Hampton County Arrest Records

Arrests in Hampton County are typically carried out with a warrant. Per § 19.2-72, an arrest warrant is issued when a magistrate or any other authorized officer is satisfied that there is probable cause that a crime has been committed. However, law enforcement in Hampton County may only make a warrantless arrest under the circumstances outlined in 10-2-81, generally when there is probable cause to believe the individual is a danger to themselves, society, or others. Following an arrest, the law enforcement agent typically brings the offender to the nearest police department or jail to be booked and brought before the magistrate. This is the beginning of the criminal court case procedure and the records generated in the process become part of the Hampton County Court Records.

The Hampton County police department is the primary custodian of arrest records. Information obtained from an arrest record may be used to build up a case for a criminal court proceeding and may become a part of an offender's criminal history record.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hampton County?

Yes. Hampton County arrest records are open to the public under the Virginia Public Records Act. Members of the public may request to obtain or view copies of arrest records from any custodian or law enforcement agency in Hampton County. However, some records or information are required to be exempt from public inspection by law. They include

• Criminal investigative files
• Information given to state and local law enforcement organizations or investigators in confidence
• Juvenile arrest records
• The identification of any person offering information about criminal activity or illegal conduct under the promise of anonymity
• Records from the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry
• Identification of any victim, witness, or undercover officer, as well as investigative techniques or processes
• Documents or information whose publication would jeopardize the safety of law enforcement agents or the general public.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The information that may be found in a Hampton County arrest record typically includes

• Case number
• Offender's complete name
• Offender's age, race, and sex
• Date the offense was committed
• Date and time of arrest
• Mugshot of the offender
• Circumstances surrounding the arrest
• Case type
• Case status
• Arresting officer
• Charges the arrestee is facing
• Location of arrest.

Hampton County Crime Rate

The Hampton Police Department provides comprehensive annual statistics of crimes committed within the county. According to the report, simple assault/ intimidation was the most reported offense numbering 1,997. Commercial burglary and destruction/damage/vandalism were the second and third most reported offenses at 1,670 and 1,589 respectively. Other crimes, such as weapon law violation, fraud, and drug/narcotics offenses, numbered 601, 570, and 44,3, respectively.

The Virginia State Police also compiles various data sets related to crime and law enforcement in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Interested persons may view the number of crimes committed by the county annually.

Hampton County Arrest Statistics

Per the HPD’s Year to Date Statistics, a total of 761 arrests were made in 2023. Public intoxication had the highest number of arrests at 192. Narcotics offenses, driving under the influence, and drunk in public numbered 172, 142, and 89, respectively.

The Virginia State Police also provides information on arrest statistics within the state. Data includes arrest by age range, race, sex, and offense.

The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) provides arrest statistics for the state of Virginia. According to the report for the year 2018, a total of 268,094 arrests were made in Virginia, with arrests for drug abuse violations numbering the highest at 45,409. Arrests for other assaults numbered 30,541, while property crimes and larceny/theft numbered 26,694 and 23,014 respectively. Arrests made for all other offenses apart from traffic numbered 91,669.

Find Hampton County Arrest Records

Anyone who wishes to look up an arrest record in Hampton County may contact the police department. This public agency maintains law and order and makes the most arrests within the county. Therefore, eligible people may obtain an arrest record by requesting the police department's office.

The Virginia Department of Corrections provides information on offenders who have been convicted of a crime. Through the use of the Inmate Locator, anyone can search by providing the full name and ID number of the inmate. Inmates who are not under the custody of the VADOC will not appear in the search results.

Alternatively, interested persons may utilize the Federal Inmate Locator maintained by the Bureau of Prisons. A search can be conducted by name or by number. Records about federal prisoners incarcerated from 1982 to the present are available in this database.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hampton County

To find arrest record information online, visit the HPD Police 2 Citizen portal and click on the “Event Search” header. Tick the “Arrest” box, and fill in the appropriate information. Click on “Search”. Alternatively, click on the “Daily Bulletin” header. Under the “Event Type” filter, choose “Arrest” and select a date under the “Bulletin Date” header. Click on “Update”.

Alternatively, interested persons may look up arrest records for free through the use of third-party websites. These websites, which are independently owned, offer arrest records search services to the general public. The full name of the subject, as well as other basic information, is typically required to conduct a successful search. While simple searches can be carried out for free, members of the public may need to register, subscribe, or pay a fee to conduct an in-depth search.

Get Hampton County Criminal Records

Virginia Law § 19.2-387 defines a criminal history record as information gathered by criminal justice agencies concerning an offender. It includes detailed descriptions and notes on arrests, detentions, indictments, or other formal criminal charges, as well as any subsequent dispositions. A criminal record also includes information on acquittal, sentencing, correctional monitoring, or release.

The Hampton County Central Records Unit is responsible for criminal records within the county. To obtain a criminal record, the subject of the criminal record must visit the unit in person along with a driver's license or a picture ID. This transcript will only contain local offenses committed in Hampton and will not include juvenile offenses. A $15 fee is required to conduct a criminal history check by name.

The Virginia State Police maintains and disseminates criminal history records. Requestors may obtain a criminal record on someone by filling and submitting the SP-167 form. After typing in the correct information, click “confirm”. After confirming that all the information provided is correct, click on submit. This will generate the form, which should be printed. Both the signature of the person making the request and the signature of the subject must be notarized for the criminal record to be released.

Furthermore, individuals can also acquire their criminal history record by filing a written request to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division. Requests may be made online or via mail. The rap sheets submitted by criminal justice systems to the FBI can only be accessed by eligible persons or entities with federal or state backing.

Hampton County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrests take place when a person is detained by law enforcement on suspicion of committing a crime. A Hampton County arrest record does not prove guilt; it only indicates that there is reasonable cause to assume the individual was involved in criminal activity.

A criminal record is a detailed account of a person's interactions with law enforcement and the judicial system. Information typically found in a criminal record may include arrest warrants, police arrest and incident reports, court documents, and court case outcomes. Some of the information contained in a criminal record is open for public inspection. It is commonly used by employers and landlords to do background checks.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest in Hampton County may remain on a person's record indefinitely. There is no limited timeline imposed in Virginia for erasing an arrest record. The only legal way to remove arrest records is to have them expunged or sealed.

Expunge Hampton County Arrest Records

An individual may request to have an arrest record expunged by filing a petition to the Hampton County Circuit Court. Under Chapter 23.1 of the Code of Virginia, arrest records can be expunged if a person charged with the commission of a crime is acquitted or the charge is dismissed. An arrest record can also be expunged if someone whose name or other identity has been used by an offender or arrested while using it without that person's permission or authority, an arrest record expungement

Documents and information required include a copy of the warrant, summons, or indictment, date of arrest, and the name of the arresting agency, the specific criminal charge to be expunged. The date of final disposition of the charge as outlined in the petition, the petitioner's date of birth, and the full name used by the petitioner at the time of arrest will also be required when filing for an expungement.

The petitioner may also request that the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) electronically or physically forward a copy of the petitioner's Virginia criminal history record to the circuit court in which the petition was filed. The attorney of the Commonwealth will then be served a copy of the petition upon which the attorney will file an answer within 21 days.

After receiving a petition, the court will conduct a hearing, and if the court approves the expungement, it will issue an order mandating that all court and police records, including electronic ones, about the charge be expunged.

Hampton County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an order issued by a magistrate or judge authorizing a law enforcement agency to arrest someone if there is sufficient evidence of criminal conduct. Arrest warrants in Hampton County are issued following the Virginia Code § 19.2-72. To issue an arrest warrant, an authorized officer receives a complaint of a criminal offense from a law enforcement agent. He then questions the complainant and any other witnesses under oath. If the officer believes that an offense that carries a sentence other than a fine has been committed, he may summon witnesses without filing a formal complaint and question them.

After examining the written complaint, if the officer is satisfied that there is probable cause to believe that the accused has committed an offense, the officer then issues a warrant for the arrest of the accused. A Hampton County arrest warrant contains the following details

• Direction to the appropriate law enforcement agent or agencies
• The name of the accused or a description by which the accused may be identified
• Description of the offense charged
• A command that the accused be arrested and brought before the appropriate court
• Signature of the issuing officer.

Hampton County Arrest Warrant Search

Several public organizations and law enforcement agencies offer information on arrest warrants in Hampton County. Interested persons may search for active warrants in Hampton County through the Hampton County Sheriff's Office. Inquiries can be made at the sheriff's office in person, or via mail. The Hampton Police Department also provides a Wanted List on the “Police 2 Citizen” portal. Members of the public may also visit the police department in person to look up active warrants.

Furthermore, an individual may contact the Hampton County Circuit Court. Individuals may visit the circuit court during working hours to look up arrest warrants. A valid ID of the requestor may be required to process the search. Alternatively, one can view arrest warrant information by looking up the Most Wanted List provided by the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Do Hampton County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants do not expire in Virginia. However, per § 19.2-76.1, upon the submission and receipt of quarterly reports concerning some unexecuted warrants, the attorney for the Commonwealth may petition the court for the destruction of such unexecuted arrest warrants. The list includes

• Felony arrest warrants that have not been executed within seven years of the date of issuance
• Misdemeanor arrest warrants, summonses and capiases, and other criminal processes that have not been executed within three years from the date of issuance
• Misdemeanor arrest warrants, summonses, and capiases that were issued for a now deceased person, based on mistaken identity or as a result of any other technical or legal error