Search Clarke County Released Inmates
Clarke County released inmates records help families and the press track people who have left local custody in this small county at the gateway to the Shenandoah Valley. The Sheriff's Office in Berryville handles arrests and short stays. Felony files live with the Circuit Court Clerk one block down the street. Use this page to find a roster, set up a release alert, or pull a case file. We list each tool you may need to track a Clarke County released inmate fast.
Clarke County Released Inmates Overview
Clarke County Sheriff Inmate Roster
The Clarke County Sheriff's Office is the lead law enforcement agency for the county. Sheriff Travis Sumption leads the office. The office sits at 100 N. Church St. in Berryville. The admin line runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The non-emergency phone is (540) 955-1234. For 911 emergencies, the office is staffed all day. The office is accredited by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission and is part of the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force. The Sheriff is elected every four years.
Booking sheets list the full name, the booking date, the charges, the bond, and the next court date. Mugshots are kept on file. Records on a Clarke County released inmate flow through the Sheriff's records desk first. To send a tip in private, you can call Crime Solvers at (540) 665-8477. Chief Deputy Patricia Putnam can be reached at (540) 955-5182. Office Manager Janine Rose handles records calls at (540) 955-5152.
For state prison cases, use the VADOC offender locator to check on a Clarke County released inmate. The tool is free and updates each day. For local custody alerts, VINE Link sends free notifications when an inmate's status changes. Both tools work when you only have a name to start with.
Note: The Sheriff's Office does not give out warrant info by phone since they cannot verify the caller's ID, so you may need to walk in for a check.
Clarke County Circuit Court Records
The Clarke County Circuit Court is at 102 N. Church St. in Berryville, just down the street from the Sheriff. The clerk is April F. Wilkerson. The phone is (540) 955-5188 and the fax is (540) 955-0284. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Recordation ends at 4:30 p.m. The Chief Deputy Clerk is Kate Anderson at (540) 955-5117. The Circuit Court Clerk is a constitutional officer elected every eight years. The clerk maintains the records of civil, criminal, and juvenile divisions of the court.
For a free name-based search, use the Virginia Circuit Court case information system and pick Clarke from the dropdown. You can search by name, case number, or hearing date. Criminal cases use the prefix CR. The data is updated in real time. Lower-level cases live in the General District Court case search. Many short jail terms tied to a Clarke County released inmate end at the lower court and never reach the state offender locator.
Court files often hold the sentence length, the conviction date, and probation terms.
Clarke County General District Court
Clarke General District Court is the lower court for misdemeanors and traffic. The chief judge is Hon. John Stanley Hart Jr. Hon. Mary Louise Costello Daniel also hears cases here. The court has limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters. It hears civil cases involving amounts not more than $25,000. It also conducts trials for misdemeanor offenses and traffic infractions. The court is part of the Virginia Judicial System.
Many Clarke County released inmates leave from a short jail stay tied to a misdemeanor case here. The clerk's office can pull a docket sheet for a small fee. Walk-ins use the public counter from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The court shares a building with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for some matters.
State Search Tools and VINE Alerts
If a person from Clarke County was sent to state prison, the case moves to the Virginia Department of Corrections. The VADOC offender locator covers about 24,000 inmates across 26 facilities. Type the first letter of the first name and the full last name. The tool gives the facility, the projected release date, and the offender status. It is free and updates each day. People who served less than a year may not show up here.
The rules for state time live in Virginia Code Title 53.1. Section 53.1-24 makes the Director keep a register of every prisoner. Section 53.1-28 lets the Director discharge a prisoner up to 30 days early.
VINE is the free alert service for victims and the public. Sign up at vinelink.com or call 1-800-467-4943. You pick email, text, or a phone call. VINE tracks release, transfer, escape, and other custody changes. Sign up is anonymous. The Clarke County released inmate is not told that you signed up.
Note: A Clarke County released inmate who served only a few months will not show in VADOC, so the Sheriff's records desk is the better first call.
Clarke County FOIA Requests
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act lets you ask for jail records held by the county. The law lives at Virginia Code § 2.2-3700. Any Virginia citizen who is not in jail can file a request. The press can file too. The county has five working days to reply, with seven more if needed. Send a letter to the Sheriff's Office at 100 N. Church St., Berryville, VA 22611, or use a phone call to start the talk.
Some files are held back. Active criminal investigation files do not have to be shared. Read § 2.2-3706 on law enforcement files before you write the FOIA letter for a Clarke County released inmate file. Pursuant to Virginia Code § 19.2-389, certain criminal history record information may have restricted access.
Background Checks and Other Sources
The Virginia State Police criminal history check is the formal way to get a full record. The fee is $15 per name search. Use form SP-167. Turnaround is about 15 business days. Mugshots are taken and retained by the Sheriff's Office during the booking process. These photos are part of the public record and can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office.
Other useful tools for a Clarke County released inmate search:
Cities and Nearby Counties
Clarke County sits at the eastern edge of the Shenandoah Valley near the West Virginia line. The town of Berryville is the county seat but does not have its own page on this site. For records help in nearby places, use the county or city pages below.