7 Things To Do When Your Loved One is Incarcerated

Once my loved one is in jail, how do I find their case number(s), their attorney’s name, and their next hearing date?

Step 1: Use the Division of Correction and Rehabilitation (DCR) website to find their case information.

• Go to https://apps.wv.gov/OIS/OffenderSearch/RJA/Offender
• When you search for your loved one, you should see their photo, full name, and location. To see the case information, click “More Info” in their row

• For each charge listed, write down the issuing agency, the case number, and the bail amount. These can be found under "Court Order List."

Step 2: Use their Case Number(s) to find their next court date and their attorney.

If the issuing agency is a county...

The case may be in either magistrate court or circuit court. In West Virginia, both misdemeanor and felony cases begin in magistrate court. For felony cases, if probable cause is found at the preliminary hearing, the case is then transferred to circuit court. 

If your loved one's case is a misdemeanor, or if they have not yet had their preliminary hearing, you can use the magistrate court record search:

• Go to https://mcrsearch.courtswv.gov/ and search their first and last name
• Find the case(s) holding them and click the Case ID
• Write down their attorney's name, their next court date, and the type of hearing scheduled

If you don’t see the information you are looking for, you can also call the county circuit clerk to ask the name of your loved one’s attorney and the date of their next hearing. You can find the name and contact number for the county’s circuit clerk here: https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/county-map

If the issuing agency is the US Marshalls or another federal agency...

• Call the clerk's office to ask the name of your loved one’s attorney and the date of their next hearing. Be prepared to give the case number and your loved one's full name.

  • For the Northern District of WV (Clarksburg, Elkins, Martinsburg, and Wheeling), find clerk’s contact number here: https://www.wvnd.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations

  • For the Southern District of WV (Charleston, Beckley, Bluefield, and Huntington), find the clerk’s contact number here: https://www.wvsd.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations/

If the issuing agency is a city/municipality...

• Look up the name and number of your municipal court clerk. Call to ask the name of your loved one’s attorney and the date of their next hearing.

• If your loved one was arrested in Charleston, you can find this information at: https://charlestonwvpayments.com/court-docket

Step 3: If your loved one has an urgent medical or mental health issue, contact their pharmacist and/or healthcare provider and ask them to fax copies of current prescriptions to the jail.

• Use this chart to find the jail's medical fax number and share it with your loved one's medical provider: 
  

  Jail	Main Phone Number	Medical Fax Number
  Central Regional Jail	(304) 765-7904	(304) 765-2845
  Eastern Regional Jail	(304) 267-0045	(304) 267-9755
  North Central Regional Jail	(304) 873-1381	(304) 873-1876
  Northern Regional Jail	(304) 843-4067	(304) 845-5714
  Potomac Highlands Regional Jail	(304) 496-1275	(304) 496-9753
  South Central Regional Jail	(304) 558-1336	(304) 744-2288
  Southern Regional Jail	(304) 256-6726	(304) 255-0994
  Southwestern Regional Jail	(304) 239-3032	(304) 239-6130
  Tygart Valley Regional Jail	(304) 637-0382	(304) 636-9045
  Western Regional Jail	(304) 733-6821	(304) 733-5583

• Once this information has been faxed, call the jail as soon as possible and ask to speak to medical. They can’t give you information about your loved one without proper release forms, but you can give information to the jail. Let them know who your loved one is, what medical or mental health issue your loved one is facing, and to expect the fax from your loved one’s medical provider.

Step 4: Document what you know about the arrest.

• Write down everything you know about the incident--who, what, where, when, and how.
• If you know someone else who was present during the arrest, have them do the same. 
  
  

Step 5: Contact their defense attorney. 

• Share with them:
  • any information you have about your loved one’s arrest
  • any proof your loved one is not a flight risk. This could be employment, school, years lived in the area, family ties, medical appointments, and other involvement in the community.
• Confirm the next hearing date and tell them you intend to be there to support your loved one.
• Ask what you should know about the hearing and what documentation you should bring.

Step 6: Set up accounts to contact your loved one while they are incarcerated 

Note: this step requires electronic payment.

• Create an account with the jail's phone system provider and make a deposit. You can make can AdvancePay account at https://web.connectnetwork.com 
• If you have a balance for at least a one-minute phone call in your account, you can receive a call from your loved one when they are able to use the phones

To send and receive messages (similar to email), to send photos, or to schedule video visits with your loved one...

• Create a GTL GettingOut account at https://www.gettingout.com
• If you will be using a phone or tablet, download the apps GTL GettingOut and GO Visits.
• Visit the website or app, create an account, and make a deposit.
• Use the contacts tab to search for your loved one. Once you add them as a contact, you can send them a message.

Note: this option is only available if your loved one has access to their tablet. At some facilities, this may not happen until they have been incarcerated for several days. 

Step 7: Show up to their first court date and ask to speak to their defense attorney before court. 

• Bring as many people as you can to show that your loved one has community support. Bring proof to demonstrate that your loved one is not a flight risk.
• Make sure you have any documentation the defense attorney asked you to bring.