Find Busted Mugshots in Botetourt County

Botetourt County busted mugshots and arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Fincastle and the Western Virginia Regional Jail. Booking photos, charge details, and custody information are available through local agencies and state-level tools. This page walks you through how to search Botetourt County arrest records, what the law requires agencies to release, and where to start your search.

Botetourt County Sheriff's Office

The Botetourt County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency in the county. It handles arrests, maintains booking records, and keeps mugshots on file. Virginia Code §2.2-3706(A)(2) requires law enforcement to release adult arrestee photographs taken during intake when a public records request is made. You can reach the Sheriff's Office through the county website at botetourtva.gov/sheriff.

FOIA requests to the Sheriff's Office can be made in person, by mail, or by email. The office must respond within five working days. Arrest records include the booking photo, the charge or charges, and basic identifying information. Some records may be withheld, such as those that could harm an active investigation, but completed cases are generally open to the public.

The Virginia State Police also maintains statewide criminal history records through the Central Criminal Records Exchange. A name-based search costs $15 and can be requested using the SP-167 form, available at vsp.virginia.gov/services/forms. This covers records from across Virginia and supplements what the Botetourt County Sheriff can provide. The state-level search is useful for a broader picture of someone's criminal history.

The Virginia arrests database at virginia.arrests.org aggregates recent bookings from counties across the state. It is a third-party site, not an official government source, but it can help you find recent Botetourt County mugshots quickly. Always verify information with the official agency before drawing conclusions.

The Botetourt County Sheriff's Office at botetourtva.gov/sheriff is the primary agency for arrest records and booking photos in the county.

Western Virginia Regional Jail

Botetourt County sends most inmates to the Western Virginia Regional Jail (WVRJA). This facility holds people arrested in Botetourt and several other counties in the region. The jail maintains booking records, mugshots, and custody status information. Visit wvrja.org for inmate search tools and contact information.

The VINE system at vinelink.com is Virginia's official tool for checking jail custody status. You can search by name or offender ID. VINE also lets you sign up for notifications when someone's custody status changes. The service is free and works around the clock. It covers most county jails in Virginia, including the Western Virginia Regional Jail.

The Western Virginia Regional Jail at wvrja.org houses Botetourt County inmates and maintains booking and mugshot records.

Botetourt County Court Records

The Botetourt County Circuit Court Clerk maintains felony criminal records. These files include case filings, court orders, and charge records tied to arrests in the county. You can visit the Clerk in person at the courthouse in Fincastle or contact them through botetourtva.gov/circuit-court. Court records go back many years and are part of the public record unless sealed by a judge.

The Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System lets you search court records from home. Go to eapps.courts.state.va.us and accept the terms to start searching. You can look up cases by name, case number, or date. The system covers circuit courts statewide and is one of the most direct ways to find out if someone has a criminal case in Virginia. It does not always include mugshots, but it gives you charge information and case status.

Misdemeanor cases go through the Botetourt County General District Court. Those records are separate from circuit court files. Visit vacourts.gov for more information on district court access.

Public Access to Botetourt County Mugshots

Virginia gives the public the right to see adult arrestee mugshots. Code of Virginia §2.2-3706 says criminal incident information for felony offenses must be released, along with booking photographs of adult arrestees. The exception is when releasing the photo would compromise an ongoing felony investigation. Once that risk is gone, the photo must be released.

The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov helps people understand their rights under state law. If an agency in Botetourt County refuses to release a record you believe is public, the Council can advise you on next steps. You can reach them at (804) 698-1810. Their guidance is free and covers both individual requesters and agencies trying to figure out what they must release.

Criminal records law in Virginia is found in Title 19.2, Chapter 23. Section 19.2-392 requires law enforcement to take fingerprints and photographs at the time of arrest for covered offenses. These records feed into the Central Criminal Records Exchange and are subject to public access rules under FOIA.

Note: FOIA requests to Botetourt County agencies should be in writing and addressed clearly to the custodian of the records you need. Keep a copy of your request for your records.

Expungement and Record Sealing in Botetourt County

If you were arrested but not convicted, you may be able to get your arrest record expunged. Under Virginia Code §19.2-392.2, people who were acquitted or had charges dismissed can file a Petition for Expungement in the circuit court where the case was handled. For Botetourt County cases, that is the Botetourt County Circuit Court in Fincastle.

The expungement process involves filing a petition, providing fingerprints, and waiting for the court to review your criminal history from the CCRE. The prosecuting attorney has 21 days to respond. The court then holds a hearing. If the petition is granted, the clerk sends an order to the Department of State Police, which handles removal of public access. Expunged records are still visible to authorized agencies but not to the general public.

Starting July 1, 2026, Virginia's new Clean Slate laws under Title 19.2 will allow certain criminal convictions to be sealed. This is separate from expungement, which only covers cases that did not end in conviction. Talk to a local attorney or contact the Botetourt County Circuit Court to find out which option applies to your situation. The new sealing law is a significant change from prior Virginia practice, where conviction records stayed public for life.

Offender Registry and State Locator Tools

The Virginia State Police runs a public Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov. You can search it by county or zip code to see registered offenders in Botetourt County. The registry includes the offender's photo, name, address, and charge details. It is updated every business day and is free to search.

For state prison inmates, the Virginia Department of Corrections has an offender locator at vadoc.virginia.gov. This tool covers people in VADOC custody only, not county jail inmates. To search, enter the first letter of the first name and the full last name, or use the seven-digit offender ID. The locator shows the facility, the offender's photo, and expected release date.

The Library of Virginia at lva.virginia.gov oversees records retention rules for law enforcement agencies in Virginia. Adult arrest records are generally kept for 100 years from birth. These rules mean Botetourt County booking records are preserved for a long time, though expungement can remove public access at any point if ordered by a court.

Nearby Counties

Botetourt County is in central Virginia near Roanoke. These neighboring counties have similar record systems and access rules.