Scott County Arrest Records

Scott County arrest records detail arrests made by law enforcement within the County. State law permits law enforcement agents, such as the Sheriff's Office, to take people into custody if they are suspected of committing a crime. Offenders arrested by the sheriff's office are typically housed with the South West Virginia Jail Authority.

The arresting agencies, such as the county sheriff and the Virginia State Police, typically generate Scott County arrest records. These agencies also serve as repositories for arrest records and handle record requests. Arrest records may also be available as part of Scott County Court Records, maintained by local courts when an arrest results in a court trial.

Are Arrest Records Public in Scott County?

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act classifies Scott County arrest records as public information. This means that unless a record or information in a record is specifically exempt from disclosure by law, the general public may view or copy it. The custodians of such records typically must also answer public record requests and provide copies for a reasonable fee.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, the following records and information are restricted from public access.

• Arrest records of minors and juveniles
• Medical records
• Records under attorney-client privilege
• Information that would identify the victim of a crime
• Personal information that would constitute an invasion of property if released

Although these records are restricted, access may still be possible, but all exempted parts of the record will be removed or redacted.

Scott County Arrest Statistics

The Scott County Sheriff's Office submits crime statistics to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting System. These records are compiled into a database for various tasks, including tracking crime trends and judging crime-fighting techniques.

According to information submitted for 2023, the sheriff's office reported 793 arrests. This total included 122 arrests for drugs/narcotics offenses, 56 arrests for simple assaults, 39 arrests for larceny, 27 arrests for disorderly conduct, 20 arrests for DUI offenses, 18 arrests for fraud, 17 arrests for vandalism, 13 arrests for burglary, and 11 arrests each for aggravated assaults and motor vehicle theft.

Find Scott County Arrest Records

Interested parties may obtain arrest information and inmate records from the Scott County Sheriff's Office. Record seekers may be able to obtain inmate information by visiting the sheriff's office in person at:

Scott County Sheriff's Office
336 Water Street,
Gate City, VA 24251

Inquiries may also be made by calling the office at (276) 386-7679. Details of weekly arrested and jailed offenders may also be found on the Arrests tab on the Sheriff's Office homepage. The sheriff's office also provides a link to the Virginia Sex Offender Registry, where visitors may look up records of sex offenders using various search criteria. Inmate information for offenders arrested in Scott County may also be found by clicking Locate Current Inmates on the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority Website.

The Virginia Department of Corrections website has an Inmate Locator that allows users to find information about inmates in their custody. Users may search using the inmate's name or ID number. To locate offenders in federal prisons, record seekers may use the Inmate Locator search tool available on the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website. Inmate information may be searched using the inmate's name or ID number from the FBI or the Bureau of Prisons.

Scott County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records are generated and maintained by an arresting agency and detail the events surrounding a person's arrest. They generally contain the description of the offender, the crimes they committed, what statutes were violated, charges filed, arresting agency or officers, information collected during booking such as mugshots and fingerprints, bail bond information, and pending court dates.

Criminal records are more extensive and contain an individual's full criminal history. They show the person was convicted and passed through the legal system, and are generated by all agencies involved. They include arrest records, court case information, such as trial verdicts and sentencing. They also include prison details and post-conviction status, such as parole or probation.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Virginia, criminal records typically remain on an offender's record indefinitely unless steps are taken to remove them. Based on the offense and the outcome of the case, offenders may be able to remove the record by sealing or expunging it. In Virginia, sealing and expungement are slightly different. Sealing means to remove the record from public access, although some government and law enforcement agencies will still have access to sealed records. Expungement is a process that erases a criminal record and is typically available for non-conviction arrests, including acquitted or dismissed cases.

Scott County Arrest Warrants

According to the Code of Virginia Title 19.2 Chapter 7, an arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judicial officer instructing law enforcement to arrest a person charged with a criminal offense. A judge, magistrate, or clerk of the circuit court may issue arrest warrants in Scott County, Virginia.

To issue an arrest warrant, the judicial officer typically must receive a written complaint from either law enforcement or a civilian and examine the complainant and any witnesses to the crime under oath. If, after the examination, the officer finds probable cause that the accused has committed the offense, the officer may issue the arrest warrant. It typically must be noted that only law enforcement agents may submit complaints for a warrant for felony offenses.

Arrest warrants issued in Scott County will generally contain the following information:

• The name of the accused or a description that identifies him with reasonable certainty
• The offense the accused is charged with a reasonable certainty
• The warrant shall be directed to the appropriate law enforcement officers and command that the accused be arrested and brought before a court of appropriate jurisdiction in the county where the offense was committed
• The name, title, and signature of the judicial officer who issued the warrant

Do Scott County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Scott County, Virginia, do not expire. They will remain active indefinitely. This simply means an arrest warrant remains in effect until executed, or the subject of the warrant surrenders. In some cases, the judge who issued the warrant may cancel a warrant.

Expunge Scott County Arrest Records

Under Virginia law, certain offenses may be removed from a person's record through several legal processes called sealing and expungement. Expungement is generally reserved to remove records of offenses where there are no convictions. Sealing is a more recent process that allows criminal records, including certain convictions, to be removed from public access.

Records that may be sealed include misdemeanor convictions, excluding DUI offenses and domestic violence charges, and certain non-violent felonies. Provided the individual has completed their sentence and has no new felonies, misdemeanors may be sealed after 7 years and felonies after 10 years from the date of conviction. Expungement is reserved for cases where the prosecutors decided not to go forward, the case was dismissed, or the offender was acquitted. If the offender was granted an absolute pardon, the offense also qualifies for expungement. Expungements have no waiting period in Virginia.

Key steps involved in sealing or expunging a record in Virginia include the following:

• Determine the eligibility of the record for sealing or expungement by checking your record and confirming all aspects, such as waiting periods.
• Collect certified copies of all necessary documents, such as forms, dismissal orders, acquittal orders, final discharge orders, and other documents showing final disposition of the case.
• File the petition for sealing or expungement with the Circuit Court in Scott County, where the case was heard. Include all documents providing information about the case, including charges and the final disposition documents. Pay any fees required.
• Serve the local prosecutor and the Commonwealth Attorney with copies of the petition and the accompanying documents.
• Prepare a completed fingerprint card from local law enforcement and submit it to the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) along with a copy of the petition.

The judge may schedule a hearing to hear the details of the petition and arguments from the petitioner and the prosecutor. If one is scheduled, petitioners typically must attend it. If the judge grants the petition, they will issue an order of sealing or expungement instructing all relevant agencies to seal or remove the record.