Find Botetourt County Booking Records
Botetourt County 24 hour booking records are maintained by the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office at the Botetourt-Craig Public Safety Facility in Fincastle, Virginia. This page covers how to search for recent arrests, access the jail roster, look up court cases, and understand your rights under Virginia public records law.
Botetourt County Overview
Botetourt County Sheriff's Office
The following screenshot is from publicrecordcenter.com, a third-party public records resource. For official booking and arrest information, use the Sheriff's Office links provided below.
The image above provides a general overview of Botetourt County public records. For current arrest and inmate data, go directly to the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office official site.
The Botetourt County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Matthew T. Ward. The agency has 112 sworn deputies and 27 civilian support staff and is accredited by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission. The office processes arrests 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Booking records include personal information, the charges filed, bond amounts set by the magistrate, and scheduled court dates. The office provides court security and civil process services in addition to its patrol and detention functions.
Communities served by the Sheriff's Office include Buchanan, Troutville, Daleville, and the county seat of Fincastle. The county covers approximately 546 square miles in the Blue Ridge Mountains region of Virginia. The Botetourt County Courthouse is at 1 W. Main Street, Fincastle, VA 24090.
| Office | Botetourt County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 205 North Roanoke Street (P.O. Box 18), Fincastle, VA 24090 |
| Phone | 540.928.2200 (non-emergency) |
| Sheriff | Matthew T. Ward |
| Website | botetourtva.gov/departments/sheriffs-office |
| Official Sheriff Site | botetourtsheriffva.com |
Botetourt County Jail Booking Process
The following screenshot is from virginiacourtrecords.us, a third-party arrest records aggregator. Official arrest data comes directly from the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office and the Virginia courts system.
The screenshot above shows Botetourt County arrest statistics from a third-party source. In 2023, the county had 713 total arrests: 377 Group A offenses and 336 Group B offenses. Simple assault led Group A arrests with 97 cases, while DUI accounted for 73 Group B arrests.
The Botetourt County Jail is the primary detention facility for the county. When someone is arrested, deputies bring them to the Botetourt-Craig Public Safety Facility at 205 North Roanoke Street in Fincastle for booking. The process includes photographing, fingerprinting, and recording all relevant personal and charge information. After booking, the individual appears before a magistrate who sets bail conditions. Virginia's magistrate system operates around the clock, so there is no wait for business hours before a bail hearing can occur.
Under Virginia Code § 19.2-72, a magistrate issues arrest warrants based on sworn complaints showing probable cause. Under § 19.2-82, anyone arrested without a warrant must be brought before a magistrate right away. The magistrate looks at the nature of the offense, the person's family ties, employment status, financial resources, and past record when setting bail.
The official Botetourt County Sheriff's site at botetourtsheriffva.com includes a Citizen Connect platform that provides public access to outstanding criminal warrants, accident reports, incident reports, and jail bookings. You can also submit anonymous crime tips through the platform. The site has quick email links for specific requests including jail records, FOIA, and general records.
The image below is sourced from the official Botetourt County Sheriff's Office website. This is the primary official source for Botetourt County booking and arrest information.
The official Sheriff's site provides direct access to booking records, warrant searches, and public records request tools. Bookmark this page as your primary resource for Botetourt County arrest information.
Note: The Citizen Connect platform on the official Sheriff site is the fastest way to check for outstanding warrants or recent jail bookings in Botetourt County.
Accessing Botetourt County Arrest Records Under FOIA
Virginia Code § 2.2-3706 requires law enforcement agencies to release certain arrest information. The identity of adults who are arrested and charged, the date of the arrest, the general location, and a description of the alleged crime are all public. Adult booking photographs taken as part of routine intake are public records. Any chronological arrest log maintained by the Sheriff's Office is also a public document.
FOIA requests to the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office should specify exactly what records you want. The office has five working days to respond. If more time is needed, they must notify you in writing and have an additional seven working days. Fees cannot exceed actual costs for searching, copying, and supplying records. The Sheriff's Office website includes a dedicated FOIA email contact to make requests easier.
Records that may be withheld include juvenile arrests, records tied to active criminal investigations, information that could cause a suspect to flee, and data identifying confidential informants or victims in certain cases. Outside of these exemptions, the public has a strong right to access Botetourt County booking records.
Botetourt County Court and Arrest Case Search
Court cases from Botetourt County arrests are filed in the Circuit Court and General District Court in Fincastle. The Circuit Court is located at 1 W. Main Street, Fincastle, VA 24090, phone 540-928-2350. The General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts are at 20 East Back Street, Fincastle, VA 24090. General District Court phone is 540-928-2270.
You can search Botetourt County circuit court cases using the Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. For misdemeanors and traffic cases, use the Virginia Courts Case Information portal. Both systems are free to use and updated in real time. The Virginia State Police Area 39 office at 3861 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge, VA 24578 (phone 540-291-2548) also serves Botetourt County.
Sealing Botetourt County Booking Records
Virginia's new record sealing law, effective July 1, 2026, will allow automatic and petition-based sealing of many criminal records. About 90% of misdemeanors and nearly two-thirds of Class 5 and 6 felonies may qualify for sealing. Automatic sealing covers offenses like misdemeanor larceny, trespass, disorderly conduct, and marijuana possession. To qualify, a person must be free of any new convictions for seven years after the offense being sealed. Petition-based sealing will no longer require fingerprints or filing fees after July 1, 2026.
Botetourt County residents who have older arrest or conviction records may benefit from reviewing their eligibility under the new law. The Justice Forward Virginia Foundation provides up-to-date guidance on eligibility requirements and the process. Arrest records remain on file indefinitely unless a court orders them sealed or expunged. Records sealed under the new law will no longer appear in public searches, including the official state court databases.
Cities Near Botetourt County
Botetourt County borders Roanoke County to the south. The independent cities of Roanoke and Salem are nearby and have their own separate court systems, but Botetourt County residents file cases at the Fincastle courts.
Nearby Counties
These counties are adjacent to Botetourt County. Each has its own Sheriff's Office and booking records.