West Virginia Inmate Records

The prison custody population in West Virginia has increased over the years. However, the state's incarceration rate, which stands at 331 per 100,000 residents, is lower than the United States average of 355 per 100,00 total population. According to reports, West Virginia has about 5,873 inmates incarcerated in state-operated prisons, while an estimated 9,184 inmates are held in federal prisons operating in the state. Also, approximately 3,500 are in the custody of local jails.

Every inmate housed in a prison or jail facility in West Virginia has a record, which is typically maintained by the government agency overseeing the facility and supervising each inmate. This includes offenders incarcerated in local, state, and federal prisons or jails in the state. Each prison/jail authority strives to keep accurate records of inmates in its custody by updating its database periodically.

Some of the details in a typical West Virginia inmate record are listed below:

• Personal Details - Personal information in a West Virginia inmate's record includes the name, sex, birth date, weight, height, hair color, race, eye color, and mugshot.
• Arrest Information - This includes the date and place of the arrest, charges, the arrest warrants, booking details, and the arresting agency details.
• Release and Parole Information - This includes an inmate's eligibility for parole, parole hearing date, maximum parole discharge date, and the projected release date.
• Incarceration Information - This includes the location and county of incarceration, offenses committed, order date, and order number.
• Court Details - These include trial details, court dates, fines, and judgment.

Are Inmate Records Public in West Virginia?

Unless otherwise prohibited from public disclosure, most inmate records in West Virginia are considered public information under the state's Freedom of Information Act. According to this Act, everyone has a right to copy or inspect any public record of a government body in the state, including inmate records preserved by the relevant public body.

There are, however, some exemptions to the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act as it relates to inmate records. These include records of juvenile inmates and sealed/expunged inmate records. In addition, certain details contained in arrest records are exempt from public disclosure in the state, including medical records, health information, Social Security number, and victim information.

What Agencies Are Responsible for Inmate Records in West Virginia?

West Virginia inmate records are maintained by several government agencies or prisons/jail authorities, depending on where offenders are held. These agencies include the following:

• The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) - Offenders convicted of violating state laws in West Virginia are sentenced to state-operated correctional facilities. These include 20 prisons and jails and 4 community correctional centers, and are all managed by the state's Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR), which also keeps records of all inmates incarcerated in the facilities. Most individuals sentenced to state-operated correctional facilities in West Virginia are those convicted of felonies. They are usually held in those facilities for a period exceeding one year.
• County Sheriff's Offices - In West Virginia, the county sheriff's offices are responsible for the local jails operating in the state. They oversee the activities of all the inmates in custody, many of whom were sentenced to one year or less of incarceration after conviction for misdemeanor offenses. In addition, the county sheriff's offices maintain up-to-date information about each of the inmates under their supervision. The state has about 51 operating local jails under the control of county sheriff's offices.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) - Inmates incarcerated in West Virginia's six federal prisons are overseen by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The BOP has records of all inmates held in federal correctional facilities in the U.S. from 1982 to date, including those housed in West Virginia. Offenders housed in federal facilities in the state are those convicted of violating federal laws or committing federal crimes.
• Police Departments- Although police departments do not take custody of convicted inmates in West Virginia, they have the responsibility of keeping records of arrests generated on convicted offenders incarcerated in correctional facilities.

How To Search an Inmate's Information in West Virginia

To search for any inmate's information or record in West Virginia, it is essential to know whether the inmate is held in a local, state, or federal correctional facility in the state.

Find an inmate in West Virginia State Prisons

The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) offers two different offender search systems that allow people to find information about inmates under its supervision. While the Offender Search (Prisons) has records of inmates housed in state prisons, the Offender Search (Jails) is used to find records of inmates held in the state's regional jails, which are also overseen by the DCR. Both inmate search resources permit searching inmates by their names, but members of the public may look up inmates through the Offender Search (Prison) system with inmates' names or offender IDs as the search criterion.

Inmate information revealed by the DRC Offender Search systems is usually insufficient for individuals in need of detailed records. Hence, when a detailed record of an offender incarcerated in any of West Virginia's regional jails or state-run prisons is required, the best move is to visit the correctional facility where the offender is held physically. Providing the record custodian with information such as an inmate's name, date of birth, and the inmate's unique ID will help facilitate a quick search.

Find an Inmate in Local Jail

The majority of the county sheriff's offices in charge of local jail facilities in West Virginia offer inmate search tools that allow finding information regarding inmates incarcerated in such jail facilities. Records accessible through each inmate locator or roster are those of offenders in the jail custody of each county sheriff's office. Interested parties can search for inmates' records with these resources using names, date of birth, sex, and other essential details as the search criteria.

Alternatively, to find information about an inmate or offender in a local jail in West Virginia, an individual may visit the record custodian in that jail facility and request to inspect or make copies of the inmate's records. An inmate's records obtained in person are usually more detailed than what anyone may obtain through online inmate locators/rosters offered by county sheriff's offices. However, to facilitate a smooth search and locate the inmate's file quickly, the requester must provide the custodian with some key information.

Find an Inmate in Federal Prison

The BOP Inmate Locator offers public access to information regarding inmates in the following federal prisons located in West Virginia:

• Hazelton FCC
• Alderson FPC
• Morgantown FPC
• McDowell FCI
• Gilmer FCI
• Beckley FCI

Interested individuals may conduct inmate searches on the BOP Inmate Locator using inmates' names or registration numbers assigned by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Regardless of which parameter is used for a search, the search result often includes an inmate's full name, BOP register number, race, sex, release date, age, and location. It is also possible to visit the federal correctional facility housing an inmate in West Virginia to obtain a more comprehensive record of such an inmate.

How Can I Access Old Inmate Records?

Online inmate search tools only provide information regarding West Virginia inmates in custody. They have no records of offenders who have been discharged from the state's prison system. Anyone looking to obtain information about a former inmate in the state who has already been discharged may consider submitting a FOIA request to the DCR. The request must clearly state the specific inmate records that are being sought.

Records of old inmates discharged from federal correctional facilities in West Virginia may also be accessed through the National Archives. Interested persons may search this database by inmates' names. Alternatively, they may submit FOIA requests to the Federal Bureau of Prisons by email or submit written requests stating details of the specific old inmate records being sought by mail to:

Alternatively, it is more convenient for anyone to obtain records of inmates previously incarcerated in the state and already discharged by looking up credible third-party sites like WestVirginiapublicrecords.us. These websites regularly update their databases and are publicly accessible, although at a nominal cost.

An individual may visit the correctional facility where an old inmate whose record they seek was incarcerated in West Virginia to obtain a detailed record of that inmate. In most cases, the record custodians in prison or jail facilities will require requesters to submit written applications containing details of the records of interest. The details in such requests will enable the custodians to locate the inmate files quickly and furnish the requesters with the information they seek. However, requesters may be charged search and copy fees for this service.

Can I Find a West Virginia Inmate Record for Free?

Anyone can find a West Virginia inmate record for free by searching for the online resource offered by the government agency or authority in charge of the prison or jail where the inmate is held. However, an inmate search tool provided by a prison or jail authority can only reveal information regarding offenders in the custody of that agency. It cannot have records of inmates under the jurisdiction of another prison/jail authority.

Third-party sites like WestVirgininapublicrecords.us offer record services that enable centralized access to public records in the state, including inmate records. Interested individuals may find records of all inmates across state, local, and federal correctional facilities in West Virginia using these sites, although they charge a small fee for using their services.

Jails and Prisons in West Virginia

Jails and prisons in West Virginia are grouped into different categories based on the agencies or entities managing them and the type of inmates they house. Generally, they include the following:

• State Prisons - State-operated correctional facilities in West Virginia are managed by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. They include 20 prisons and jails, 21 youth reporting centers, 4 community correctional facilities, and 10 juvenile centers and facilities.
• Local Jails - These correctional facilities are primarily run by county sheriff's offices, and there are about 51 of them across the state.
• Federal Prisons - The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) operates six federal prisons across West Virginia.

State Prisons in West Virginia

This table lists some of the state-run prisons in West Virginia:

Private Prisons in West Virginia

There are no private prisons or jails in West Virginia.

West Virginia Inmate Statistics

• West Virginia Incarceration Rate - 331 per 100,000 residents
• Male Incarceration Rate - 594 per 100,000 males
• Female Incarceration Rate - 69 per 100,000 females
• Youth Custody Rate - 202 per 100,000 youths
• Number of Prisoners in Private Prisons - 0
• Black/White Imprisonment Disparity - 3.8:1
• Latino/White Imprisonment Disparity - 0.3:1
• Number of offenders under community supervision: 712 per 100,000 people
• Number on probation - 435 per 100,000 people
• Number on parole - 284 per 100,000 people
• Felony Disenfranchisement Rate - 1.1%

* Source: United States Bureau of Justice Statistics