Orange County Arrest Records

An arrest in Orange County takes place when a person is detained by law enforcement on suspicion of committing a crime and is generally carried out along with a warrant. Arrests may be carried out without a warrant. However, only the law enforcement officials listed in § 19.2-81 are authorized to arrest without a warrant.

The County Sheriff's Office, as well as local police departments, are primarily for generating and maintaining arrest records. However, other public organizations may retain arrest records. For instance, arrest information may be found in Orange County court records and criminal history records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Orange County?

Yes. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act grants the people of the Commonwealth ready access to public records in the custody of a public body or its officers and employees. However, some records are considered private or confidential and are exempt from public inspection. Under § 2.2-3706, the following records may not be accessed by the general public, or may only be disclosed at the discretion of the custodian:

• Criminal investigative files
• Reports submitted in confidence to state and local law enforcement agencies
• Law enforcement agency records whose publication would endanger the public's safety or security or that of law enforcement personnel
• The identity of any victim, witness, or undercover officer, or investigative techniques or procedure
• Records from the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following information can be found in an Orange County public arrest record

• First and last name of the arrestee
• Inmate's arrest number
• Booking photo/mugshot
• Date and time the offense was committed
• Arrest location
• Arrest/ Booking date
• Arrestee's date of birth, race
• Charges the offender is facing
• The facility where the inmate is housed
• Time of arrest
• Custody status date.

Orange County Arrest Statistics

The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) maintained by the FBI provides arrest statistics for the state of Virginia. Overall, 268,094 arrests were made in Virginia in 2018, with 45,409 arrests for drug abuse violations, the greatest number of arrests in the state. 30,541 people were arrested for other assaults, with 26,694 arrests made for property crimes and 23,014 for larceny/theft. 91,669 arrests were made for all other offenses besides traffic.

Find Orange County Arrest Records

The Orange County Sheriff's Office is in charge of investigations and maintaining law and order within the County. Anyone seeking an arrest record may contact the office in person at:

Orange County Sheriff's Office
11282 Government Center Drive
Orange, VA 22960
Phone: (540) 672-1200
Fax: (540) 672-7824

Interested persons may also contact local police departments operating within the county to look up booking information concerning an arrest. The Central Virginia Regional Jail houses inmates from several counties including Orange County. One may contact this organization to obtain reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders.

Information about criminally convicted offenders is also available from the Virginia Department of Corrections. Anyone can search by entering the inmate's full name and ID number using the Inmate Locator. The search results will not include inmates who are not in VADOC custody. Interested persons may also use the Bureau of Prisons' Federal Inmate Locator which contains information about federal inmates who have been jailed since 1982. Either a name or a number can be used to search.

Free Arrest Record Search in Orange County

Anyone seeking free information regarding an arrest may utilize the Inmate Locator maintained by the VADOC. To search, input the first and last name of the inmate or the inmate's seven-digit Inmate ID number.

As an alternative, interested parties can use third-party websites to search arrest records for free. These independently operated websites provide the public with search capabilities for arrest records. Usually, a successful search requires the subject's full name along with other essential details. While basic searches can be performed for free, more in-depth searches may need registration, a subscription, or payment.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Under § 16.1-69.55, arrest records in Orange County are retained based on the type of infraction, misdemeanor, or felony committed. Some arrest records are retained for 10 years, while others may be retained for 20 or 50 years, or indefinitely. Record retention may also be based on the age of the offender at the time the offense was committed. For instance, juvenile arrest records may be retained until the juvenile involved has reached the age of 19.

Expunge Orange County Arrest Records

If a person accused of committing a crime in Orange County is found not guilty or the charge is dropped, the person's arrest record may be erased in accordance with § 19.2-392.2. of the Code of Virginia. An arrest record can also be expunged if an offender uses someone else's name or identity without their consent or authority and gets them arrested.

Anyone who wishes to have an arrest record expunged may file a petition with the Orange County Circuit Court. A copy of the petition will be sent to the Commonwealth's attorney, who will have 21 days to respond when the applicant provides the necessary paperwork and information, including a copy of the warrant, summons, or indictment, the date of the arrest, and other details.

The court will hold a hearing following receipt of the petition, and if it grants the expungement, it will issue an order requiring the expungement of all court and police records, including electronic ones, about the charge.

Orange County Arrest Warrants

An Orange County arrest warrant is an order issued by a judge or clerk of Circuit Court in line with the Virginia Code § 19.2-72. It authorizes a peace officer to arrest an individual if there is adequate proof of criminal or illegal activity.

When a complaint about a criminal activity is brought before a magistrate or judge from a law enforcement agent, the magistrate or judge questions the complainant and other witnesses. The officer issues a warrant for the accused's arrest after reviewing the complaint and determining that there is reasonable suspicion that the accused has committed a crime. An Orange County arrest warrant contains the following information

• An address to the relevant law enforcement agency or agent
• The accused's name or a description that can be used to identify the accused
• A description of the offense allegedly committed
• An order for the accused to be taken into custody and brought before the relevant court
• The signature of the issuing officer.

Do Orange County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Orange County arrest warrants do not expire. However, following § 19.2-76.1, the Commonwealth's attorney may request the court to destroy certain unexecuted arrest warrants after receiving and submitting quarterly reports regarding them.