Suppose you want to initiate an arrest warrant search in Putnam County, WV. In that case, it will help to know how active warrants are issued and how these orders flow from the judiciary to the local law enforcement agency. Learning about the procedure followed for arrest warrants will help you get maximum information in response to your inquiry.
Active warrants are issued by the magistrate’s court, which holds limited jurisdiction in criminal matters, usually restricted to the issue of warrants and dealing with petty crimes. Yet, the police have to convince the magistrate of an accused’s complicity before a warrant is granted against this person.
A strict degree of caution is exercised when it comes to the release of arrest warrants. These judicial orders interfere with the freedom of movement granted by the constitution to all US citizens. Hence the court convenes for a pre-warrant hearing specifically to find any holes in the case formed by the police.
If the sitting judge is convinced that the suspect did have a part to play in commissioning the criminal act in question, a detention order is granted. The police will keep all Putnam County outstanding warrants for arrests with them till they can be served. Even after execution, the sheriff’s office maintains arrest records connected with the execution of these orders. To find more on warrants, you can go to 3389 Winfield Rd, Winfield, WV 25213. All three agencies discussed above work out of the judicial complex in the area.
How do you inquire about active warrants and recent arrests from Putnam County over the phone? (2021-current)
- To learn about recent arrests and an inmate search, call the Western Regional Jail at 304-733-6821.
- For general questions, contact the Sheriff’s Office at 304-586-0214.
- To get information on arrest warrants, contact the Magistrate’s Court at 304-586-0234/0270.
- To get help for a victim, contact the Putnam County Attorney’s Office at 304-586-0205.
- To access judicial records, connect with the Circuit Court Clerk at 304-586-0203.
- For accident reports and arrest records, contact the Law Enforcement Division at 304-586-0256.
Crime statistics of Putnam County
Almost 430 criminal complaints were filed by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department in 2018. The figure included 236 property offenses and 193 crimes against people. The following crimes were reported:
- 154 larceny thefts
- 43 burglaries
- 39 motor vehicle thefts
- 186 aggravated assaults
- 6 rapes
Earlier crime rates
Through the ten years between 1999 and 2008, almost 850 instances of crime were committed in Putnam County, West Virginia. Of these incidents, only about 40 were violent. Overall, there has been a deterioration in the crime scene in the area, with violent crime logging in the growth of almost 90% and reported crime showing a rise of over 85%.