Hanover County Arrest Records

Arrest records contain a compilation of individuals' apprehensions by law enforcement. Per federal and Virginia State statutes, a law enforcement officer can effect an arrest if

• A judge/magistrate issues a warrant.
• They witness a crime.
• There is reasonable suspicion of felony, domestic violence, or evidence of imminent crime.

The Hanover County Sheriff's Office, Virginia State Police, and local police departments create arrest records to account for individuals they detain or incarcerate at the Pamunkey Regional Jail or their holding facilities.

Hanover County arrest records play a crucial role in the county's criminal trials; they are part of Hanover County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hanover County?

Arrest records are public in Hanover County and the whole of the United States. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act guarantees public access to government records in the possession of public bodies, officials, or employees. Nonetheless, the public cannot access Hanover County arrest records if its information violates state or federal privacy laws. These include Hanover arrest records relating to

• Minor offenders
• Ongoing judicial or law enforcement investigations
• Victim or witness information
• Sealed or expunged cases
• Identities of undercover officers
• Security-related information
• Confidential Informants.

To access an exempted Hanover County arrest record, a requester must be authorized by the law or legal order.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

An arrest record describes the circumstances of an arrest. They include the following information:

• Personal information of the arrestee (this includes name, aliases, date of birth, address, physical description)
• Date, time, and location of arrest
• Arresting Officers’ names and badge numbers
• Charges against the arrestee
• The name of the arresting agency
• Mugshots, fingerprints, and booking number
• Charges against the arrestee
• Bail or Bond amount.

Hanover County Crime Rate

Annual crime reports from the Hanover County Sheriff's Office show a decrease in the Hanover County crime rate between 2020 and 2021. In 2021, there were 2739 crime incident reports, 14.75% lower than the previous year. During this period, larceny-theft was the most consistent crime. There were 801 and 714 larceny-related crimes in Hanover County in 2021 and 2020. Also, 927 of the 1,216 crime incidents reported to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) by the Hanover County Sheriff's Office and the Virginia State Police were larceny-related.

Hanover County Arrest Statistics

FBI UCR arrest statistics show a decline in arrests within Hanover County between 2020 and 2022. In 2022, the Hanover County Sheriff's Office reported 2,883 arrests to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). This is a significant drop from the 3014 and 3,376 arrests in 2021, and 2020. There were declines in the number of arrests across several age categories. The tables below show the Hanover County Sheriff's Office and the Virginia State Police statistics for male and female arrests across different age brackets between 2020 and 2022.

Hanover County Sheriff's Office Arrest Statistics 2020 to 2022

Virginia State Arrest Statistics for Hanover County 2020 to 2022

Data Source: FBI UCR.

Find Hanover County Arrest Records

There are several options for accessing Hanover County arrest records. To obtain information about Hanover County arrest, records should

• Call or visit the Hanover County Sheriff's Office at

7522 County Complex Road, Hanover,
VA 23069
Phone: (804) 365-6110

• Log in to the Hanover County JailTracker Portal, and use names to view Hanover County arrest information through inmate records
• Log in to the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System 2.0 webpage and use names to search for Hanover County arrest records through criminal records
• Search for Hanover County arrest records using third-party online resources. Some private websites may offer access to Hanover County law enforcement records.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hanover County

For free access to Hanover County arrest records:

• Log in to the Hanover County JailTracker Portal and perform a name-based search for Hanover County arrest information for free
• Visit the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System and use names to access Hanover County arrest records through criminal records
• Search online for Hanover County arrest records, some private online websites may offer basic arrest information for free.

Get Hanover County Criminal Records

Hanover County criminal records refer to official documents that detail arrests, and criminal convictions of individuals within the county. These documents are in the possession of the Hanover County courts, Sheriff's Office, and Virginia State Police maintain criminal records of convicts.

To access Hanover County criminal histories:

• Visit the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System 2.0 webpage:
  • Accept the terms to access the search page
  • Select Hanover Circuit, J&DR, and General District Courts from the Court options
  • Enter a name into the search tools and click Search
• Send a mail or visit the Hanover County Circuit Court Clerk's Office at

Hanover County Circuit Court Clerk's Office

7530 County Complex Road, Hanover,
VA 23069
P.O. Box 39, Hanover, VA 23069

• Call, email, or send a mail to the Virginia State Police Area 1 Office for background checks at

9300 Brook Road, Glen Allen,
Virginia 23060
Phone: (804) 553-3444
Email: area01@vsp.virginia.gov.

Hanover County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Hanover County arrest and criminal records are related documents. However, there are some differences between them. The list below outlines some of the distinctions between Hanover County arrests and criminal records:

Contents

• Arrest records contain information relating to law enforcement apprehension of individuals for arrestable crimes
• Criminal records contain official details of individuals criminal histories (including arrests, legal Proceedings, and incarcerations)

Outcome

• An arrest record does not indicate guilt or innocence of the owner for a suspected crime
• A criminal record confirms conviction for a criminal offense

Impact

• Arrest records may affect employment, housing, and other opportunities
• Criminal records have bigger effects on employment, housing, and social status. Also, it limits opportunities.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest will stay on a record indefinitely if the court does not seal or remove it. Per Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2, an eligible individual can expunge police or court records after a successful petition to the court.

Expunge Hanover County Arrest Records

Expungement of arrest records refers to the removal or sealing of arrest information from public access. In Hanover County (and the rest of Virginia), arrest information may be eligible for expungement if

• The outcome of the case resulting from the arrest is dismissal or acquittal
• The owner of the record completes the sentence for the offense
• The convict receives a pardon from the Virginia State governor
• The arrest was due to a mistaken identity
• The individual has no previous convictions
• The record is for a non-violent offense.

The following steps may help eligible persons to seal or remove arrest information from their records:

• Obtain the final disposition of the case resulting from the arrest (this is usually available through the court responsible for the prosecution)
• Download and fill out Form CC-1473 (Petition For Expungement)
• File a petition with the Hanover County Circuit Clerk's Office
• Pay all applicable fees. Generally, it costs $86.00 to file an expungement petition with the Hanover County Circuit Court (there may be additional charges for fingerprinting services which range from $5.00 to $20.00)
• Serve a copy of the petition to the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Hanover County
• Attend any court hearing relating to the petition to provide answers to questions and counter any objections from interested parties
• Wait for the court to evaluate the petition. If the court grants the expungement, it will order relevant agencies to seal the record and follow up with the Virginia State Police and any other relevant agencies to ensure they update their databases.

Hanover County Arrest Warrants

Hanover County arrest warrants refer to court documents authorizing law enforcement to take an individual into custody. A judge/magistrate of the Hanover County Circuit, General District, or Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court may issue an arrest warrant if law enforcement shows probable cause that an individual

• Committed a crime
• Is committing a crime
• Is a personal or public threat
• Disobey court orders or disregard a summon.

Typically, an arrest warrant contains the following information:

• Warrant number
• Jurisdiction where the warrant is valid
• The name of the issuing judge/magistrate
• Full name, address, aliases, and physical description of the subject/defendant
• Charges against the subject
• The warrant's issuance and expiry dates
• Seal or signature of the issuing authority
• Bail amount (if applicable)
• Instructions on how law enforcement should execute the arrest.

Hanover County Arrest Warrant Search

To access Hanover County active arrest warrants:

• Log in to the Hanover County Sheriff's Office Most Wanted webpage for information on the county's fugitives
• Contact the Virginia State Police or visit their website and look for information relating to active Hanover County arrest warrants
• Call the Hanover County Circuit Court Clerk's Office at (804) 365-6151, or Hanover County General District Court at (804) 365-6191 and request information on active arrest warrants
• Search online for information on active Hanover County arrest records through third-party websites. Some third-party websites may have databases on Hanover County law enforcement information.

Do Hanover County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Generally, arrest warrants do not expire, they remain active irrespective of the number of years until law enforcement apprehends the subject. Notwithstanding, a Hanover County arrest warrant will become inactive if the court quashes it or the subject dies.