Access Highland County 24 Hour Booking Records

Highland County 24 hour booking records are handled by the Highland County Sheriff's Office in Monterey. Because the county has a small population, it relies on a regional jail for inmate housing, but all arrest and booking data remains a public record under Virginia law.

Find Highland County 24 Hour Booking Records

The Highland County Sheriff's Office processes all arrests made in the county. When someone is taken into custody, the office records the booking information, including name, charges, date of birth, and time of arrest. That data is a public record under Virginia law and is available through several channels.

To search Highland County booking records, start with the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate Locator for people in state custody. For recent local arrests, contact the Highland County Sheriff's Office in Monterey. Because Highland County inmates are housed at the Alleghany Regional Jail in Covington, you may also need to contact that facility directly if you are looking for someone currently in custody. Court records tied to criminal cases are searchable through Virginia's court case information portal and the Circuit Court Online Case Information System.

Highland County is one of the least populated counties in Virginia, and its resources reflect that. The Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement functions with a small staff. Virginia State Police also assist with major incidents. If you need records that are not available online, a written FOIA request is your best option. The Sheriff's Office must respond within five working days under Virginia law.

Booking data may take up to 24 hours to appear in online databases. For real-time information, call the Sheriff's Office or the Alleghany Regional Jail directly.

Highland County Sheriff's Office

The Highland County Sheriff's Office in Monterey is responsible for all law enforcement in the county. The office handles patrol, arrests, and booking. Because Highland County does not have its own full-scale detention facility, inmates are transferred to the Alleghany Regional Jail after booking. This shared facility serves multiple jurisdictions in western Virginia, including Alleghany County and the City of Covington.

The Alleghany Regional Jail maintains its own inmate roster and intake records. For someone arrested in Highland County, the booking process starts with the Sheriff's Office and then the person is transported to Covington for holding. To check on an inmate's current status, you may need to contact both the Highland County Sheriff's Office and the Alleghany Regional Jail. The jail can confirm whether a specific person is being held and give basic custody information.

To get booking records, contact the Highland County Sheriff's Office in Monterey. You can call, stop by in person, or send a written request. Mail requests should include the person's full name, approximate date of arrest, and your return address. Basic arrest data is free. Certified copies may carry a fee. The office responds to written public records requests within five working days as required by Virginia FOIA.

Your FOIA Rights in Highland County

Virginia Code § 2.2-3706 sets out what law enforcement must disclose to the public. Agencies are required to release the identity of any adult arrested and charged, the charges filed, and booking photos taken at intake. A log of all adult arrests, in chronological order, is a public document under this law. The agency cannot decide not to release it.

Some records are exempt. Juvenile records stay private. Investigation files that would compromise an active case can be withheld. Medical and mental health records are not public. If releasing information could expose a confidential informant, that detail is protected as well. But the standard adult booking record in Highland County, which includes name, date, and charges, is open to anyone who asks.

If the Sheriff's Office denies your request, you can appeal to the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council. They advise citizens on FOIA rights and help resolve disputes. Agencies must respond to requests within five working days. If they need more time, they must say so within that window and can take up to seven more days.

Arrest and Booking Process in Highland County

Arrests in Highland County follow the same process as the rest of Virginia. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-72, a magistrate issues a warrant when a sworn complaint establishes probable cause. Virginia's magistrate system is available around the clock, so warrants can be issued at any hour. Deputies can also make warrantless arrests when they witness a crime or have probable cause to believe a felony occurred.

After arrest, the person is taken through the local booking process. This includes confirming identity, photographing, fingerprinting, conducting a medical check, and recording all charges. After booking, the person is transported to the Alleghany Regional Jail in Covington. There, a magistrate determines whether to set bail. The magistrate considers the seriousness of the charge, the person's prior history, and ties to the community. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-82, anyone arrested without a warrant must appear before a magistrate immediately, in person or by video.

For minor offenses like Class 3 or Class 4 misdemeanors, a deputy may issue a summons to appear rather than making a full custodial arrest. A summons skips the booking process. However, if the person is a flight risk or poses a risk of harm, the officer can make a full arrest even for a minor charge. That decision is up to the officer on the scene.

Highland County Court Records and Case Lookup

Criminal cases in Highland County go through the local courts after booking. Misdemeanor cases are heard in General District Court. Felony cases go to the Highland County Circuit Court. Court records track what happens after charges are filed, while booking records document the initial arrest and intake. Both types of records are public.

You can search Highland County court records through Virginia's Circuit Court Online Case Information System. The system lets you search by name, case number, or hearing date. Use "CR" as the case prefix for criminal matters. Results include parties, charges, court dates, and case status. It is updated in real time.

For a wider search across Virginia's courts, visit Virginia Courts Online or the court case information portal. Both tools are free and require no login. General District Court records for misdemeanors and traffic cases are on a different system from circuit court records. Check both if you do not know which court handled a particular case.

Highland County is part of the 25th Judicial Circuit. Cases involving serious charges are heard in the circuit court, which is located in Monterey at the county courthouse.

Sealing and Expungement of Highland County Booking Records

Virginia's record sealing law takes effect July 1, 2026. This law expands who can get old records cleared by a wide margin. About 90% of all misdemeanor convictions and many Class 5 and 6 felonies will become eligible for sealing. Automatic sealing will cover categories including misdemeanor larceny, trespass, concealment, and disorderly conduct. Marijuana possession records will be automatically sealed no matter what the case outcome was.

Starting July 1, 2026, people can also petition to seal records outside the automatic categories. No filing fee or fingerprint card will be required under the new system. Generally, a person must have gone at least seven years without a new conviction to qualify for sealing of a prior conviction. Charges that were dismissed or ended in acquittal are already eligible for expungement under current law and can be pursued now.

If you want to pursue expungement of a Highland County record today, file a petition with the Highland County Circuit Court in Monterey. The Justice Forward Virginia Foundation has a guide on who qualifies and what the process looks like. Legal aid organizations in western Virginia may also be able to assist residents of small counties like Highland.

Nearby Counties

Highland County is in far western Virginia and borders several counties in the Allegheny Highlands region.