Caroline County Arrest Records

Caroline County arrest records are law enforcement documents created by the Caroline County Sheriff's Office, Virginia State Police, municipal police departments, and other law enforcement agencies to detail the arrests of individuals within the county. These documents play a crucial role in law enforcement within Caroline County and are accessible through law enforcement offices and Caroline County court records.

In Virginia, law officers arrest individuals if they have evidence of crimes. Also, an arrest becomes imminent if a judge/magistrate issues arrest warrants. The Caroline County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies within the county incarcerate the individual they arrest at the Pamunkey Regional Jail (this is the primary detention facility for arrestees awaiting trials, sentencing and those on short-term incarcerations). Caroline County law enforcement agencies detain juvenile offenders at the Rappahannock Juvenile Detention Center and transfer felons and long-term convicts to the Virginia Department of Corrections facilities.

Are Arrest Records Public in Caroline County?

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act mandates public access to Caroline County arrest records. However, Virginia laws restrict public access to some arrest records. The public cannot access Caroline County arrest information relating to juvenile arrests, ongoing law enforcement investigations, sealed or expunged cases, witnesses and victims information, national security and public safety, and documents and information protected by federal and Virginia privacy laws.

Access to exempted arrest records is limited to the documents and individuals authorized by law. For up-to-date information about Caroline County arrests, call, mail, or visit the Caroline County Sheriff's Office at:

118 Courthouse Lane,
Bowling Green,
VA 22427
Phone: (804) 633-1120

Caroline County Arrest Statistics

Statistics show a rising trend in Caroline County arrests from 2021 to 2023. The FBI arrest reports show that 702 individuals were taken into custody by Caroline County law enforcement agencies in 2021.

In 2022 and 2023, there were 837 and 921 arrests by the same agencies. Within the period under review, 74.5% of arrestees were males, and simple assault incidents accounted for the most arrests. The table below outlines the different arrest incidents within Caroline County between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023.

Find Caroline County Arrest Records

Caroline County arrest records are law enforcement documents accessible through the Caroline County Sheriff's Office or other law enforcement agencies within the county. Also, arrest records are accessible as part of court records if they provide information during criminal trials. Public members seeking access to Caroline County arrest records should:

• Contact the Caroline County Sheriff's Office or the arresting law enforcement agencies and make formal requests to access the arrest records in their possession.
• Visit the Pamunkey Regional Jail Who's in Jail Page and look for information about Caroline County arrestees serving prison terms. Alternatively, call or visit the Pamunkey Regional Jail at:

7516 County Complex Road,
Hanover
VA 23068
Phone: (804) 365-6000

• Requests access to Caroline County court-related arrest records through the Caroline County Clerk of Court Office at:

112 Courthouse Lane,
Bowling Green,
VA 22427
Phone: (804) 633-5800

• Access Caroline County arrest records through the Virginia State Police Criminal History Record checks (this may involve fee payments and the consent of the record owners).

Caroline County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Caroline County arrests and criminal records have several distinguishing factors. These include their creation, content, legal implications, and impact on their owners. The table below summarizes the differences between them.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest information stays permanently on records if the courts do not remove them. Section 19.2-392.2 of the Virginia Code grants owners of arrest records the right to petition the courts to seal or remove them if:

• The arrest results in dismissal, acquittal, or no charges
• The owner of the record is a victim of identity theft
• The arrest record owner receives an absolute pardon.

Beginning October 1, 2025, misdemeanor arrests that do not result in convictions will automatically seal their records. Also, misdemeanor convicts (excluding domestic assaults and battery, and DUIs) can petition the courts to seal their records if they fulfill other qualifying criteria.

Caroline County Arrest Warrants

Caroline County arrest warrants are official orders from any of the Caroline County courts to law enforcement to arrest individuals. Judges/magistrates of Caroline County courts may issue arrest warrants to law enforcement and prosecutors if there is probable cause to believe that individuals committed arrestable acts. The courts may also issue warrants to arrest individuals who disregard court orders, violate probations or paroles, commit domestic violence, or flout restraining orders.

Generally, an arrest warrant contains the following information or more:

• Full name, last known address, and physical description of the wanted person
• Charges against the individual
• Sections of the law allegedly violated
• Date of issuance of the warrant
• An affidavit or statement of probable cause from law enforcement
• Name and signature of the authorizing judge/magistrate
• Orders to law enforcement to take the subject into custody
• The geographical jurisdiction of the warrant
• Instructions on how law enforcement should execute the warrant
• Name and location of the issuing court.

Do Caroline County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Caroline County or any part of the United States do not have expiry dates. If the Caroline County Circuit, General District, or Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court issues an arrest warrant, it will remain active until law officers apprehend the subject. However, arrest warrants become inactive if the subjects die or the court revokes them or settles the underlying cases.

Although arrest records do not expire, statutes of limitations on the associated crimes, lack of probable cause, clerical errors, non-adherence to legal procedures, and non-specificity of the subject may invalidate Caroline County arrest warrants.

Per Virginia and U.S. laws, if a crime has a statute of limitation, prosecutors must file charges against the suspects within this period. Otherwise, any associated arrest warrant becomes invalid; the court cannot issue new warrants outside the statute of limitation.