Salem City Arrest Records

Virginia law broadly defines an "arrest" as taking, seizing, or detaining a person on suspicion of a criminal offense. The state permits peace officers to conduct arrests when they possess or are aware of existing warrants, when they witness a crime or receive a credible witness report, or when they have probable cause or reasonable grounds to believe a crime has occurred.

Following each arrest in Salem City, the arresting officer will transport the offender to the city police station, the Roanoke County-Salem Jail, the Western Virginia Regional Jail (WVRJ), or any other appropriate facility, depending on whether a city/state police officer or federal agent made the arrest.

At the respective facility, the offender's identifying details, fingerprints, and other pertinent data will be collected as part of the booking process, and an arrest record will be created to mark the incident. Subsequently, the suspect will remain under supervision until they appear in court or are bailed out of police custody. If bail is denied for an offense, the suspect may be jailed to await trial.

Interestingly, while a Salem arrest record reveals information about a local arrest, it does not contain the arrest's disposition—whether the arrestee was found guilty, not guilty, or adjudication was withheld. To find such information, one may review the Salem City court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Salem City?

Yes. Virginia's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-3700 et seq.) allows members of the public to examine or copy records held by law enforcement agencies in Salem City, including records of arrests.

However, the FOIA prohibits the public dissemination of specific documents or information, particularly where disclosure would jeopardize public safety, imperil a person's life or physical safety, frustrate the completion of a government process (like an investigation), reveal investigative techniques or a protected source, expose personally identifying information, or disclose information that is otherwise confidential by law, court rule, or court order.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Salem City public arrest records carry the following information, per Section 2.2-3706 of the Code of Virginia:

• Full name, sex, age, date of birth, and physical description (weight, height, hair color, eye color, and complexion) of the arrested person
• Alleged offense
• Agency that executed the arrest
• Time and date of arrest
• The date and time of booking, plus the booking number and photograph
• Amount and type of bond/bail

Salem City Arrest Statistics

The Virginia State Police's Data Analysis and Reporting Team (DART) compiles and publishes yearly crime statistics for the City of Salem. According to DART's 2024 report, which can be retrieved from the Uniform Crime Reporting—Incident Based Reporting Site, Salem City recorded 792 arrests, with the State Police and the Salem City Police Department as the two central arresting departments.

Among the reported crime categories, Group B offenses had the highest arrest frequency in 2023, totalling 289 arrests. Driving under the influence (102 arrests) and trespass of real property (55) caused more arrests in that offense category. Crimes against property made up the next most common arrest group (222 arrests), with more people arrested for shoplifting (51) and embezzlement (34).

Find Salem City Arrest Records

Finding arrest records in Salem City is as easy as visiting the nearest police department to ask for its records of arrests. However, the request should be made to the agency responsible for the arrest, as local police agencies maintain files independently. In Salem City, the primary law enforcement department is the Salem City Police Department, but the State Police and, sometimes, a federal agency may conduct arrests if an offense falls under their jurisdiction.

Police agencies generally require an arrestee's name, alias, date of birth, or the arrest date to produce relevant records, and they may charge a nominal fee to release copies. However, these agencies may also publish their records online. An example is the weekly arrest reports published on the Salem City Police Department's website.

Where the inquiry concerns someone who was arrested and then confined, one may contact the Salem City Police Department (if the individual is still in temporary holding or the arrest was made by the Salem PD).

The PD may also provide information about whether a particular arrestee was later transported to the Roanoke County-Salem Jail or Western Virginia Regional Jail (especially in the case of a state arrest or long-term confinement). Individuals can access the WVRJ Inmate Name Search to determine if someone is confined in the Western Virginia Regional Jail, or access the Roanoke County Sheriff's Inmate Inquiry application to check for detainees in the Roanoke County–Salem jail.

Note that information about people arrested but incarcerated in a state prison is accessible via the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate Locator. Meanwhile, one may locate a federal arrestee or prisoner via the Federal Inmate Locator or by filing an FOIA request with the respective federal arresting agency.

Free Arrest Record Search in Salem City

A free arrest records search in Salem City can be conducted at the Salem City Police Department or by accessing the agency's online weekly arrest reports. Certain arrest information can also be accessed for free by searching jail locators.

At the same time, the public can navigate to third-party aggregator websites that disseminate a diverse range of public records, including arrest records. These sites prioritize name searches, with optional filters to narrow the search results, and they may release limited information for free. However, users may need to pay a small sum to see extensive details.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Virginia law does not specify a timeframe for the uniform deletion of an arrest across all agencies that may hold the record. In most cases, a person's record of arrest follows them through their lifetime, potentially being viewable upon employee or other background checks. However, qualified defendants may seek an expungement from the judicial system, which effectively limits the public's ability to inspect or copy their arrest or criminal records.

Expunge Salem City Arrest Records

Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1 of the Virginia Code outlines the eligibility criteria for an expungement in Salem City, which covers the following scenarios:

• Where an individual's charges were nolle prossed (that is, the prosecutor decided against filing charges)
• Where a person received a verdict of not guilty
• Where a person's name was used without consent or erroneously
• Where an individual acquired an absolute pardon for an unjust conviction

In cases of an acquittal or dismissal, the defendant can file a civil suit in the Salem City Circuit Court using Form CC-1473 (Petition for Expungement) (See filing instructions). A copy of this form should be served on the Commonwealth Attorney, and the petitioner will need to forward their fingerprints to the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) for their criminal history to be sent to the circuit court. Fingerprints can be obtained and submitted through the local police department. Petitioners are also responsible for paying all applicable fees and costs related to the expungement and attending any hearings scheduled by the court to address the matter.

Those who received an absolute pardon or whose names were misused should file their expungement petition in the court that handled their case.

If the court enters an expungement order, all agencies with the arrest record will be directed to remove it from public access. An expungement does not physically destroy records in Salem City.

Salem City Arrest Warrants

An "arrest warrant" is a written order (or writ) from a judge, magistrate, or court clerk commanding law enforcement officers to arrest a particular person, usually because the person has been accused of a crime or failed to comply with a judicial directive (Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-71).

Should a warrant be necessary to arrest a criminal suspect, Virginia law requires a prior determination of probable cause. The court is charged with finding probable cause, but the requesting law enforcement official must first present reasonable facts or evidence supporting/justifying the arrest via a complaint or affidavit. If the court finds the law enforcement complaint sufficient, the sitting judge/magistrate, or a clerk at the court's direction, will issue the arrest warrant.

Per Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-72, Salem City arrest warrants are directed to police officers and

• identify who should be apprehended
• describe the alleged offense
• command that the accused be brought before a court of appropriate jurisdiction to be dealt with per the law, and
• carry the issuing officer's signature

Do Salem City Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Salem City arrest warrants remain valid until the named subjects surrender or are apprehended and taken to court.

A court can, however, quash a warrant or deem it invalid under certain conditions, such as when the underlying basis for the warrant's issuance no longer exists.