Chesterfield County Arrest Records

In Chesterfield County, arrest records provide details of persons taken into custody. Law enforcement officials may arrest someone with or without a warrant by Section 19.2-81.3 of the Code of Virginia if they reasonably suspect that the subject of the arrest has committed a crime. Simply put, they have to prove that the arrest was warranted. Such proof would comprise the officer's observations, witness accounts, and tangible evidence.

After arrest, suspects are brought to the closest jail, where they are processed and booked. This procedure takes place in the Chesterfield County Jail located at:

Chesterfield County Jail
319 Goodale Road,
Chesterfield, VA 23832

Arrest records are filed by the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office. The name of the arrested person, the charges brought against them, the date and time of the arrest, and the arresting agency are all listed in these records. It's crucial to remember that arrest records go under the larger heading of Chesterfield County Court Records, which includes all official records on county court cases. These documents offer proof and a case history and are essential to the judicial procedure.

Are Arrest Records Public in Chesterfield County?

Yes. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) safeguards the right of Chesterfield County citizens to access arrest records from public record-keeping agencies freely. However, the FOIA restricts the public's ability to view arrest records. Among these exclusions are:

• Names of dependents of law enforcement officials, addresses, social security numbers, and medical histories are examples of personal information.
• Documents with information that may put the public at risk, such as correspondence about monitored domestic abuse.
• Documents of ongoing criminal trials or inquiries.
• Details of pending legal or disciplinary actions.

Additionally, the FOIA sets out conditions that residents must meet before accessing Chesterfield County arrest records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The Virginia State Police and the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office provide county residents access to arrest-related information. This summarizes the data that interested parties can find in an arrest record:

• The entire name and birthdate of the individual.
• Gender, height, race, and eye color of the arrested person.
• The precise time, date, and place of the arrest.
• The cause of the arrest and any preliminary complaints
• The name, badge number, and assignment of the arresting officer are all personal information.

However, the outcome of the arrest or the court case is not disclosed in an arrest record since it is a preliminary document.

Chesterfield County Crime Rate

The Virginia State Police (VSP) keeps track of all criminal information within the state, including Chesterfield County, and reports it to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Programme. The 2019 report states that state and county police reported 6299 offenses in Chesterfield County. A total of 458 violent offenses were reported, comprising 115 rapes, 146 robberies, 185 aggravated assaults, and 12 murders. In addition, the county recorded 5841 property crimes, including 30 arsons, 312 motor vehicle thefts, 642 burglaries, and 4887 larceny thefts. Four hundred thirty-seven violent crimes, including ten murders, 97 rapes, 160 robberies, and 170 aggravated assaults, were reported in Chesterfield County in 2017. In addition, the county recorded 6208 property crimes, which included 42 arsons, 366 motor vehicle thefts, 5005 larceny thefts, and 837 burglaries. Between 2017 and 2019, Chesterfield County's overall crime rate rose by 1.5%.

Chesterfield County Arrest Statistics

According to a 2021 crime report by the Virginia Sheriff’s Association, there were a total of 8,660 arrests made in Chesterfield County. Of those arrests, 4,479 arrests made in Chesterfield County were for Group A arrests, that is, arrests for the most serious offenses. Meanwhile, 4,181 were for Group B offenses–less serious offenses.

Find Chesterfield County Arrest Records

Record seekers can find information about those detained or admitted to municipal jails and state prisons in Virginia in inmate records. Jail records give details regarding an inmate's incarceration and eventual release in addition to identifying them.

Public access to inmate records in Chesterfield County is available through the Chesterfield County Jail. Interested parties may submit requests containing an inmate's data, such as full name, booking date, charge information, and other known characteristics. Searchers should send requests to the following address:

Chesterfield County Jail
6900 Mimms Drive
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: (804) 748-1476

Alternatively, interested parties can find inmate records through the Virginia Department of Corrections. The department supervises the operations of all state prisons and probation and parole offices. For record seekers to see the records of inmates incarcerated in Virginia state prisons, they should use the Offender Locator tool on the VADOC website.

Free Arrest Record Search in Chesterfield County

Although official sources are the most trustworthy, free inmate searches are available on certain third-party websites. These websites compile information from various public records, including details about arrests and incarcerations. It's important to remember that there may be variations in the completeness and accuracy of the material on these websites. Those looking for records should verify information from official government sources found on unaffiliated websites.

Get Chesterfield County Criminal Records

Under Virginia Code §19.2-389, criminal records for Chesterfield County are public documents. Therefore, the Virginia State Police accepts requests by mail or online from anybody interested in acquiring criminal records. Depending on the requester, many criminal record history checks are accessible. The SP-167 is the universal one, and it is available to all residents. Another is the SP-230, which is exclusively accessible to Virginia-registered childcare facilities. SP-325 is the third, and it is utilized to screen possible hires.

The Criminal History Request Form (SP-167), available from the VSP, can be completed by anybody requesting information and mail. Requesters are advised to submit records requests to:

Civil & Applicant Records Exchange (CARE)
Virginia State Police
P.O. Box 85076
Richmond, VA 23285

Chesterfield County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Despite their apparent similarities, it's essential to know the differences in Berkeley County between arrest and criminal records:

• Arrest Records: These prove that a person was detained during a possible criminal investigation. Details, including the person's identity, the charges brought against them, the date and time of the arrest, and the arresting agency, are usually included. A criminal history may not always indicate guilt or conviction.
• Criminal Records: These document the verdicts and punishments rendered during the judicial proceedings. They might include details regarding court orders, arrests, and sentencing.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

There is no time limit for how long an arrest stays on a person’s record in Chesterfield County. It will remain on the record if the person does not apply for it to be sealed or expunged.

Expunge Chesterfield County Arrest Records

Through the process of expungement, police and court records about an arrest and charges against a person who was not found guilty can be hidden from the public eye. This does not imply that the documents have been lost. The documents are removed from public access and are only visible with a judge's approval (such as to a law enforcement officer)

Who is eligible to have their record expunged?

The following persons are qualified to have their records sealed or destroyed.

• A person who enters a "not guilty" plea in a criminal matter and is later found not guilty by a judge or jury.
• An accused party in a civil case is acquitted of contempt of court charges.
• A defendant in a criminal case in which the Commonwealth Attorney's office chooses not to pursue charges against them in full (nolle prosequi).
• If the victim of the assault and battery charges certifies in writing that they are satisfied with the outcome of their injuries, the case is dropped against the defendant, who may also be sued in a civil action.
• A person whose identity or name has been exploited in a criminal case without their knowledge or agreement (identity theft).
• A criminal defendant who is found guilty but later granted a complete pardon.

To obtain an expungement, one must file a petition with the circuit court in the jurisdiction of the police force responsible for making the charges. If there is a mistaken identity conviction, the petition should be filed in the court that decided the case. It does not matter if a lower court heard the case. Obtaining an expungement in Virginia is only possible if the specific criteria are met. Even if the judge is sympathetic to the reason for needing an expungement, they can only grant it if the situation meets the legal requirements.

Chesterfield County Arrest Warrants

An official court document known as an arrest warrant from Virginia provides law enforcement with the legal right to detain a person of interest. An arrest warrant permits police officers to examine the subject thoroughly. In Virginia, the only people who can authorize arrest warrants are judges and magistrate judges. Law enforcement officials obtaining arrest warrants must demonstrate probable cause before signing and issuing them. A law enforcement officer may only arrest someone without a warrant if they are the victim of a crime they have observed. An arrest warrant for Virginia provides the following details:

• Name and additional personal information of the warrant's subject
• The alleged crime for which the defendant is expected to face charges
• Potential arrest location and timing
• Date of expiration (for some warrants)
• The warrant's date of issuance and the name of the presiding judge

Chesterfield County Arrest Warrant Search

People searching for active arrest warrants in Chesterfield County can do so at the Sheriff’s Office. The office maintains an active warrant list, updated and published on the last day of every month. The list reflects data in the Chesterfield County Police Records Management System during report production.

Do Chesterfield County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Chesterfield County arrest warrants typically never expire. They are still in effect up until one of the following circumstances occurs:

• When the police have made an arrest.
• When the police have dropped charges.
• The judge recalls the warrant. However, this does not happen often.