Franklin County, home to over 56,000 residents, is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. It is the seventh-largest county in Virginia, with an area of 692 square miles. The economy of Franklin County is driven by agriculture, healthcare, construction, and education. The major cities and towns in the county include Rocky Mount (county seat) and Boones Mill.
Franklin County's average violent and property crime rates are 103.4 and 1,476.5 per 100,000 residents, respectively. The average violent crime rate is 28.4% lower than the national average, while the property crime average is nearly 23% below the national average.
The primary law enforcement agency in the county is the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. The Office of the Sheriff maintains the county jail and is the central public contact for law enforcement matters in the county.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office oversees arrest records, jail bookings, inmate release data, and most warrant information at the county level. There exist other law enforcement agencies, including city police, state troopers, and federal agents, that can also make arrests. These agencies also generate incident reports, which are often shared with the Sheriff's Office when an individual is booked into the county jail.
Franklin County is home to several law enforcement agencies, including the county sheriff, city police departments, and federal law enforcement.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is the most comprehensive source for county-level arrest logs and jail rosters. The county sheriff's office manages:
Local police departments operate within Franklin County, such as those in Rocky Mount and Boones Mill. Although the city police conduct the arrest, individuals are typically booked into the Franklin County jail, and the Sheriff's Office handles their jail records.
Local police departments handle arrests within their municipal limits and maintain their own arrest or incident reports.
State police or the Virginia Highway Patrol may conduct highway stops or investigate statewide or interjurisdictional crimes. If an arrest occurs in Franklin County, the person is often booked into the county jail, and the records may appear in county logs.
Federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, and Homeland Security may investigate and arrest for violations of federal laws and regulations. These offenses include terrorism, drug trafficking, immigration, and cybercrime. Note that federal arrests typically do not show up in county records unless the individual is temporarily housed in the Franklin County jail.
You can find a university/college in Cumberland County, like Ferrum College, with a police department. This college has a campus police department that handles on-campus incidents and makes arrests within the college property, with bookings generally processed through the county jail.
Arrest records in Franklin County typically contain the following details:
Note that the exact details available in arrest records vary depending on the agency, jurisdiction, and case type. Some information may be withheld due to privacy laws, juvenile protections, or ongoing investigations.
Every year, Franklin County's law enforcement agencies report about 60 violent crimes and 800 property crimes. The average violent crime rate is 103.4 per 100,000 residents, significantly below the national average by 28.4%. Similarly, property crimes average 1,476.5 per 100,000, which is approximately 23% below the national average.
The table below shows a breakdown of arrest statistics in Franklin County:
Arrest Total | Yearly Average |
|---|---|
Arrest Rate per 100,000 | 4,030 |
Adult Arrests | 2,160 |
Juvenile Arrests | 20 |
Crime Type | |
Murder | 1 |
Rape | 20 |
Robbery | 3 |
Aggravated Assault | 30 |
Burglary | 50 |
Larceny | 550 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 60 |
Arson | 0 |
Source: Virginia State Police
Public arrest records in Franklin County can include information about different warrant types that may be issued by courts. A warrant grants law enforcement legal authority to arrest an individual or take other legally authorized action. Note that the terms used to describe various warrant types and the specifics of each type may differ from one jurisdiction to another. The most common warrant types in Franklin County include the following:
An arrest warrant is issued when there is sufficient evidence to suggest that someone committed a crime. Once signed by a judge, an arrest warrant allows law enforcement to locate and arrest the individual suspected of having committed a crime. Arrest warrants typically show up in arrest and booking records.
A bench warrant is issued by the court when an individual fails to appear for a scheduled hearing or does not comply with a court directive. Bench warrants may lead to arrest even for minor offenses.
Civil capias warrants arise from civil proceedings, such as lawsuits or child support cases, when a person fails to obey a judge's order.
When a person wanted in another jurisdiction is found in Franklin County, a fugitive warrant enables local authorities to detain them. These cases often lead to extradition and are reflected in both arrest records and court filings.
Signed by the governor, a governor's warrant is used to authorize the return of a wanted individual to another state. While not as common, governor's warrants appear in records related to out-of-state criminal matters.
Although not arrest-related, a search warrant allows law enforcement to enter a location or property to find specific evidence. Arrests sometimes follow, which can make it possible for search warrant details to be found in case summaries and arrest reports.
According to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), anyone can access Franklin County arrest and jail records via several methods. You can obtain these records by submitting an online FOIA request to the sheriff's office. In addition, you can use the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System to find court cases associated with arrests.
State-level criminal records that include arrest records are maintained by the Virginia State Police (VSP). Individuals can select the SP-167 Criminal History Search from the forms dropdown on the VSP Non-Criminal Justice Interface. Complete, print, sign, notarize, and mail the form along with the applicable payment to the VSP to request copies of criminal records.
Alternatively, you may request records in person, by phone, or by email from the sheriff's office, jail, or clerk of court. However, it may involve fees and require a valid ID.
The following are jail and detention facilities in Franklin County:
Agency Name: Franklin County Sheriff's Office
City: Rocky Mount, Virginia
Type: County law enforcement agency
Address: 70 East Court Street, Rocky Mount, VA 24151
Phone Number: (540) 483-3000 (Non-emergency)
Website: https://franklincountysheriffva.com/
Staffing: The Franklin County Sheriff's Office employs over 100 personnel
Police Department | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Rocky Mount Police Department | 1250 North Main St, Rocky Mount, VA 24151 | (540) 483-9275 |
Boones Mill Town Police Department | 359 Boones Mill Rd, Boones Mill, VA 24065 | (540) 334-5404 |
Ferrum College Police Department | 109 Ferrum Mountain Rd, Ferrum, VA 24088 | (540) 365-4444 |
Agency Name: Franklin County Jail
State: Virginia
City: Rocky Mount
Type: County detention facility
Address: 70 E Court Street, Ste 101
Phone Number: (540) 483-3020
Facility Name | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Franklin County Jail | 70 E Court St, Ste 101, Rocky Mount, VA 24151 | (540) 483-3020 |