Wise County Booking Reports

Wise County Booking Reports cover arrests, jail intake files, and release info for people taken into custody in the town of Wise and the rest of the county. The Wise County Sheriff's Office and the regional jail that houses local inmates keep these records. Court case files tied to those arrests live with the Circuit Court clerk. This page shows how to look up arrest records, jail rosters, and booking logs using the sheriff, the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, the statewide Virginia case search, and the state FOIA process for public records.

Wise County Sheriff's Office

The Wise County Sheriff's Office is at 5605 V. A. Trail in Wise, Virginia and can be reached at (276) 328-3566. Deputies make arrests, run court security, handle civil process, and move inmates to and from the regional jail. When a person is arrested in the county, the deputy fills out the arrest form, lists the charges, and sends the file to the magistrate. From there the case moves to the jail and then on to the court clerk.

Most Wise County arrest records start here. If you need a copy of an incident report, call the sheriff's records unit first. Staff can tell you if a file is open to the public or sealed under state law. The sheriff does not post an online arrest log, so you may have to ask in writing for older records.

Note: Bring photo ID and a case or incident number when you visit the sheriff's records unit in person.

Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Booking Reports

Wise County holds inmates at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority. The authority runs facilities that serve Wise, Washington, Lee, Tazewell, Russell, and other counties in the far southwest. The jail keeps the full booking file on every inmate. That file holds the mug shot, charges, bond, court date, and housing unit. The authority posts an online inmate search so the public can check custody status by name or booking number.

The roster updates often. Results show the charge, the bond amount, the court date, and the facility. If an inmate is moved between facilities, the system reflects the change. For release dates and older files you may need to file a written request with the jail records unit.

Adult booking photos and basic intake info are public under Virginia Code § 2.2-3706. The jail can release that info on request, with exceptions for active investigations and juvenile cases.

Wise County Circuit Court Records

Felony cases for the county are heard at the Wise County Circuit Court. The clerk keeps the paper file for every indictment and sentence. You can search Wise County case info online through the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System. The OCIS portal covers most circuit courts and all general district courts in Virginia. Search by name, case number, or hearing date.

Below is the statewide case information page used for Wise County court data. Visit the Virginia Judiciary OCIS portal to start a search.

The online results list charges, hearings, and disposition. For the full paper file with motions and exhibits, you still need to contact the Wise County Circuit Court clerk. Misdemeanors go to the General District Court in the same courthouse.

FOIA for Wise County Booking Reports

Virginia FOIA, codified at § 2.2-3700 et seq., lets you ask for arrest records and jail logs from any Wise County public body. The sheriff, the regional jail, and the court clerks each have five business days to respond. They can take seven extra days if the file is large or takes time to pull. If your request is denied, you can appeal in circuit court or ask the Virginia FOIA Council for help.

Put the request in writing. State your name, list the records you want, and include dates. Mail the letter, email it, or drop it off in person. The agency may charge a fair fee for staff time and copies. Narrow requests come back faster than broad ones.

Virginia State Tools for Wise County Arrest Records

Statewide tools can fill the gaps when local records are thin. The Virginia State Police CARE program pulls a full criminal history using the SP-167 form. The fee is $15 and the form must be notarized. Processing takes about 15 business days. The state police run the central repository for all arrest data in Virginia under § 19.2-389.

The Virginia Department of Corrections Offender Locator covers people held in state prisons. Use it when a Wise case ends in a state term. For jail-level alerts, sign up with VINELink. The VINE system covers every local and regional jail in Virginia and sends alerts by phone, text, or email when a custody status changes.

Expungement and Sealed Wise County Records

Some Wise County arrest records can be sealed through expungement. Under § 19.2-392.2, a person can petition the circuit court to remove an arrest record if the case ended in acquittal, dismissal, or an absolute pardon. The petition is filed in the Wise County Circuit Court, and a judge makes the final call.

Once a record is expunged, the sheriff, the jail, and the court clerk must remove it from public view. The Virginia State Police also update their files. If you run a background check after expungement, the arrest should not appear.

• File the petition in the circuit court where the case was heard.
• Attach the disposition order from the case.
• Pay the filing fee set by the clerk.
• Attend a hearing if the court schedules one.

Towns and Areas in Wise County

Wise is the county seat. Big Stone Gap, Coeburn, Appalachia, Pound, and St. Paul are towns inside the county that rely on the sheriff and the regional jail for booking and jail records. The independent city of Norton sits in the middle of the county but runs its own police force. Norton arrests still flow through the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail system.

If you are not sure which town or agency made the arrest, start with the sheriff. Staff can look up the incident and point you to the right office. Most of the time, the jail roster shows the arresting agency next to the charge.