Arlington County Arrest Records

When a person is arrested, the arresting police agency documents their personal information, notes how and when the arrest was made, and creates other data, such as the individual's booking number. These details make up the arrest record and are typically generated during the suspect's booking.

After the booking process is completed, the arrestee is usually taken before a judge. At this stage in the criminal justice process, Arlington Court court records are created, which further document the legal proceedings.

Arrest records are important for police work, legal defense, and criminal justice transparency. Law enforcement agencies primarily maintain arrest records. However, arrest information may be found in records maintained within the judiciary and other public records retained by criminal justice agencies.

Are Arrest Records Public in Arlington County?

Yes. Records created after a person's arrest are publicly accessible under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VA Code § 2.2-3706). However, while some records are under the mandatory release clause, the law permits record custodians to release certain information at their discretion and instructs them to deny access to protected data.

Records that do not qualify for compulsory release but may be provided by law enforcement include:

• Files and materials created and collected during criminal investigations (including background checks on potential employees)
• Anonymous reports submitted to law enforcement agencies
• Records produced from law enforcement-assisted neighborhood watch initiatives
• Police communication information
• Information about some victims and witnesses not explicitly protected by law

The following records are protected from public access:

• Information about victims protected under VA Code 19.2-11.2
• Certain juvenile arrest records
• Sealed and expunged arrest records
• Sensitive personal information, such as social security numbers

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arlington County law enforcement agencies are allowed to release the following arrest information to the public:

• Demographic information: An arrestee's name, date of birth, sex, ethnicity, physical description (weight and height), and photograph taken during the booking process
• Arrest details: The time and date of an arrest, the arresting agency, and where the individual is (or was) being held after their arrest
• Charges: Details of the arrestee's alleged offense, including the state statutes they violated and the crime category (felony or misdemeanor)
• Court information: The name of the presiding court, the arrestee's next court date, and the court case number
• Bond information: Any applicable bond/bail and its amount

Arlington County Crime Rate

The Virginia Department of State Police's Data Analysis and Reporting Team (DART) releases annual crime reports by jurisdiction, offense type, and other categories to outline crime trends by county. DART publishes these findings through its Incident-Based Reporting System.

According to the 2023 report, Arlington County recorded 10,638 crimes, resulting in a crime rate of 4,387.18 per 100,000. The data showed 7,826 property crimes, 344 aggravated assault incidents, and 1,438 records of simple assault. Further, there were two reported cases of murder and non-negligent manslaughter and 76 kidnapping/abduction cases.

Arlington County Arrest Statistics

Arlington County criminal justice agencies executed 2,155 arrests in 2023, according to the VSP's report for that year. The data reveals that there were 3 arrests for murder and non-negligent manslaughter, 14 for kidnapping/abduction, 560 for shoplifting, 27 for burglary/breaking and entering, and 112 for aggravated assault. Robbery arrests stood at 82, drug/narcotic violations resulted in 280 arrests, and destruction/damage/vandalism led to 98 arrests.

Find Arlington County Arrest Records

Arlington County arrest records are primarily created and maintained by the County Sheriff's Office and Police Department. However, state and federal institutions also retain records of individuals arrested in Arlington County for certain state and federal crimes.

Arlington PD

The Arlington County Police Department allows members of the public to access the following records:

• Criminal History: These records are a compilation of arrest histories for incidents that occurred within Arlington County. People can order for themselves and others. Ordering one's criminal history involves providing valid identification (government-issued photo ID). To request a criminal background check on another individual, the requester must submit their valid ID, the person's ID, and a notarized authorization letter. Individuals can also present a power of attorney document, which must be done in person.

Each request costs $10 plus a $9 processing fee. Applicants must fill out the Criminal History Records Information (Individuals) Form and submit it by mail or in-person to:

Arlington County Police Department
Attn: Police Records
1425 North Courthouse Road
Arlington, Virginia 22201

Individuals can also use the department's third-party vendor to order copies of arrest reports. Each online request attracts a $9 processing fee.

One can also contact the PD's Administrative Support Unit's Office of Records using the following information to inspect and obtain arrest records:

1425 North Courthouse Road
Suite 2100
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: (703) 228-4292
Fax: (703) 228-4298
Email: ACPDRecords@arlingtonva.us

Arlington County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office manages the county's detention facility, transports inmates to and from courts, jail, and medical appointments, and assists the Police Department in traffic enforcement. People can use a FOIA request method to obtain arrest records. Below is the Sheriff's contact information:

Arlington County Sheriff's Office
1425 North Courthouse Road
Suite 9100 Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: (703) 228-4468
Email: acsofoia@arlingtonva.us

The Sheriff's Correctional Division also operates an online inmate query system where members of the public can find information about people detained in the county's detention facility. Users can search by subject number, inmate booking number, or name. The system displays each inmate's photograph, the court in which charged, the next court date, the charge description, the offense date, the bond type and amount, and the booking date.

Virginia Department of Corrections

The Virginia DOC is responsible for rehabilitating people sentenced for serious state crimes and transferred from the Arlington County Detention facility. Individuals seeking information on such inmates can access the department's online inmate locator. The application allows people to search by inmate number or name but only displays where they are being held. One can obtain more information by sending a FOIA request to the VA DOC.

Federal Bureau of Prisons

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons houses individuals arrested in Arlington County by federal agencies like the FBI, ATF, and DEA and convicted for federal offenses. While individuals can contact an arresting federal agency for arrest information, they can also use the BOP's inmate locator to find where the apprehended individual is being held. One can also submit a Freedom of Information Act Request to BOP to fetch more details about an arrestee.

Free Arrest Record Search in Arlington County

Third-party websites can be accessed to view details about arrested individuals, their charges, and holding facilities. These are non-official platforms not affiliated with law enforcement agencies or courts. However, some disseminate publicly available data obtained from multiple criminal justice agencies at no cost.

Official resources such as the DOC, BOP, and Sheriff's inmate search tools are also available for free. Interested parties can also view criminal court records containing arresting information without cost.

Get Arlington County Criminal Records

An individual's criminal record contains details about their arrests, prosecutions, sentencing, and correctional supervision. This record can be obtained through the courts and the Virginia State Police.

One can access the Virginia Judiciary's Online Case Information System to view criminal court records. Search parameters include name, case number, or hearing date. The name search option offers other filters like the court level and division. The system displays the following:

• Offense date
• Defendant status (whether in custody and where)
• Case type
• Arrest date
• Disposition (verdict, sentence, fines)
• Charges (including class and amended charges)

Members of the public can also request copies of court documents from the court clerk's offices, including the circuit and general district clerks. For instance, the Arlington Circuit Court has jurisdiction over every type of criminal case but mostly handles serious offenses like felonies. Meanwhile, the Arlington General District Court adjudicates traffic violations and other cases classed as misdemeanors. It also holds preliminary hearings for felony cases to determine probable cause.

People looking to obtain circuit court documents can send requests to the clerk by email at CCT-DocRequest@arlingtonva.us. For district court records, interested parties can contact the clerk's office using the following details:

1425 North Courthouse Road
Suite 2400
2nd Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: (703) 228-7900

Individuals seeking comprehensive criminal records can approach the Virginia State Police's Civil & Applicant Records Exchange (CARE). The exchange is established by statute to compile criminal history records on individuals apprehended and tried within the Commonwealth's justice system. However, only authorized entities can access the service for non-criminal purposes, per VA Code §19.2-389:

• Agencies or individuals who have reached agreements with criminal justice agencies to obtain criminal history records for various purposes
• Individuals requesting their criminal histories
• Parties with a court order
• Certain organizations looking to verify the suitability of job applicants for sensitive positions
• License issuers and entities looking to obtain licenses

The request process involves filling out forms SP-167 or SP-230, depending on the request type, and submitting them to CARE. People requesting criminal record checks on other individuals must submit form SP-167, which must contain the subject's notarized signature. The form can also be used by out-of-state agencies, private companies, and people seeking to obtain their criminal histories.

Meanwhile, Form SP-230 is reserved for agencies providing care to children, the elderly, and the mentally challenged; foster care and adoption agencies, security outfits, and the state lottery; and public agencies, such as school boards and regulators.

Further, companies can use the National Criminal Background Check For Employees or Volunteers form (SP-325) to request background checks for Virginia residents seeking employment to care for disabled individuals, children, and the elderly.

Interested parties can obtain more details by visiting the Virginia Criminal History Record Check website.

Arlington County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Criminal records often contain arrest information, but arrest records are more limited. One cannot determine the outcome of any criminal case by focusing solely on the arrest record. Instead, they can only see details about a person's apprehension and confinement.

Criminal records, however, present a broader overview of a person's criminal past. They provide details not only about a related arrest but also about a case's final outcome (such as whether a person was convicted).

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

The timeframe within which an arrest lasts on a person's record depends on whether the individual was convicted and the type of offense that necessitated the arrest. Most non-convictions are eligible for expungement, which removes public access to the related arrest and court documents/information. Also, a person's juvenile record is automatically expunged once they turn 19 years old and have had no other juvenile hearings for 5 years. Some convictions can also be automatically sealed per VA Code §§ 19.2-392.7 through 19.2-392.11 or sealed by a petition-based process per VA Code §§ 19.2-392.12.

However, law enforcement authorities and judicial agencies can generally access restricted records.

Expunge Arlington County Arrest Records

Virginia law talks about expunging arrest and criminal records, but the process does not physically destroy records, as seen in some other states. Instead, records are sealed off from public access and cannot be seen even during statutory background checks for non-criminal purposes. However, law enforcement, courts, and subjects of expunged records can still access them pursuant to VA Code § 19.2-392.3.

Individuals can expunge their records if any of the following reflects their situation:

• Charges were never filed (nolle prosequi)
• Charges were filed and dismissed
• Charges were filed, and the case ended in an acquittal or not-guilty verdict

Eligible persons can follow these steps to expunge their records:

• Fill out form CC-1473 (Petition for Expungement Filed in a Circuit Court - Acquittal/Dismissal) and provide the required information.
• Send a request to the Central Criminal Records Exchange of the Virginia State Police asking them to forward the applicant's criminal history to the circuit court.
• Deliver a copy of the petition to the Commonwealth Attorney in Arlington.
• If a person is a victim of mistaken identity or identity theft, they must be fingerprinted by a local law enforcement agency. Further, the petitioner must file for relief in the specific court that convicted them rather than the circuit court (which is the place of filing for all other expungement petitions).

Once the petition is filed, the court will hear the case and decide whether to grant or deny the petition for expungement.

Arlington County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a written authorization permitting law enforcement to capture identified individuals. Per VA Code § 19.2-71, clerks and judges of general district courts, circuit courts, and juvenile and domestic relations district courts can issue arrest warrants in Arlington. The law also permits magistrates to issue these orders.

To issue an arrest warrant in Arlington, the issuing authority typically evaluates complaints against defendants to determine whether there are grounds to approve an arrest. Law enforcement officers or members of the public can submit these complaints to courts.

However, the following limitations apply:

• Magistrates cannot issue felony arrest warrants unless the complaints are submitted by animal control/law enforcement officers or individuals with authorization from the Commonwealth Attorney or police agency with jurisdiction over the case.
• Law enforcement officers must obtain authorization from the Commonwealth Attorney before seeking arrest warrants related to aggravated murder.

Warrants are directed to police officers, contain the names of the accused individuals or their descriptions if their names are not known, state the alleged crime, and bear the issuing authority's signature.

Arlington County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals who want to know if they have a warrant issued for their arrest can visit the Arlington Police Department or Sheriff's Office for confirmation. They can also approach these offices to confirm whether another person has an active warrant or if they have information about a wanted individual.

Additionally, people can inspect court documents using methods provided by the courts to determine if a specific court held a warrant hearing and subsequently issued an arrest warrant.

Do Arlington County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Once issued, arrest warrants remain valid until executed by law enforcement. However, warrants can be resolved when subjects turn themselves in to answer for their crimes or settle their underlying court obligations. Further, a judge can recall a warrant that may have been issued erroneously or when new evidence proves an individual is innocent of the alleged crime for which a warrant was approved.