Buchanan County Jail Mugshots Lookup
Buchanan County jail mugshots and arrest records are kept by the sheriff's office in Grundy and by the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority. The sheriff takes new bookings. The regional jail holds people while their case moves through court. Search by name, by date of arrest, or by case number. Most booking photos and arrest records in Buchanan County are open to the public. This page walks you through the key offices, the right forms, and the FOIA rules.
Buchanan County Overview
Buchanan County Sheriff
Sheriff Allen W. Boyd runs the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office. Call 276-935-2313 to reach the office. The sheriff is the go-to source for arrest records and jail mugshots in Buchanan County. Deputies cover Grundy, Vansant, Oakwood, and the rest of the county.
The Virginia Sheriffs' Association directory gives you the sheriff's current contact info. Use it to confirm the phone number or email. Under Va. Code § 2.2-3706, booking photos taken at intake must be made public, unless release would harm a felony investigation.
Note: Buchanan County does not run its own jail; all long holds go to the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail system.
Southwest Virginia Regional Jail
The Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority runs multiple facilities across the region. The main jail sits at 15205 Joe Derting Drive, Abingdon, VA 24210. It serves nine counties and two cities, including Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wise. The jail also serves Bristol and Norton.
Visit the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority website to look up inmates, view visit rules, and deposit funds for commissary. The jail provides video visits through a real-time system. Inmate phone service is run by a third party. Jail staff must keep a full record of each person held, per Va. Code § 53.1-116. That record must include the name, the charges, the date of commitment, and the terms of confinement.
Below is the SWVRJA site used for Buchanan County inmate lookups. See the SWVRJA home page to search.
The SWVRJA also posts bond info, visit times, and rules for sending mail to inmates.
VADOC Inmate Search
People sentenced from Buchanan County to state prison are held by VADOC. The inmate locator is a free search tool. It does not cover regional jail holds. For a state inmate search, use the VADOC Inmate Locator. You need the first letter of the first name plus the full last name, or a seven-digit inmate ID.
The tool shows the current prison, the release date, and the active sentence. Results update each business day.
Below is the VADOC inmate locator page used for Buchanan County state inmates. Visit the VADOC locator to search.
Court Case Search
Jail mugshots connect to court cases. Every arrest in Buchanan County leads to a hearing. Use the state court case lookup to track the case.
The Virginia Judicial System Case Status and Information site lets you search by name or case number. The result shows the charges, the court dates, and the outcome. General district and circuit court records are both covered.
Below is the Virginia court case search portal used for Buchanan County lookups. Visit the court case info site.
Under Va. Code § 19.2-82, a warrantless arrest must be reviewed by a magistrate. Minor offenses may be handled with a summons under Va. Code § 19.2-74.
FOIA Records Request
Virginia FOIA covers arrest records and booking photos. The full law sits in Title 2.2, Chapter 37 of the Virginia Code. Any person can file a request. Send it to the sheriff or the jail. State your request clearly, name the person, and give the date. The agency has five working days to reply.
Fees must match the real cost of the work. Ask for an estimate before the agency starts pulling records. Criminal investigative files can be held back while a case is open under Va. Code § 2.2-3706.1. After the case closes, more info is open to the public.
Note: You do not need to use the word "FOIA" in your request, but you must describe the records with reasonable specificity.
Expungement and Registry
A Buchanan County arrest that ends in dismissal or acquittal can be sealed. The petition goes to the circuit court under Va. Code § 19.2-392.2. Once sealed, the record cannot be shared without a court order, per Va. Code § 19.2-392.3. Virginia also keeps a public sex offender registry, set up under Va. Code § 9.1-913.
State Police History Checks
The Virginia State Police run conviction history checks. Use form SP-167. The form needs a notary. Mail or drop off the form at the VSP office in North Chesterfield. The Virginia State Police criminal background check page has the form and fee info. Results cover all Virginia convictions.
Nearby Counties
These counties sit next to Buchanan County in southwest Virginia. Check the right office based on where the arrest took place.