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West Virginia · How-To Guide

How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?

West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation - WVDCR (state prisons and regional jails) / County Sheriff's Office (county-level detention) / West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority (operates regional jails serving multiple counties)
Details

What you need to know

Fee
Online searches free; certified records requests may involve fees ONLINE OPTION: Yes - rja.wv.gov (regional jails); wvdcr.wv.gov (state prisons); courtswv.gov for criminal case information WHERE TO GO: WV Regional Jail Authority (regional jails - most pre-trial and shorter-sentence inmates); WVDCR (state prisons); County Sheriff (some county-specific facilities)
Online Option
Yes - rja.wv.gov (regional jails); wvdcr.wv.gov (state prisons); courtswv.gov for criminal case information
Where to Go
WV Regional Jail Authority (regional jails - most pre-trial and shorter-sentence inmates); WVDCR (state prisons); County Sheriff (some county-specific facilities)
County-specific variations apply

West Virginia's regional jail system consolidates detention for multiple counties into single facilities, making the search somewhat simpler than in states with 55+ independent county jails. However, you need to know which region your county is in to contact the right facility.

West Virginia Notes

Important state-specific details

  • WV REGIONAL JAIL SYSTEM: Most WV pre-trial detainees and shorter-sentence offenders are housed at Regional Jail Authority facilities (not county jails); very different from most states.
  • WVDCR manages state prisons including Mt. Olive Correctional Complex (highest security), Huttonsville Correctional Center, Lakin Correctional Center (women), St. Marys Correctional Center, Denmar Correctional Center, and others.
  • WV Sex Offender Registry - jsor.wv.gov - searchable online; managed by WV State Police.
  • For visitation, phone calls, sending money, commissary, or mailing to a WV inmate: inmateaid.com has WVDCR and Regional Jail facility details.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
WV Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority - rja.wv.gov | (304) 558-2079; WVDCR - wvdcr.wv.gov | (304) 558-2036