Fauquier County Busted Mugshots

Fauquier County busted mugshots and arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office and the Fauquier County Adult Detention Center. The Sheriff's Office publishes a list of arrest-related activities on its website and accepts FOIA requests for booking photos. This page covers how to search for arrest records in Fauquier County, what the detention center holds, and what tools and laws govern public access to that information.

Fauquier County Sheriff's Office

The Fauquier County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. The Sheriff's Office makes arrests, processes inmates, and maintains booking records. They publish a list of arrest-related activities on the office's website. This can be a useful starting point when looking for recent arrests in Fauquier County.

Criminal History Record Check forms are available at the Sheriff's Office and must be submitted in person at their locations. The Records Division processes all records requests. FOIA requests are accepted for arrest records and mugshots. Submit your request in writing with the full name, date of birth, and approximate arrest date of the person you are asking about. Include a citation to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3706 to ensure your request is handled as a law enforcement records FOIA request. Agencies must respond within five business days.

Fees may apply for copies of records. Juvenile records are protected under Virginia law and are not available. Records tied to active investigations may also be withheld. For real-time custody status, use VINE, which covers the Fauquier County Adult Detention Center and is free to use.

Fauquier County Adult Detention Center

The Fauquier County Adult Detention Center is the county's primary inmate facility. It operates under the Sheriff's Office and holds people in pre-trial detention and those serving short local sentences. Booking photographs are maintained as part of the facility's inmate records. Booking records include the mugshot, fingerprints, charge information, bond details, and custody status.

Inmate information can be requested from the detention center. For current inmates, the easiest route is calling the Sheriff's Office directly or using VINE. For historical records or copies of booking photos, a formal FOIA request is required. The detention center follows Virginia public records law. Basic inmate information is public. Medical and mental health records are not. Juvenile records are completely off limits.

People transferred from the Fauquier County Adult Detention Center to state prison can be found through the Virginia Department of Corrections Offender Locator. This is a free public database that includes photos and shows the facility where the person is currently held. Search by full last name plus the first letter of the first name, or use the seven-digit VADOC offender ID if you have it.

Fauquier County Court Records

The Fauquier County Circuit Court Clerk keeps felony criminal case records and allows access in person at the courthouse. Records show charges filed, court hearing dates, and case outcomes. They are public unless sealed by a judge. You can search Fauquier County circuit court records online through the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System, which provides statewide name and case number search capability.

The General District Court in Fauquier County handles misdemeanor cases and maintains its own records of charges and proceedings. Arrest information is part of each case file. Both courts are part of the 20th Judicial Circuit. Court records are a valuable supplement to arrest records. The arrest record shows what was charged at booking. The court record shows what the legal system did with it. These can differ substantially in complex cases.

If someone was arrested in Fauquier County but not convicted, they may file for expungement of the arrest record under Virginia Code Section 19.2-392.2. The petition goes to the circuit court where the case was handled. Expunged records are not open to the public. Virginia's new record sealing law effective July 2026 will create a pathway for some convictions to also be sealed under Title 19.2, Chapter 23.

Statewide Arrest and Mugshot Resources

The Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange is the official statewide repository for criminal history records. It holds data from every Virginia law enforcement agency, including the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office. A name-based search costs $15. Use the SP-167 form, available at vsp.virginia.gov/services/forms/. Submit by mail with payment by certified check, money order, or credit card. The typical turnaround time is 15 days.

The Virginia.arrests.org database aggregates recent arrest data from local agencies statewide. It is not an official government source but can surface recent Fauquier County bookings. Always verify through official channels. The Virginia Sex Offender Registry is searchable by county at no cost and includes photos of all registered offenders. It is updated each business day.

The image below shows the Virginia Judiciary online case system, which lets you search Fauquier County criminal court records by name or case number.

Search Fauquier County criminal case records at eapps.courts.state.va.us, the statewide Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System.

FOIA Rights for Fauquier County Records

Virginia 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. The Fauquier County Sheriff's Office and the Adult Detention Center must release them when asked. The only exception is if release would harm an active felony investigation. Once that risk is gone, the photo must come out. Five business days is the response window for all FOIA requests.

Juvenile records are not public in Fauquier County. Active investigation records may be withheld. Victim and witness identities are protected. If a request is denied, ask for the specific code section justifying it. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council can advise you at foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov or (804) 698-1810 if you believe a denial was improper.

An arrest record is not evidence of guilt. It shows someone was arrested and charged. The final outcome of the case can be very different from those initial charges. Virginia keeps adult arrest records for 100 years from date of birth. Juvenile records are retained for 23 years. Deceased adults have their records removed one year after the agency is notified of death.

The image below shows the Virginia Code central criminal records section, which establishes how agencies like the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office must collect, store, and release arrest records and booking photographs.

The full legal framework for arrest records in Virginia is at law.lis.virginia.gov, Title 19.2, Chapter 23.

Nearby Counties

Fauquier County is in Northern Virginia and borders these counties. Each has its own sheriff and jail system.