Russell County Arrest Records

Russell County arrest records refer to all documents and details filed regarding an individual's arrest in the county. In Russell County, law enforcement agents are authorized by 19.2-81 of the Code of Virginia to take any individual suspected of committing a crime into their custody. Law officers are also authorized to arrest an individual following an arrest warrant from the court. Subsequently, all detained individuals are held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail, Abingdon, which serves Russel County and other neighboring jurisdictions.

In Russell County, the Sheriff's Office makes arrests and creates and maintains corresponding records. These arrest records are part of a much broader set of public records, including court filings, incident reports, and criminal history records. Arrest details may also be found in other Russell County records, including the Russell County Court Records, which often reference arrest records in legal proceedings and other official records checks.

Are Arrest Records Public in Russell County?

Yes. Arrest records in Russell County are generally considered public under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act (Va. Code § 2.2-3706) and open to public access. This typically means the public is legally authorized to request and possibly duplicate copies of arrest records in the county. It is worth noting that, due to the sensitive nature of certain details contained in arrest records, certain arrest records are exempt from public disclosure. According to Va. Code § 2.2-3706(B)(1)–(7), they include the following:

• Records whose exposure may interfere with ongoing investigation or prosecution
• Records about a juvenile
• Sealed or expunged record
• Records that could put an individual at risk
• Arrest record of sex offenders

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Russell County include the basic, non-confidential details of an individual's interaction with law enforcement. Per the Virginia FOIA, these records are typically available for public access and include the following:

• Arrestee name
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Weight
• Heigh
• Color of hair
• Date and time of arrest
• Location of arrest
• Arresting officer or agency
• Booking date and time
• Bail or bond (if any)

Russell County Arrest Statistics

The FBI Crime Data Explorer (CDE) is one effective way for interested individuals to access Russell County arrest statistics. Even though the CDE platform does not compile the total of arrests per county, it gives the number of arrests recorded and reported by each local law enforcement agency in different counties.

According to the report submitted by the Russel County Sheriff's office and made available through CDE, the county recorded 605 arrests, 426 of which were men and 179 women. Further breakdown of the arrest report showed that all other offenses made up 341 of the arrests, followed by simple assault with 70, disorderly conduct with 35, larceny with 27, and drug offenses made up 25 of the total arrests.

Additional arrest records submitted by other law enforcement agencies are equally available on the CDE platform for perusal.

Find Russell County Arrest Records

Individuals interested in Russell County arrest records can search for them using local, state, and even federal tools.

• Russell County Sheriff's Office

The Russell County Sheriff's Office maintains all arrest and inmate information at the county level. Interested parties can access arrest records by simply contacting the Sheriff's office at the address provided below:

Russell County Sheriff's Office
79 Rogers Ave,
Lebanon, VA 24266
Phone: (276) 889-8033

• Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) Offender Locator

At the state level, the Virginia Department of Corrections grants access to specific arrest records, including Russell County arrest records, through its Offender Locator. This tool is useful in finding information on individuals held in state facilities. Researchers can find the specific record they seek by simply inputting details such as name or ID.

• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator

The BOP offers interested parties a means to locate individuals held in federal facilities through its inmate locator. The BOP provides information on federal inmates from 1982 to the present and can also be used to find information on individuals arrested in Russell County before eventual transfer to a federal facility.

Free Arrest Record Search in Russell County

Some local law enforcement agencies, like the County Sheriff's office, can grant interested individuals free access to arrest records.

Alternatively, third-party websites can grant free access to Russell County arrest records at no cost. These websites typically operate aggregator websites through which interested parties can search for records of their choice by inputting related data such as name or case number. Even though these websites offer convenience and speed, it is worth stating that they are not affiliated with any government agency. As such, every record obtained through them should be verified for accuracy and authenticity.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Russell County, arrests would remain on an individual's record forever except they are expunged. Nonetheless, certain law enforcement agencies in Virginia have a record retention schedule based on the Library of Virginia Retention and Disposition Schedule. Below are some arrest records and their corresponding retention period in Virginia:

• Adult arrests have a retention period of 100 years after birth
• Juvenile arrest record has a retention period of 23 years after birth
• The arrest file of a deceased adult would be removed a year after notification
• No records are generated for individuals with unexecuted warrants

Expunge Russell County Arrest Records

There are numerous options available for sealing arrest records in Russell County, Virginia; nonetheless, the most common process is record expungement. Record expungement simply refers to petitioning the court for record removal, as explained in the state's Criminal Procedure § 19.2-392.2. It is worth noting that not all arrests are eligible for expungement. Below is a list of situations eligible for expungement in Russell County:

• When an individual was arrested but not charged
• Criminal charges were filed but later dismissed or dropped
• An individual who was detained but not convicted is eligible for an expungement according to Criminal Procedure § 19.2-392.2
• The arrested individual was pronounced not guilty by a court
• The arrestee was sentenced, but the conviction was reversed on appeal, and charges were dropped

Individuals interested in pursuing record expungement in Russell County can do so by following the following steps:

• The first step is obtaining a complete set of fingerprints from a law enforcement agency and then submitting a copy of the petition to the same agency. The agency is then tasked with submitting the fingerprints and a copy of the expungement petition to the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE).
• The CCRE is tasked with providing the court with the petitioner's criminal records, original documents from their history, and fingerprints, all under the seal of the CCRE.
• Following the receipt of these records from CCRE, the court will hold a hearing to determine whether or not to expunge them. If the court decides that failure to erase the records constitutes manifest injustice, the court orders expungement.
• Suppose a person has no criminal record, and the arrest was for a minor offense or a civil violation. In that case, they are generally entitled to expungement unless the Commonwealth of Virginia can show a valid reason to deny the request.
• Additionally, as per Virginia Code §§ 19.2-327.5 or 19.2-327.13, records of all overturned convictions should be expunged.

Russell County Arrest Warrants

A Russel County arrest warrant is an official court document authorizing law enforcement officers to arrest an individual of interest. Only a judge or magistrate can issue or approve arrest warrants in Russell County. Arrest warrants become necessary when law enforcement officers can show probable cause to believe the individual has committed a crime. Details included in a typical Russell County arrest warrant include the following:

• Name of the individual to be arrested
• Alleged crime and possible description
• Possible time and location of arrest
• Name and signature of the issuing judge

Do Russell County Arrest Warrants Expire?

A Russell arrest warrant does not expire once it has been issued. Once issued, they remain active until executed, either by arresting the individual named in the warrant or by dismissal by a judge. This generally means an individual can be arrested on a warrant years after it was originally issued. Nonetheless, numerous factors may affect the status of a warrant, including:

• Severity of crime: Less severe crimes or infractions may be deprioritized but remain active; however, severe crimes like felonies are rarely dismissed.
• Judicial review: A warrant may be quashed if found to have been issued incorrectly.