Find Busted Mugshots in Clarke County

Clarke County busted mugshots and arrest records are available through the Clarke County Sheriff's Office and the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center. This page covers how to search for booking photos, request arrest records under Virginia FOIA law, and use statewide tools to track arrest information for Clarke County residents.

Clarke County Sheriff's Office

The Clarke County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency in the county. The Sheriff's Office handles arrests, processes inmates, and keeps booking records. When someone is taken into custody in Clarke County, the Sheriff's Office creates the initial arrest record. That record includes the mugshot, fingerprints, charges, and personal details of the person arrested.

To request arrest records or a copy of a booking photograph, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. Requests should cite Virginia Code Section 2.2-3706, which requires agencies to release adult arrestee photographs taken during intake. Clarke County does not operate a public online mugshot database, so requests must go through official channels. Put your request in writing, include the full name and date of birth of the person, and note the approximate date of arrest if you know it.

The Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange also holds records submitted by local agencies like the Clarke County Sheriff's Office. A name-based search through the CCRE costs $15 and can be requested using the SP-167 form available at vsp.virginia.gov/services/forms/.

Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center

Clarke County inmates are housed at the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center (NWRADC). This is a shared regional facility that serves Clarke County and several surrounding jurisdictions. Booking records are kept at this facility, and inmate information can be requested through the detention center or through the Clarke County Sheriff's Office.

The regional jail maintains records from the point of intake. That includes the mugshot, fingerprint records, the charges, bond information, and custody status. If you want to know whether someone is currently in custody in Clarke County, the NWRADC or the Sheriff's Office are the best contacts. You can also use VINE for real-time custody status checks. VINE covers most Virginia county and city jails and sends free notifications if someone's status changes.

Note: Records for people who have been released may not be available through a simple phone call. Older records or copies of booking photos require a written FOIA request.

Clarke County Court Records

The Clarke County Circuit Court Clerk keeps felony criminal case records for the county. These records show what charges were filed, how the case was handled, and what the outcome was. They are public unless sealed by a judge. You can search many Clarke County circuit court cases online using the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System.

The General District Court handles misdemeanor cases and keeps its own charge records. Both courts are part of the 26th Judicial Circuit. If you are tracking a criminal case that started with an arrest in Clarke County, these court records can give you the full story after the booking. Charges, case numbers, and hearing dates are part of the public record in most cases.

If someone's charges were dismissed or they were found not guilty, they may petition for expungement of the arrest record under Virginia Code Section 19.2-392.2. Expunged records are removed from public access. Virginia's new sealing law taking effect in 2026 will also allow some convictions to be sealed under Title 19.2, Chapter 23.

Statewide Arrest Lookup Tools

Several statewide resources work for Clarke County arrest searches. The Virginia.arrests.org database aggregates recent arrest data from participating local agencies across Virginia. It is a third-party site, not official, but it can surface recent booking information including charges and arrest dates. Always verify what you find there with official sources.

The VADOC Offender Locator lets you search for people serving state prison sentences. It includes photos and facility location. This tool only covers people in state prison custody, not those held locally in the NWRADC. For local custody, use VINE or contact the detention center directly.

The Virginia State Police also maintains the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry. This registry is public, searchable by county, and includes photographs of registered offenders. You can search by county or zip code at no cost. Under Virginia Code Section 19.2-390.1, this information is publicly available online.

The screenshot below is from the Virginia State Police Criminal Background site, which handles statewide criminal record requests including those tied to Clarke County arrests.

Use the Virginia State Police criminal background service to request official statewide criminal history records.

FOIA and Access Rights

Virginia FOIA law is clear on mugshots. Under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3706(A)(2), adult arrestee photographs taken during initial intake are mandatory public records. Agencies must release them. The only exception is if the release would hurt an active felony investigation. Once that risk is gone, the photo must come out. Agencies must respond to any FOIA request within five working days.

Exemptions exist for juvenile records, sealed records, and records tied to active investigations. The identities of victims and witnesses may also be protected. If your request is turned down, ask the agency for the specific legal basis. You have that right under state law. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council at (804) 698-1810 can advise you if you believe a denial was improper.

Clarke County arrest records, like all Virginia arrest records, stay on file indefinitely unless they are expunged. Arrest records do not prove guilt. They show that a person was arrested and what they were charged with. The outcome of the case may be entirely different from the initial charges.

The image below is from the VINE victim notification system, which provides free custody status updates for people held in Virginia jails, including the NWRADC which serves Clarke County.

Register for free custody notifications through VINE to track whether someone is in or out of custody at any Virginia jail.

Nearby Counties

These counties are close to Clarke County. Each one has its own sheriff and arrest record process.