Criminal records in Kanawha County, West Virginia, are available through several channels. KanawhaCourt.us allows you to search publicly available information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, the West Virginia state court system provides online portals for searching circuit and magistrate court records, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office publishes a warrant database, and the county clerk's office maintains official legal documents. These resources together cover the main avenues for accessing criminal records.
How to Search Criminal Records in Kanawha
Start your search at KanawhaCourt.us — the site allows you to find publicly available information about court cases in the county. For a more detailed search, use official state portals and local institutions.
Online Search via State Portals
- Circuit Court Records. Go to the West Virginia Judiciary court record access page. Here you can search circuit court records for all 55 counties in the state, including Kanawha — the only county in the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
- Magistrate Court Records. Use the free magistrate case search system. Enter the person's first or last name or case number. Note: The West Virginia Supreme Court does not guarantee the completeness of this data.
- Arrest Warrants. The Kanawha County Sheriff's Office maintains an online warrant database. Lists are not updated on weekends and holidays.
- Inmate Search. Check if a person is in custody through the WV Regional Jail inmate search or the Division of Corrections offender search system.
For federal cases, use the PACER system.
In-Person Visit
The Kanawha County Circuit Court Clerk's Office is located in the courthouse in Charleston. You can view court records on-site or order copies. For magistrate court records, contact the magistrate court clerk in the county where the case was filed.
Mail Request
Send a written request to the Circuit Court Clerk's Office or the West Virginia State Police Criminal Identification Bureau to obtain an official state-level criminal history. Include in your request:
- Full name of the person
- Date of birth (if known)
- Case number (if known)
- Type of document requested
- Payment of applicable fees
Search Kanawha Criminal Cases by Case Number
Each case in West Virginia is assigned a unique number that encodes the type of case, year of filing, and sequential number. Understanding the structure helps quickly find the desired record.
Typical format of a circuit court case number:
- County Code — two-digit numerical identifier (for Kanawha, it's 20)
- Case Type — letter code, for example: F (felony), M (misdemeanor)
- Year — two-digit year of filing
- Sequential Number — numerical sequence within the year
For example, a case with the number 20-F-2024-00123 would involve a felony registered in Kanawha County in 2024. In magistrate court, the format is slightly different but also includes the county code, case type, and year. Enter the number in the appropriate field on the search portal to obtain data on a specific case.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Kanawha
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to the specific section of the West Virginia Code under which charges are filed |
| Severity | Felony, misdemeanor, or infraction |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may change the initial charge to a lesser or more severe one during the case |
Case Status
- Pending — case is open, awaiting review
- Active — proceedings are actively ongoing
- Disposed — court has made a decision, case is concluded
- Closed — all procedural actions are completed, appeal period has passed
Types of Hearings
- Arraignment — first appearance of the accused before the court, charges are announced
- Preliminary Hearing — judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial
- Pre-trial — procedural hearing to resolve issues before the trial begins
- Sentencing — imposition of punishment after a guilty plea or verdict
- Review — check on compliance with the conditions of punishment, such as probation
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty |
| Not Guilty | Found not guilty |
| Dismissed | Case closed without a verdict |
| Acquitted | Acquitted by court or jury |
| Nolle Prosequi | Prosecutor declined to pursue further prosecution |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Kanawha
Certified copies of criminal records are official documents with a court seal, typically required for employment, licensing, or legal procedures. Here’s where to go.
Circuit Court Clerk's Office
To obtain certified copies of judgments, sentences, and other court documents, contact the Kanawha County Circuit Court Clerk. Requests can be made in person or by mail. You need to provide:
- Full name of the defendant
- Case number (if known)
- Valid photo ID
- Payment of copying and certification fees
County Clerk's Office
The Kanawha County Clerk, Vera J. McCormick, maintains certain legal records. For criminal cases, you usually need to contact the circuit court clerk rather than the county clerk.
State-Level Criminal History
To obtain a complete criminal history of a person, contact the Criminal Identification Bureau at the West Virginia State Police. The request requires fingerprinting and completion of the appropriate form. According to §29B-1-3 of the West Virginia Code, every person has the right to inspect or copy public records of state agencies, except as otherwise expressly provided by law.
Sheriff's Office — Warrants
The Sheriff's Office Warrant Division provides information on active warrants. 24-hour line: (304) 357-0169.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Kanawha
Fees for copies of court documents in West Virginia are set at the state and individual court levels. Below are typical fees for Kanawha County.
| Service | Approximate Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court document (per page) | $0.25–$0.50 | Depends on the court; check with the clerk |
| Certification of copy | $0.50–$1.00 per document | In addition to copying costs |
| State criminal history check | $25.00+ | Through WV State Police; may require fingerprints |
| Online magistrate court search | Free | Through West Virginia Judiciary portal |
| Sheriff's warrant database search | Free | Online on the sheriff's website |
Processing time depends on the method of request submission. Online searches yield instant results. Mail requests to the court clerk's office are typically processed within 5–10 business days. State Police criminal history checks can take two to four weeks, especially if fingerprint checks through the FBI are required. Call the relevant institution in advance to confirm current fees and processing times — they may change.