pickup, bond payment or another time-sensitive action, call the facility before traveling or sending money.
How to Find Someone Arrested Today or Recently
If the arrest happened only a few hours ago, a normal name search may not immediately return a result. The person may still be undergoing transport, identification, fingerprinting, medical screening or booking.
Use this order:
- Check Offender Search (Jails).
- Return to the official DCR search page and open Daily Incarcerations.
- Look by the arrest county or regional-jail institution where available.
- If nothing appears, check the spelling of the legal name.
- Identify which regional jail serves the arrest county using the table below.
- Call that facility when immediate custody confirmation is necessary.
Daily incarceration records are useful for recent admissions, but they should not be treated as a permanent jail roster. A person can be booked, transferred or released after an admissions list is generated.
Which Regional Jail Serves Each West Virginia County?
The table below routes all 55 West Virginia counties to the regional facility currently identified by WV DCR for that county group. Always confirm the inmate’s actual location through the live search because transfers and special placements can occur.
| Regional jail | Location / phone | Counties served |
|---|---|---|
| Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility | Sutton (304) 765-7904 |
Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis, Nicholas, Roane, Webster |
| Eastern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility | Martinsburg (304) 267-0045 |
Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan |
| North Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility | Greenwood (304) 873-1384 |
Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt, Wood |
| Northern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility | Moundsville (304) 843-4067 |
Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler, Wetzel |
| Potomac Highlands Regional Jail and Correctional Facility | Augusta (304) 496-1275 |
Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Pendleton |
| South Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility | Charleston (304) 558-1336 |
Jackson, Kanawha |
| Southern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility | Beaver (304) 256-6726 |
Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wyoming |
| Southwestern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility | Holden (304) 239-3032 |
Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mingo |
| Tygart Valley Regional Jail and Correctional Facility | Belington (304) 637-0382 |
Barbour, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, Upshur |
| Western Regional Jail and Correctional Facility | Barboursville (304) 733-6821 |
Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, Wayne |
Useful West Virginia facility guides
What to Do if the Inmate Does Not Appear
| Possible reason | Practical next step |
|---|---|
| Arrest is very recent | Allow time for booking and check Daily Incarcerations as well as the jail name search. |
| Name spelling is different | Use the legal surname, try fewer letters and consider a former, maiden or hyphenated surname. |
| Person has already been released | Check the most recent record and contact the regional jail if exact release timing matters. |
| Person was transferred | Run the statewide jail search again because another regional facility may now be listed. |
| Person was sentenced to prison | Use “Offender Search (Prisons)” from the WV DCR search page. |
| Person is in federal custody | Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. |
| You know about a criminal case but cannot find custody | Check West Virginia Judiciary records. The person may have been released, cited, transferred or not currently incarcerated. |
How to Check Charges, Bond, Bail and Court Dates
The inmate lookup and the court record answer different questions. Use the jail system to establish where a person is being held. Use the West Virginia Judiciary for the criminal case itself.
The state’s free Magistrate Record Search allows the public to search by first name, last name or case number. Search results can help identify the county, charge, filing information, bond entries, scheduled events, parties and docket activity when those details are available. The Judiciary advises users to contact the clerk of the court where the case was filed to validate information or obtain actual court documents.
- Find the correct inmate through the WV DCR jail search.
- Write down the full legal name and any case information available.
- Open the West Virginia Judiciary Court Record Access page.
- Choose Magistrate Court or Circuit Court records as appropriate.
- Search the defendant’s name or case number.
- Match the county, filing date and other identifying details.
- Review charges, bond information, hearing dates and docket entries when displayed.
- Before paying bond or relying on a hearing date, confirm the current information with the responsible court or facility.
After You Find the Inmate: Money, Mail, Calls and Visits
Send money to a West Virginia inmate
WV DCR currently directs friends and family to its offender-banking system for inmate trust-account deposits. Available methods include ConnectNetwork online, the ConnectNetwork mobile app and telephone deposits at 888-988-4768.
Check the official WV DCR Offender Banking instructions before submitting a payment.
Confirm the inmate’s correct identity and current location before paying. A transfer can affect which facility or service is appropriate.
How to mail a letter
WV DCR currently uses a centralized processing address for regular friends-and-family letters rather than having ordinary correspondence sent directly to a regional jail’s street address.
Inmate’s First and Last Name and OID Number
Full Name of Facility — do not abbreviate
PO Box 336
Phoenix, MD 21131
- Include the inmate’s full first and last name and OID number.
- Write the complete facility name.
- The sender must include a full return address and complete first and last name.
- Do not use only initials for the sender.
- Send correspondence for only one offender per envelope.
- WV DCR states that photographs are not allowed in these regular letter envelopes.
- Do not include attachments or enclosures with the letter.
- Handwritten or typed letters are scanned for delivery to the inmate.
Because mail procedures can change, review the official WV DCR inmate mail page immediately before mailing anything.
Phone calls and video visits
WV DCR currently identifies GettingOut as its contracted provider for offender calling and video-visit services. Start from the official DCR calling and video visits page so you are directed to the current service rather than an outdated payment link.
Visitation rules are not identical at every jail
Do not rely on one statewide visitation schedule. West Virginia regional facilities publish different days, appointment procedures and visitor requirements. Some visits are initiated by the inmate, while other facilities publish a separate scheduling phone number.
Before traveling:
- Search the inmate again to confirm the current facility.
- Open that facility’s current WV DCR page.
- Check whether the inmate or visitor must schedule the appointment.
- Confirm visitor limits and rules for children.
- Bring approved government-issued photo identification.
- Check the current dress code and prohibited-property rules.
- Call the facility when a holiday or schedule change could affect the visit.
The WV DCR Adult Facilities directory provides official facility pages for regional jails and state correctional institutions.
Release and Custody-Status Notifications
If you need notification when an offender’s custody status changes, West Virginia participates in VINE — Victim Information and Notification Everyday.
WV DCR lists 1-866-WV4-VINE for custody-status information and telephone notification registration. Online and email notification options are also available through VINE.
View the official West Virginia VINE information.
For a release happening today, do not rely only on an older web result. A court order, other hold, transportation process or administrative release procedure can affect the actual time a person leaves custody. Confirm urgent pickup information with the facility.
West Virginia Jail Inmate Search FAQs
1. What is the official WV jail inmate search?
The official statewide starting point is the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation Offender Search. Choose “Offender Search (Jails)” when looking for a person in the regional-jail system.
2. How do I find someone who was arrested today in West Virginia?
Search the WV DCR jail offender database first, then check Daily Incarcerations for recent admissions. If the arrest was only a few hours ago, allow time for booking and call the regional jail serving the arrest county if immediate confirmation is necessary.
3. Does West Virginia have a separate jail roster for every county?
No. West Virginia primarily uses regional jails that serve groups of counties. A person arrested in one county may therefore be held in a regional jail located in another county.
4. Why can’t I find an inmate in the WV jail search?
The booking may still be processing, the name may be spelled differently, or the person may have been released or transferred. Check Daily Incarcerations, try the prison search when appropriate and contact the regional jail for urgent custody questions.
5. How can I check a West Virginia inmate’s charges or bond?
Use the jail search to confirm custody, then use West Virginia Judiciary court records for the criminal case. Verify current bond terms with the court or facility before making a payment because bond orders can change.
6. How do I know which WV regional jail to call?
Match the arrest county with the regional-jail county table on this page. Then confirm the inmate’s live facility through the WV DCR search before calling or traveling.
7. How do I send money to a West Virginia inmate?
WV DCR currently uses its offender-banking service for trust-account deposits. The state lists ConnectNetwork online and mobile options and the telephone deposit number 888-988-4768. Confirm the inmate before sending funds.
8. Where do I mail a letter to a WV DCR inmate?
Regular letters currently use the inmate’s full name and OID number, the full facility name, PO Box 336, Phoenix, MD 21131. The sender must provide a complete return name and address. Check the official DCR mail page before sending because rules can change.
9. How can I find a federal inmate in West Virginia?
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. The BOP database covers federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present and supports searches by name or federal identification number.
10. Can I receive an alert when a West Virginia inmate is released?
West Virginia provides VINE custody-status notifications. WV DCR lists 1-866-WV4-VINE for custody information and notification registration, with online notification options also available.
Best Way to Complete a WV Inmate Lookup
For most searches, use this sequence: WV DCR jail search → Daily Incarcerations if the arrest is recent → identify the regional jail → West Virginia Judiciary records for charges and bond → contact the facility only when you need final live confirmation or must complete a transaction.
This approach gives you the custody location, the correct county-to-jail route, court-side information and the practical steps for mail, money, calls, visitation and release notifications without relying on paid people-search websites.