West Virginia records approximately 32,300 arrests annually, with about 1,200 of those occurring in Harrison County. Under West Virginia's Sunshine Laws, most arrest records are public and can be obtained for a copy fee of $0.25 per page.
However, certain records are exempt from public disclosure in line with the provisions of the Sunshine Laws. These records include clinical records, juvenile records, and records sealed by the courts. Access to these confidential records is limited to authorized parties, including the subject of the record, law enforcement agencies, court officials, and the Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
Arrest records in Harrison County are officially maintained by government agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, Police Departments, the West Virginia State Police, and the county courts.
The Harrison County Sheriff's Office is tasked with maintaining arrest records. To obtain these records, visit or contact the Sheriff's Office at:
Sheriff's Office
301 West Main Street
Clarksburg, WV 26301
Phone: (304) 627-0222
Arrest records are generally kept by the local Police Departments in Harrison County that made the arrests. Interested individuals may obtain such records by contacting or visiting the Records Division of the arresting agency. Also, arrest record requests can be submitted through FOIA portals on Police Department websites. Custodians may require details about the requested records and charge a specified fee to facilitate the document search.
Police Departments in Harrison County include:
The West Virginia State Police (WVSP) serves as the state-level repository for criminal history records, including arrests made in Harrison County. However, the WVSP does not directly provide criminal history records to the public.
Individuals interested in obtaining criminal records can do so through the third-party vendor recommended by the West Virginia State Police (WVSP). To get started, visit the vendor's website or call (855) 766-7746. To obtain fingerprint-based records, applicants can schedule an appointment online and choose an enrollment center near them. They must bring along a valid identification document to their appointment.
Harrison County Courts maintain records of criminal cases involving charges filed against defendants whom law enforcement officers arrested. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases and certain misdemeanors, while the Magistrate Court handles misdemeanors.
Interested individuals may obtain these records from the Court Clerks by visiting their office at the courthouse where the cases were adjudicated or by mailing written requests. They may contact or visit the Circuit Clerk at:
Harrison County Courthouse
301 West Main Street
Clarksburg, WV 26301-2967
Phone: (304) 624-8640
Likewise, the Office of the Magistrate Court Clerk is located at:
Room 222
306 Washington Avenue
Clarksburg, WV 26301
Phone: (304) 624-8645
Individuals may also access criminal records online via the West Virginia Public Access Search System for Circuit Court records. The Magistrate Case Record Search portal enables users to find case information by party name and case number.
In addition, third-party websites like InfoTracer help find Harrison County arrest records. Users can conveniently search for arrest records on these platforms using different search criteria.
Harrison County recorded an arrest rate of 195 arrests per 10,000 residents. The table below represents some of the arrest statistics in the county:
| Arrest type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder and Nonnegligent Homicide | 1 |
| Robbery | 2 |
| Rape | 4 |
| Aggravated Assault | 21 |
| Larceny | 141 |
| Burglary | 17 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 |
| All Other Offenses | 412 |
| Total Violent Crimes | 28 |
| Total Property crimes | 163 |
| Total Arrests | 1,260 |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (CDE)
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport Police Department | 515 W Main St | 304-842-8260 |
| Clarksburg Police Department | 222 West Main Street | 304-624-1610 |
| Shinnston Police Department | 43 Bridge St | (304)592-2121 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Salem Correctional Center (SCC) | 7 Industrial Blvd. | 304-782-2371 |