Pittsylvania County Arrest Records

According to Virginia Law, an arrest happens when a judge issues a warrant to arrest an individual accused of committing a crime. However, law enforcement does not always need a warrant before arrest. For example, if someone has committed a crime in their presence, a law enforcement official may arrest them without a warrant.

Furthermore, a police officer has the right to arrest, without a warrant, anyone they reasonably believe to have committed a felony offense. Anyone looking for Pittsylvania County arrest records can find them at the Sheriff’s Office. Individuals can also find arrest records in Pittsylvania County Court Records maintained by the Clerk of Court.

Are Arrest Records Public in Pittsylvania County?

An arrest record is public information under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Public arrest records are typically created and maintained by the Sheriff's Office. The State Police of the Department of Public Safety can perform an arrest search for these records upon request from a requester. Arrest records may be provided for free or at a minimal cost. However, standard and certified copies always have a fee attached to them.

Record seekers should be aware that there are exceptions to this rule. Specific kinds of arrest records or records are exempt from public disclosure. These typically include:

• Juvenile records: An arrest record containing minors' details is automatically sealed.
• Ongoing investigations: A court may issue an order to seal an arrest record if publicizing it could derail an ongoing investigation.
• Victim identity: An arrest record’s visibility may be limited if it is shown that it contains information that could reveal the identity of a vulnerable victim. This is mainly seen in cases with sexual or domestic abuse victims.
• Other sensitive information: Medical records or mental health information may be exempt.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Pittsylvania County arrest records include information about an individual’s arrest conducted by the county’s law enforcement agencies. People should note that these records do not impose guilt on an arrestee. Arrest records are simply legal documents representing a stage in the criminal process. They indicate a person was taken into custody during an active investigation after committing a crime or in compliance with court orders. In Pittsylvania County, an arrest record would provide the following details:

• Name of the arrest and other identifying information.
• Time and location of the arrest.
• Description of the alleged offense.
• Name of the arresting officer.
• Jail where the arrestee was held.

Pittsylvania County Arrest Statistics

According to information from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, the Pittsylvania County’s Sheriff’s Office made 173 arrests from October 2023 to October 2024. All Other Offenses saw the most arrests, with 109 arrests. The Office also made 36 arrests for simple assault. Meanwhile, ten people were arrested for aggravated assault. Offenses such as weapon law violations and burglary saw 3 and 2 arrests, respectively.

Find Pittsylvania County Arrest Records

Interested parties can find information on inmates at the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office. Interested parties can find the office at:

Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office
21 N Main Street
Chatham, VA 24531

Unfortunately, the Office does not provide an online database for persons to search for inmates. However, people can use the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate Locator. Record seekers can find details by inputting the inmate’s ID, first letter, and full last name.

Free Arrest Record Search in Pittsylvania County

Interested parties can contact the county's Sheriff's Office or Clerk of Court’s Office to do a free search for arrest records. Both agencies maintain arrest records. Interested parties can obtain arrest statistics from Pittsylvania County through third-party websites. It is crucial to remember that many websites demand a subscription or payment to view particular records. Additionally, some information may be inaccurate since these third-party websites are not government-run.

Pittsylvania County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrests and criminal records are two distinct levels of criminal procedure. An arrest is documented whenever a person is taken into custody by the police on suspicion of a crime. Basic information, including the individual's identity, the arrest date, the charges, and the arresting agency, are all included in an arrest record. These records are available to the general public and do not prove or disprove guilt. However, a record custodian may seal certain information to protect ongoing investigations or maintain privacy.

On the other hand, criminal records are made when someone is found guilty in court and include detailed information regarding the arrest, charges, trial (if any), and sentencing. These records are often not accessible to the public and may be sealed or deleted, mainly when they involve minors. A criminal record can also significantly impact a person's future, particularly regarding housing, employment, and professional licensure.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Pittsylvania County, an arrest typically remains indefinitely on a person's record unless it is deleted or restricted. An individual may seal or expunge their record if there was no conviction or the court dismissed the charges. However, further charges and felony convictions could permanently impact an individual's chances of sealing their arrest record.

Expunge Pittsylvania County Arrest Records

Despite an arrest being able to stay on a person’s record for life, such a person can take action to have their arrest record deleted. In Virginia, the public cannot view arrest records related to criminal charges if the record custodian erases them. Nevertheless, not all traces of an are entirely erased. For instance, even after an expungement, a judge can let some parties, such as law enforcement, access the information.

The most critical condition for expungement is that a court can only give it if the person in question has not been found guilty of the criminal offense the prosecution accused him of or if they have been wholly pardoned for a crime they did not commit.

Under Virginia Code section 19.2-392.2, the following circumstances give citizens the right to request that the arrest record be expunged:

• When a defendant pleads "not guilty," the jury or judge finds them not guilty.
• When a person is found not guilty of contempt of court in a civil lawsuit.
• If the prosecution decides not to press charges.
• When someone injured in an attack or other misdemeanor claims to have "received satisfaction for the injury".
• When someone else is accused of committing a crime using the victim's name in an identity theft case.
• When a person who has been found guilty of a crime is wholly pardoned.

A person who fits the following requirements must file a petition with the circuit court of the jurisdiction where the charges were first brought to have the arrest and court records removed from the public record.

Pittsylvania County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Pittsylvania County is an official court or magistrate's decision granting law enforcement the right to detain a person they suspect of committing a crime. Before issuing a warrant, the police must establish probable cause through an affidavit and supporting paperwork. The entire name of the suspect, their date of birth, a physical description, the alleged offense, and the issuing judge's information are all included in the warrant.

Do Pittsylvania County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Pittsylvania County arrest warrants do not expire until the suspect is taken into custody or the court or magistrate who issued them recalls the warrant. An arrest warrant will also expire when the charges against the person are withdrawn.