Albemarle County Booking Photos

Albemarle County jail mugshots are kept by the sheriff's office and the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. You can search for booking photos, arrest records, and inmate info through a few free public tools. Most people start with the jail's online lookup or the state inmate locator. This page shows which office holds each record and how to file a request. Use the links below to search Albemarle County jail mugshots and related court files. Each source is free to the public.

Albemarle County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Chan R. Bryant leads the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office. The office is at 411 E. High Street, Bldg B, Charlottesville, VA 22902. You can call 434-972-4001. The office handles civil process, court security, and some record requests. Arrest records and booking photos tied to county arrests flow through the sheriff and the regional jail. Ask the sheriff's staff if you need a specific booking photo or arrest report.

The sheriff's listing is on the Virginia Sheriffs' Association directory. That site gives official contact info for every Virginia sheriff. Under Virginia FOIA, § 2.2-3700 et seq., the public has the right to ask for these records. The office must reply within five working days.

Most asks are simple. Give the name, the date, and the case number if you have it.

Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail

The Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail (ACRJ) is the main lockup for Albemarle County. It sits at 160 Peregory Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22902. The jail serves Albemarle County, Nelson County, and the City of Charlottesville. Adult men and women are held there, both pretrial and short-term sentenced. The facility is run by the regional jail board.

Booking photos are taken at intake. Each file holds the name, date of birth, charge, and the mugshot. Jails are required to keep these records under Va. Code § 53.1-116. The jail can confirm if a person is in custody, when they were booked, and what the charge is.

For a copy of a booking photo, ask the sheriff's office or the jail records staff. The release rules in Va. Code § 2.2-3706 cover adult mugshots. Juvenile files follow § 2.2-3706.1 and stay closed in most cases.

Here is the Virginia courts case search portal, which ties into Albemarle County court data and is hosted at courts.state.va.us.

Use this screen when you want to track the court case tied to a specific arrest in Albemarle County.

State Inmate Locator

People sentenced to state prison from Albemarle County can be found with the VADOC Inmate Locator. It is a free search. Type the first letter of the first name and the full last name. Or use the seven-digit inmate ID.

The tool does not show people held at ACRJ before trial. For pretrial inmates, contact the jail. The locator is best for state prison data tied to Albemarle County cases.

Shown here is the VADOC inmate locator page, sourced from vadoc.virginia.gov, which lists state-held inmates from Albemarle County.

The locator is the fastest way to place a sentenced Albemarle County inmate.

Court Records and Case Info

Albemarle County court records link back to arrest records. The Virginia Judicial System runs a free online tool for General District and Circuit courts. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. You will see charges, court dates, and rulings.

Some old cases can be sealed. Under Va. Code § 19.2-392.2, a person may ask the court to expunge a dismissed charge. The newer limits in § 19.2-392.3 control how old records can be shared.

FOIA and Arrest Records

Send a written FOIA request to the sheriff or the jail. State the record you want. Name the person. Give a date or case number. The office has five working days to reply under Virginia law. Fees are limited to the actual cost of search and copies. The custodian can ask for a deposit if the work is large.

Booking photos of adults are public in most cases. Charges, arrest dates, and the status of the case are also public under § 2.2-3706. Active felony investigation files may be held back. Ask first before you file a suit over a denial.

Arrest Process in Albemarle County

When an Albemarle County deputy or Charlottesville officer makes an arrest, the rules in Va. Code § 19.2-82 apply. For minor charges, the officer may issue a summons under § 19.2-74 and skip the full booking. More serious charges go through ACRJ for intake.

Staff take the mugshot, prints, and basic info. Sex offense arrests can trigger registry duties under Va. Code § 9.1-913. The file is then tied to the case in court.

Nearby Counties

These Virginia counties border Albemarle. Search nearby booking photos and jail records.