Virginia County Booking Reports
Virginia has 95 counties and each one keeps its own booking reports. Sheriff offices run most county jails, and the sheriff posts the daily roster with names, charges, and bond. Use this page to jump to any county in the state and pull up local arrest logs, jail records, and inmate lookups. The list is in alphabetical order. Each county page explains how to search booking reports in that area, which court clerk holds the case file, and which regional jail the county uses when it does not run its own facility. Pick a county below to start.
How Virginia County Booking Reports Work
Each county sheriff in Virginia is both the top cop and the jail keeper. When a deputy or local police officer makes an arrest, the person is taken to the county or regional jail for booking. The booking file holds the name, date of birth, charge, arresting agency, booking time, bond amount, and a mug shot. Most Virginia counties post this data on a public roster you can search by name. A few small counties do not run their own jail and use a shared regional facility.
After booking, the case moves to the local general district court for a first hearing. Felony cases then move up to the circuit court. Both court levels feed data into OCIS, the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System. That is where the booking report turns into a public court case. For state prison inmates, the Virginia Department of Corrections Offender Locator takes over.
Note: County sheriff jail rosters update at least once a day and some update every few hours.
Regional Jails Serving Virginia Counties
About a third of Virginia counties pool resources through regional jails. These shared facilities hold inmates from more than one county and city under one roof. The inmate search lives on the regional jail website, not the small member county site. Key regional jails include Riverside Regional Jail, Western Virginia Regional Jail, New River Valley Regional Jail, RSW Regional Jail, Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail, and Middle River Regional Jail. Each site has its own inmate lookup.
If you cannot find a county booking report on the local sheriff site, check the regional jail for that area. The county page will tell you which one to use and give you a direct link. Riverside alone covers Charles City, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg, Prince George, and Surry.
Virginia Booking Reports Access Rules
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act at Code section 2.2-3700 sets the public records rule. Adult booking photos, arrest dates, and charge info are public under section 2.2-3706. Juvenile files are sealed under section 16.1-301. If a county office will not give you what you want, the Virginia FOIA Council can help you push back. The Council offers free advice and can mediate disputes.
County clerks of circuit court hold the final case file. They can make plain or certified copies for a fee. Call ahead to ask about hours and cost. The Virginia Judicial System main site has contact info for every circuit court clerk in the state. You can also track victim alerts for any inmate at VINELink. For a full state criminal history, use the Virginia State Police CARE system.
All 95 Virginia Counties
Click any county below to see local booking reports, sheriff contact info, jail rosters, and court record links. All 95 counties are in alphabetical order.
Also Search Virginia City Booking Reports
Virginia has 39 independent cities that are not part of any county. Each runs its own police department and booking system. Visit the Virginia cities directory to find booking reports for any independent city.