Henry County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Henry County, Virginia, contain information about arrests made by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement in the county. The Henry County Detention Center houses inmates detained within the county.

In some cases, arrest records in Henry County form the basis for legal proceedings and, consequently, become part of Henry County Court Records. Together, these records provide a comprehensive view of an individual’s interactions with the criminal justice system in Henry County.

Are Arrest Records Public in Henry County?

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Henry County arrest records are public records that interested persons in the county can inspect, view, and copy. It should be noted that certain arrest records may be exempt from public view. These include:

• Confidential information, proprietary information, trade secrets, and financial information.
• Records of active investigations.
• Health records.
• Reports and court documents required to be kept confidential.
• Sealed or expunged records.
• Juvenile records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Henry County public arrest records include the following information:

• Personal details of the arrested person, including name, aliases, date of birth, address, and physical description.
• Arrest details, such as date, time, and location of the arrest, and the arresting agency.
• Information regarding the alleged offense.
• Case information.
• Booking information and mugshot.

Henry County Arrest Statistics

The Virginia State Police (VSP) publishes annual arrest and crime statistics reports for all counties in the state. In 2023, Henry County reported a total number of 190, including 91 violent crime arrests and 99 property crime arrests. The violent crime arrests included ten for murder, six for rape, seven for robberies, and 68 for aggravated assaults. The property crime arrests included 22 for burglary, 56 for larceny, 20 for motor vehicle theft, and one for arson.

Find Henry County Arrest Records

Individuals may call the Henry County Detention Center at (276) 618-7158 to find Henry County arrest records and inmate information. Likewise, information on inmates currently housed at Henry County Detention Center and state correctional facilities is accessible on the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC). Interested persons can use the VADOC Inmate Locator to search for current inmates. It can be searched by name, inmate ID number, alias, age, sex, and race.

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) provides the BOP inmate locator for individuals who may be incarcerated in federal facilities. Users can enter the inmate’s details, such as their name or BOP number, to find records and incarceration status.

Free Arrest Record Search in Henry County

There are options available to persons looking for free resources to search for arrest records and inmate information in Henry County. You can contact the Henry County Detention Center at (276) 618-7158. The VADOC Inmate Locator can be used to search for inmates in state facilities by name, inmate ID number, alias, age, sex, and race. At the federal level, you can use the BOP inmate locator and enter the inmate’s details, such as their name or BOP number, to find records and incarceration status.

There are third-party websites that offer aggregated public records, including arrest records. While these sites may provide free access, it is important to use them with caution. This is because the reliability and accuracy of information from third-party websites can vary. Always cross-check the data with official sources when possible to confirm its validity.

Henry County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

While arrest records and criminal records are often used interchangeably, they refer to different types of documents within the criminal justice system in Henry County. Arrest records document specific incidents where law enforcement took individuals into custody. They include details about the arrest itself but do not necessarily indicate that the individual was convicted of a crime.

Criminal records are more comprehensive documents that contain information about an individual’s entire criminal history. This includes arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences over time. Criminal records provide a complete picture of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. They are often used for background checks in employment, licensing, and legal matters.

Arrest records focus solely on the event of an arrest, while criminal records encompass a broader history, including all legal actions taken against the individual. Also, an arrest record does not imply guilt or conviction, whereas a criminal record may reflect convictions and sentences.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Virginia, arrests generally remain on a person’s record indefinitely, regardless of whether they resulted in a conviction. However, if it meets the eligibility criteria, individuals may be allowed to petition for expungement to remove the arrest record from their public record. Virginia law prescribes the eligibility criteria for applying for the expungement of records.

Expunge Henry County Arrest Records

In Henry County, Virginia, expungement involves the removal of arrest records and charges from the public view. The records are not destroyed; they become inaccessible to the public and can only be accessed by court order.

According to the Virginia Code 19.2-392.2, expungement is not automatic, and only persons not convicted can apply for expungement, including:

• A defendant who pleads “not guilty” and is acquitted by a judge or jury.
• A person in a civil action who is charged with contempt of court but is found not guilty.
• A defendant in which the Commonwealth Attorney’s office decides not to prosecute (nolle prosequi) for all charges.
• A defendant charged with assault and battery or other misdemeanor for which the defendant could also be sued in a civil action if the injured person states in writing they received satisfaction for the injury and the case is dismissed.
• A person whose name or identification has been used without consent or authorization in a criminal case (identity theft). That is, the crime was committed by someone else who used your identity.
• A defendant convicted of a crime who later received an absolute pardon.

Persons who pled nolo contendere (or no contest) to the charges against them and were convicted or entered a guilty or no contest plea agreement do not qualify for expungement. Also, you do not qualify for expungement if the charge was dismissed pursuant to a first-offender program, such as the first-offender drug deferral program under Virginia Code 18.2-251 or the first offense program for domestic assault under Virginia Code 18.2-57.3.

The court generally considers prior records and the severity of the charges when considering an expungement petition.

An application for expungement involves filing a petition in the circuit court for the jurisdiction where the charge(s) were made. For cases of mistaken identity conviction, file the petition in the court where the case was decided (even if it is a district or juvenile court). It is advised that you file the case with an attorney; however, you may also file it without an attorney (“pro se”). The circuit court may provide you with the applicable forms for filing but cannot give you legal advice. After filing the petition:

• Serve the petition on the Commonwealth of Virginia Attorney. The Attorney has 21 days to respond. The response is not required to be a filed written answer.
• Get a full set of fingerprints from a law enforcement agency or fingerprinting entity and submit them along with two copies of your expungement petition to the Virginia State Police.
• The law enforcement agency submits your fingerprints to the Virginia Central Criminal Records Exchange with a copy of your expungement petition.
• The Central Criminal Records Exchange sends a copy of your criminal history, a copy of the Central Criminal Records Exchange documents you want expunged, and your fingerprints to the court.
• The court will decide on the expungement. If the court grants the application, it will forward the necessary information to the Virginia State Police to complete the process.
• The Virginia State Police will send a letter confirming the completion of the expungement process.

Applicants may need to pay the filing fee of $86 and the $12 service fee when filing the petition. If you seek expungement because you were the victim of identity theft, the petition is free.

Henry County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal documents issued by a court authorizing law enforcement to apprehend an individual suspected of committing a crime.

An arrest warrant includes the following information:

• The name and identifying information of the individual to be arrested.
• A description of the alleged crime.
• The date and time the warrant was issued.
• The name of the issuing judge.
• Any conditions or instructions for the arresting officer.

Do Henry County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Henry County, Virginia, arrest warrants do not expire and remain valid indefinitely. These warrants stay active until law enforcement apprehends the individual or the warrant is recalled by the issuing judge. A court may also quash or invalidate an arrest warrant, but until such actions are taken, the warrant continues to be enforceable.