Essex County Jail Mugshots

Essex County jail mugshots and arrest records are kept by the Essex County Sheriff's Office in Tappahannock. The Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center in Saluda holds most people booked in the county. You can search for a name, check court records, or file a FOIA request for a booking photo. This page shows how to look up Essex County arrest records, how to use the Middle Peninsula jail tools, and how to reach the sheriff for Essex County jail mugshots and booking records.

Essex County Sheriff's Office

The Essex County Sheriff's Office is the main custodian of local jail mugshots and arrest records. Sheriff W. A. 'Arnie' Holmes runs the office. The main phone is 804-443-3346. The office is listed in the Virginia Sheriffs' Association directory, the main statewide index for finding the custodian of booking records in each Virginia county.

The sheriff books each person arrested in Essex County, takes a mugshot at intake, and keeps the local arrest log. Mugshots held by the sheriff are public under Virginia Code § 2.2-3706. That statute requires the release of adult booking photos taken during initial intake.

Call the office first. Staff can tell you if the person is still in local custody or has been moved to Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center. Ask for the case number so you can pull the court file later.

Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center

The Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center is at 170 Oakes Landing Road, Saluda, VA 23149. It serves Essex County, King and Queen County, King William County, Middlesex County, and Mathews County. The center holds adult inmates from the five member counties.

The facility is a regional jail authority under Virginia law. Inmate information and visit policies are on the public site. Booking records for Essex County arrests live at the jail and with the sheriff.

This link points to the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center source page.

Use the center site as a first step to check on an Essex County inmate.

Essex County Court Case Search

Court records tie each mugshot to a charge. Use the Virginia Judicial System case information portal to search Essex County cases by name or case number.

This link goes to the Essex County courts case search source.

The portal shows charges, hearing dates, and case status for Essex County arrest records.

Under § 19.2-82, a person arrested in Essex County must be brought before a magistrate without delay. The first hearing creates a public court file. A summons may be issued in place of an arrest under § 19.2-74.

VADOC Inmate Locator

If an Essex County inmate is now in state prison, use the VADOC Inmate Locator. The Virginia Department of Corrections tool shows current facility, release date, and sentence info for sentenced state inmates.

This link points to the Essex County VADOC locator source.

People held at Middle Peninsula will not show up in VADOC. Call the jail or the sheriff for those cases.

Essex County FOIA Requests

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the Essex County Sheriff must reply to records requests within five working days. File the request in writing. Name the person, give the arrest date if you know it, and ask for the mugshot, the booking sheet, and the arrest report.

Some files may be held back. Criminal incident information has its own rules under § 2.2-3706.1. Records of people in prison are covered by § 53.1-116. Records sealed under § 19.2-392.2 will not be released.

Keep your request short. State the records you need. The sheriff may charge a small fee for copies but not more than the real cost.

Essex County Arrest Process

Most Essex County arrests start with a warrant or an on-view arrest by a deputy or town police. The person is booked at the sheriff. A mugshot is taken. The person is then moved to Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center if held pretrial.

Each booking creates a file with the charge, the arrest date, and the booking photo. If the charge is a sex offense, the person may be listed on the state registry under § 9.1-913. Records later sealed under § 19.2-392.3 will not be shared.

Nearby Counties

These counties sit near Essex County. Each keeps its own jail mugshots and arrest records.