Lynchburg City Arrest Records

A Lynchburg City arrest record is a document that contains details of a person's arrest, including the crime they committed leading to the arrest and any formal charges. Criminal justice agencies such as the Lynchburg City Sheriff's Office and Police Department create these records and make them publicly available online and in person to requesters. These two agencies ensure they forward arrest information in their custody to Lynchburg City Circuit Court, especially when an offender is taken to trial, and include them as part of the state criminal records database. Therefore, a person's arrest records may be contained within Lynchburg City Court Records as well as criminal history records managed by the Virginia State Police (VSP).

Are Arrest Records Public in Lynchburg City?

Yes. The Virginia Public Records Act considers arrest records part of public records and encourages law enforcement agencies to make them accessible to members of the public. Most arrest records, such as adult arrestee photographs and identifying information, are open for inspection and copying. However, law enforcement agencies restrict access to some arrest records pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.2-3706. For example, juvenile and sex offender arrest records and records containing information that would help identify a victim or witness are deemed confidential in Lynchburg City. Also, active criminal investigative records are not part of public records, including complaints, photographs, notes, court orders, memoranda, diagrams, witness statements, correspondence, maps, reports, and evidence.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records available to the public typically contain the following information:

• The inmate's first, middle, and last names
• Mugshot and jacket number
• Booking and release dates
• Current age, height, weight, sex, and race
• Eye and hair colors,
• The name of the facility where the arrested person is housed
• Charges and charge code
• Court date and type
• Offense and arrest dates
• Arresting agency's name
• Badge number
• Address and zip code
• Inmate classification
• Bond amount and type

Lynchburg City Arrest Statistics

The Lynchburg City Police Department publishes annual arrest statistics on its website, which members of the public can access. About 6,107 people were arrested in the county in 2023. That same year, male arrestees totaled 4,458, while female arrestees totaled 1,647.

Find Lynchburg City Arrest Records

Inquirers may find Lynchburg City arrest records using the Inmate Locator the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) provides. Users may enter a name or inmate I.D. number in the appropriate search box. They can enter Additional search criteria to streamline the search. Record seekers can also obtain copies of arrest records from any VADOC's facilities in person. The record staff may provide a request form for them to complete to facilitate the search. Copies are, however, not free. Requesters may be asked to pay a search or copy fee.

Federal law enforcement agencies also release arrest records of individuals in their custody upon request. Some agencies only issue copies to the subject of records. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) provides arrest records to eligible individuals by mail, online, and through approved channelers. The requester must pay $18 by money order, credit card (using the Credit Card Payment Form), or certified check to access the records. Mail requesters have to submit a completed Applicant Information Form and the necessary fee to:

FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

Some federal law enforcement agencies have free online portals where members of the public can find arrest records of Lynchburg City offenders housed in federal prisons. For example, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) uses its Inmate Locator to provide arrest information online to its customers. A number or name is required to use the tool. The United States Capitol Police (USCP) also makes arrest summary reports available online to inquirers. A CFN number, crime date, crime summary, or crime type can be used to narrow the search. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an Online Detainee Locator System where users can locate arrest records using an A-Number or biographical information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Lynchburg City

Residents can search for arrest records for Lynchburg City on the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority's website without paying a fee. Click on "Inmate Information" in the top navigation bar, choose "Locate Inmate" from the dropdown menu, and then select "Lynchburg" from the following dropdown list. The portal reveals a list of inmates currently incarcerated and released from jail. Users can enter a first name or last name in the appropriate search box to streamline their searches.

Several third-party sites also provide free arrest record searches to members of the public. Usually, a name, arrest number, or arrest date will be required for the search. Free searches only return limited arrest information. Users who want to download copies of arrest records may have to pay a small search fee.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Lynchburg City, arrests stay on people's criminal records permanently. These records are usually publicly available upon request. However, arrestees can limit public access to their records by expunging them. The Library of Virginia has a timetable that lists some arrest records, such as the Retention and Disposition Schedule. For example:

• Law enforcement agencies do not record unexecuted arrest warrants
• Arrest logs and books are kept for five (5) years after the last action
• A juvenile's arrest files will stay on record after 23 years from the subject of record's birth date
• An adult's arrest files will be kept after 100 years from the subject of record's birth date
• Records of properties confiscated during arrests 2are kept for three (3) years after last action
• An arrested person's personal property inventory will be retained for three (3) years after the creation date
• A Lynchburg City law enforcement agency would remove the arrest file of an adult person from their record a year after death notification

Expunge Lynchburg City Arrest Records

Pursuant to the Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2, expungement is the deletion of all police and court records pertaining to an arrest after any of the following has occurred:

• Absolute pardon
• Acquittal, dismissal, or nolle prosequi
• A person whose I.D. is used without consent (Section 19.2-392.2(B))
• A person whose name is used in error or a wrong person is arrested (Section19.2-392.2(H))

An eligible petitioner should file an Expungement Petition Form with a fee of $98 at the Lynchburg City Clerk of Circuit Court's Office. The fee can be paid by check, cash, or money order. Afterward, the petitioner must serve a copy of the petition to the Lynchburg City Attorney. They must also obtain a set of fingerprints from the Lynchburg City Sheriff's Office and provide them a copy of the petition. The sheriff's office will send the fingerprints and the petition to the Virginia State Police (VSP) for a criminal history background check. The VSP will forward the criminal background history record and the set of fingerprints to the Clerk of Court. The Clerk will notify the petitioner about the date and time of the hearing. The judge will either grant or deny the petition after the hearing. If the judge grants the petition, a certified copy of a signed expungement order will be given to the petitioner, and a copy will be sent to the VSP.

Lynchburg City Arrest Warrants

Virginia law authorizes judicial officers like a judge, a magistrate, any general district court, a clerk of any circuit court, and any juvenile and domestic relations district court to issue arrest warrants. Per Virginia Code § 19.2-71.), magistrates can only issue arrest warrants for felony offenses when law enforcement officers or animal control officers file complaints. The issuance of an arrest warrant is usually based on probable cause based on complaints pointing to the fact that an accused has committed an offense. According to Virginia Code § 19.2-72, an arrest warrant must:

• Describe the offense charge
• Be signed by the issuing judge
• Be directed to a law enforcement officer(s)
• The accused's name, but if the name is unknown, an identifying description of the person will be stated
• Command that the defendant be arrested and brought before a court in Lynchburg City

A warrant issued in Lynchburg City can be executed anywhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The officer executing an arrest warrant must provide a duplicate copy of the warrant to the accused upon request (Virginia Code § 19.2-75). The officer must also induce the execution date on the arrest warrant and then return it to a judicial officer (Virginia Code § 19.2-76).

Do Lynchburg City Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not expire in Lynchburg City. An old warrant can still be active many years after its issuance, leading up to a person's arrest. Also, Lynchburg City has no time limit for outstanding arrest warrants. Anyone can conduct a warrant search to determine if an arrest warrant has been issued in their name so they can attend to it as soon as possible.