New Kent County 24 Hour Booking Records

New Kent County 24 hour booking records are managed by the New Kent County Sheriff's Office in New Kent, Virginia. Arrests made in the county create public records that you can search through state databases or request directly from the Sheriff's Office.

Find New Kent County Booking and Arrest Records

The New Kent County Sheriff's Office processes all arrests in the county and keeps the booking records that result. Each arrest generates a record that includes the person's name, the date and time of arrest, the charges filed, and booking photos. Virginia law makes most of these records available to the public upon request.

To search New Kent County booking records, start with the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate Locator, which covers people in state custody after a conviction. For local jail information, contact the New Kent County Sheriff's Office or the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail directly. Court records tied to an arrest are searchable through the Virginia Courts case information portal. You can also use the Circuit Court Online Case Information System to search for criminal cases filed in New Kent's circuit court. Searches are free and do not require an account.

If the record you need is not online, send a written FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office. Include the full name of the person, the approximate date of arrest, and your return address. The office must respond within five working days under state law.

Online systems may take up to 24 hours after an arrest to reflect new bookings. If you need current information right away, calling the Sheriff's Office is the quickest route.

Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail

New Kent County uses the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail to house people who are arrested and detained in the county. This shared facility serves multiple jurisdictions on the Peninsula and operates around the clock. All bookings from New Kent County go through this facility after initial processing by the Sheriff's Office.

Intake at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail includes identity verification, mugshots, fingerprinting, a medical screening, and entry of all charges into the system. After booking, the person appears before a magistrate for a bail determination. Virginia's magistrate system runs 24 hours a day, so this step happens quickly. The magistrate weighs the charge, the person's ties to the community, and their record when setting bail.

People held at the facility include those awaiting trial, those who could not post bail, and individuals serving short sentences for lower-level offenses. People convicted of felonies and sentenced to more than a year are generally moved to a Virginia Department of Corrections facility. The VADOC Inmate Locator helps track those individuals.

For visitation rules, inmate contact options, and other facility details, reach out to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail or the New Kent County Sheriff's Office. Policies can change, so always confirm before making a visit.

New Kent County Sheriff's Office

The New Kent County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. It handles all law enforcement in the unincorporated areas of New Kent County, on the Peninsula between Richmond and Williamsburg. The office is located in New Kent, the county seat. It runs the county's law enforcement operations, coordinates with the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail for detention, and maintains the official arrest records.

To get a copy of a booking record, you can go to the Sheriff's Office in person, call during business hours, or send a written request. Staff can search records by name or booking number. Certified copies may come with a fee. For mail requests, include the full name, approximate date of arrest, and a return address. The office must respond to written FOIA requests within five working days.

The Sheriff's Office also coordinates with the Virginia State Police on major cases and with neighboring jurisdictions. If you are unsure whether an arrest happened in New Kent County or a nearby jurisdiction, start by calling the Sheriff's Office.

Your FOIA Rights in New Kent County

Virginia law gives people the right to access most arrest and booking records. The primary statute is Virginia Code § 2.2-3706. Under this law, law enforcement agencies must release the identity of any adult who is arrested and charged, the nature of the charge, the status of the arrest, and any booking photos taken during intake. This is a mandatory disclosure. Agencies do not have the option to refuse it for standard adult bookings.

There are exceptions. Records involving juveniles are sealed by law. Medical and mental health information stays private. Details about active investigations can be withheld if releasing them would harm the case. Informant identities are also protected. But for most adult arrests in New Kent County, the basic booking record is available to anyone who asks.

If an agency turns down your FOIA request, you can appeal to the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council. They provide guidance and help resolve disputes between the public and agencies. Agencies must respond to requests within five working days. If they need more time, they must notify you within that window and have up to seven additional days to respond.

Any chronological list of adult arrests in New Kent County is a public document and must be released on request.

Arrest and Booking Process in New Kent County

Virginia's arrest process is laid out in state law. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-72, a magistrate may issue a warrant when a sworn complaint establishes probable cause. The warrant identifies the accused, states the offense, and orders the person to appear before a court. Virginia's magistrate system is available every hour of every day, which allows warrants and bail decisions to happen at any time.

Once a person is arrested in New Kent County, they are taken to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail for booking. The process covers identity confirmation, mugshots, fingerprints, a medical review, and entry of all charges. A magistrate then holds a bail hearing. The magistrate looks at the severity of the charge, the person's ties to the area, and any prior record. Under Virginia law, anyone arrested without a warrant must be brought before a magistrate immediately. That can happen in person or through a two-way video system.

For less serious offenses, a deputy may issue a summons instead of making a full arrest. A summons gives the person a court date to appear on and does not involve full booking. However, if there is reason to think the person will not show up or poses a risk, a custodial arrest can still be made regardless of how minor the charge is.

New Kent County Court Records and Case Lookup

Booking records and court records are not the same. Booking records cover the arrest. Court records track what happens after charges are formally filed. In New Kent County, misdemeanor cases are handled in General District Court. Felonies go to Circuit Court. Both court systems maintain public records that are separate from jail booking data.

You can search New Kent County court records through Virginia's Circuit Court Online Case Information System. This covers most of Virginia's 120 circuit courts and allows name, case number, or hearing date searches. Use "CR" as the case type prefix when looking for criminal matters. The system shows party names, charges, hearing dates, and current case status. It is updated in real time.

The Virginia Courts case information portal covers both district and circuit courts and is free to use without registering. If you are unsure which court handled a case, search both. For cases not in the online system, contact the New Kent County Circuit Court clerk's office in the county seat.

Sealing and Expungement of New Kent County Booking Records

Virginia's new record sealing law takes effect July 1, 2026. This is a significant expansion of who qualifies. Roughly 90% of all misdemeanors and close to two-thirds of Class 5 and 6 felonies will be eligible for sealing under the new rules. For details on who qualifies and how to apply, the Justice Forward Virginia Foundation has a thorough guide that covers the new law.

Automatic sealing will apply to several offense types. Misdemeanor larceny, trespass, concealment, and disorderly conduct are included. A person must have no new convictions for seven years after the original conviction to qualify for automatic sealing. Marijuana possession records will be sealed automatically regardless of the outcome of the case. Starting July 1, 2026, petition-based sealing will also be available for more record types. No filing fee or fingerprint card will be needed under the new process.

If you think a New Kent County record should be sealed or expunged before 2026, you can petition the Circuit Court now under current law. Cases that were dismissed or resulted in an acquittal are generally eligible for expungement today. Conviction records fall under the 2026 rules. A court hearing is still required under the current law.

Nearby Counties

New Kent County sits between Richmond and the Williamsburg area and borders several counties on the Peninsula.