Search Arlington County 24 Hour Booking Records

Arlington County 24 hour booking records are kept by the Arlington County Sheriff's Office and the Arlington County Detention Facility in Northern Virginia. When someone is arrested in Arlington, that booking data becomes a public record under Virginia law. You can search through the VADOC Inmate Locator, Virginia's courts portal, or by contacting the Sheriff's Office or detention facility directly.

Find Arlington County 24 Hour Booking Records

Arlington County is an urban county in Northern Virginia, directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It has no separate incorporated county seat. The county government administers all services from the Arlington County Government Center. Law enforcement is split between the Arlington County Police Department, which handles patrol and investigations, and the Arlington County Sheriff's Office, which runs the detention facility and handles court-related duties.

When someone is arrested in Arlington County, they are processed at the Arlington County Detention Facility. The booking record created there is a public document. You can search for booking data through the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate Locator for people in state custody. For local jail records, contact the detention facility directly. Court records linked to Arlington arrests are available through Virginia's court case information portal. Felony case records appear in the Circuit Court Online Case Information System.

The Arlington County Sheriff's Office can respond to written FOIA requests within five working days. Include the person's full name and the approximate date of arrest when submitting.

For the most current information on whether someone is still in custody, call the detention facility directly. Online records may lag by 24 hours or more after an arrest.

Arlington County Sheriff's Office and Detention Facility

The Arlington County Sheriff's Office is the primary agency responsible for operating the jail, serving court process, and providing courthouse security. The Sheriff's Office runs the Arlington County Detention Facility, which is the local jail where people are held following arrest. The Sheriff's Office processes all bookings, maintains custody records, and handles releases.

The Arlington County Detention Facility is located at 1435 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201. The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can reach the facility by phone at (703) 228-4460. Staff at the jail can confirm whether someone is in custody and provide basic booking information. For certified copies of records, a formal request may be needed.

The Arlington County Police Department handles patrol, investigations, and most street-level arrests. Once a person is arrested by police, they are transferred to the detention facility for booking. The Sheriff's Office takes over custody at that point. Both agencies maintain records of the arrests they handle, but the detention facility holds the central booking data.

Arlington County also participates in regional law enforcement cooperation with neighboring Fairfax County and with federal agencies that have a large presence in Northern Virginia. Federal arrests made within the county may bypass the local detention facility and go directly to federal facilities. For local charges, the process runs through the Sheriff's Office and the County's detention facility as described above.

Your FOIA Rights in Arlington County

Virginia law gives the public the right to access most arrest records. The key statute is Virginia Code § 2.2-3706, which sets out what law enforcement agencies must release. Under this law, agencies must make public the identity of any adult who is arrested and charged, the status of that charge, and booking photos taken at initial intake. This is a mandatory release under state law.

Some records stay private. Juvenile arrest records are not public. Medical and mental health information is exempt. Details of active investigations can be withheld when release would harm the case. Information that could expose confidential informants is also protected. But for most adult bookings in Arlington County, the basic facts are available to anyone who requests them.

If the Sheriff's Office or Police Department denies your FOIA request, you can appeal to the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council. They help resolve disputes and give guidance to both requestors and agencies. Agencies must respond within five working days. If they need more time, they must notify you and have an additional seven days to respond.

Arlington County, given its size and urban nature, handles a high volume of arrest records. The detention facility keeps detailed logs. A request for the arrest log covering any specific date range is a public record and must be provided.

Arrest and Booking Process in Arlington County

Virginia's arrest process is governed by Virginia Code § 19.2-72, which covers how magistrates issue arrest warrants. A magistrate issues a warrant when a sworn complaint establishes probable cause that a crime was committed. Arlington County uses the same statewide magistrate system as other Virginia jurisdictions. Magistrates are available 24 hours a day, every day.

Once arrested, the person is transported to the Arlington County Detention Facility for booking. The booking process covers identity verification, fingerprinting, photographs, medical screening, and recording of charges. After booking, the person appears before a magistrate who decides on bail. The magistrate weighs the severity of the offense, the person's community ties, and their criminal history. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-82, anyone arrested without a warrant must be brought before a magistrate without unnecessary delay. This can happen in person or by two-way video link.

For minor offenses, a police officer may issue a summons instead of making a full arrest. A summons tells the person to appear in court on a set date. It avoids the full booking process at the detention facility. However, if the officer believes the person poses a risk or will not show up, a custodial arrest can happen even for minor charges.

Arlington County handles many different types of arrests due to its proximity to Washington D.C. and its dense urban environment. Drug offenses, DUI, assault, and theft are among the most common charge categories. The detention facility processes several hundred bookings each month.

Arlington County Court Records and Case Lookup

After booking, criminal cases in Arlington County move through the courts. Misdemeanors go to General District Court. Felonies go to Circuit Court. Court records are separate from booking records but both are public. Booking records cover the initial arrest. Court records track what happens once charges are filed and the case is heard.

You can search Arlington County court records through Virginia's Circuit Court Online Case Information System. This system covers 117 of Virginia's 120 circuit courts, including Arlington. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. Use "CR" as a prefix when looking for criminal cases. The system shows charges, party names, hearing dates, and current case status. Data is live and reflects real-time case information.

You can also use Virginia Courts Online and the statewide case information portal. Both tools are free. No account is needed. General District Court records for misdemeanors are on a different system from circuit court records, so check both if you are unsure which court handled the case.

Arlington County has a busy court system. Cases often move quickly through the docket compared to more rural Virginia counties. If you are looking for a specific case, the circuit court clerk's office at the Arlington Courthouse on Courthouse Road can provide certified copies and additional case details.

Sealing and Expungement of Arlington Booking Records

Virginia passed major record sealing legislation that takes effect July 1, 2026. Under the new law, roughly 90% of all misdemeanors and close to two-thirds of Class 5 and 6 felonies become eligible for sealing. For details on how this affects Arlington County residents, the Justice Forward Virginia Foundation has a complete guide on who qualifies and how to apply.

Automatic sealing will apply to certain categories of offenses, including misdemeanor larceny, concealment, trespass, and disorderly conduct. A person must have gone seven years without a new conviction to qualify. Marijuana possession records will be automatically sealed regardless of case outcome. Starting in July 2026, petition-based sealing will be available for a wider range of records, and no filing fees or fingerprint cards will be required.

If you believe a record from Arlington County should be sealed or expunged under current law, you can file a petition with the Circuit Court now. The current process requires paperwork and a court hearing. Cases dismissed or resulting in acquittal are generally eligible for expungement under existing rules. Conviction records are subject to the new 2026 provisions once they take effect.

Arlington County residents have access to several legal aid organizations that can help with sealing and expungement. The Legal Services of Northern Virginia and other local nonprofits offer free or low-cost assistance for people who qualify based on income.

Nearby Counties

Arlington County is in Northern Virginia and borders Fairfax County to the south and west.