West Virginia Statewide Criminal Background Check
Search West Virginia court records across all 55 counties with one simple order.
BCS Background Screening LLC runs each search in real time and reviews every possible match.
As a result, you get court-level detail without fingerprint appointments or mailed forms.
What the West Virginia Statewide Criminal Background Check Covers
West Virginia keeps criminal cases in two trial court levels.
Circuit courts hear every felony, plus misdemeanor appeals from magistrate and municipal courts.
Meanwhile, magistrate courts in all 55 counties handle most misdemeanors and felony preliminary hearings.
Our West Virginia statewide criminal background check reaches both levels in a single request.
Therefore, one order replaces dozens of separate calls to county clerks.
Plus, you receive results online through your secure account.
Every West Virginia Criminal Record We Report Shows
Case Number and Court
You see the exact circuit or magistrate court, the county code and the case number.
Charges and Statutes
Each count lists its offense level and the West Virginia Code section when the court records one.
File and Disposition Dates
Every count carries its filing date, plea details and final disposition date.
Full Sentence
Reports include prison terms, probation, home confinement, costs, fines and jail credit.
Post-Sentence Events
Probation violations, capias warrants, revocations and discharge certificates all appear in order.
Identity Match
We compare name, date of birth and case identifiers against your applicant data.
Why Employers Skip the Fingerprint Route for Routine Hiring
The West Virginia State Police no longer runs background checks directly.
Instead, its Criminal Identification Bureau sends applicants to IdentoGO for fingerprinting, according to the West Virginia State Police.
In addition, W. Va. Code §15-2-24(d) requires a signed and acknowledged authorization from the person checked.
That route suits licensing boards well. However, it slows everyday hiring.
| Feature | State Police Fingerprint Check | BCS West Virginia Statewide Search |
|---|---|---|
| How it starts | Applicant books a fingerprint appointment | You order online with name and date of birth |
| Applicant travel | Required, in person | None |
| Record source | State repository built from arrest fingerprints | Circuit and magistrate court records |
| Detail returned | Repository summary | Case number, charges, dates and full sentence |
| Review before release | None by your screening provider | Quality review on every possible match |
| Price | Set by the state and its vendor | $20 per name + $15 access fee |
How West Virginia Court Records Are Organized
West Virginia divides its 55 counties into 30 judicial circuits with 80 circuit judges, per the West Virginia Judiciary.
Each county also runs a magistrate court for misdemeanors, warrants and preliminary hearings.
Since March 10, 2025, the WVPASS portal has indexed circuit records from all 55 counties.
The West Virginia Press Association covered that launch in detail.
The portal holds documents back to 1999, and public downloads cost $0.25 per page.
Similarly, the free Magistrate Case Record Search shows case details, although documents stay with county clerks.
Still, public portals were not built for hiring decisions.
They do not confirm identity, and they do not produce an FCRA consumer report.
BCS Background Screening LLC closes that gap with identity matching, quality review and compliant reporting.
Four West Virginia Docket Terms Hiring Managers Often Misread
CC-17-2024-F
This format marks a circuit criminal case. The county number follows the state’s alphabetical list, so 17 means Harrison County. F stands for felony.
Conversion
This event code usually marks a docket line carried over from the court’s earlier case system. It does not change the entry’s meaning.
1-3 yrs. pen.
This shorthand means an indeterminate term of one to three years in a state correctional facility.
Capias
A capias is a court order to arrest the defendant. Courts often issue one after a missed hearing or a probation violation.
West Virginia Statewide Criminal Search Pricing
Pricing stays simple and published.
You pay $20 per name plus a $15 access fee for every West Virginia statewide search.
So each name totals $35.
By comparison, many national screening firms hide state pricing behind a quote form.
We would rather show the number up front, so you can budget every hire.
Additionally, add-on searches carry their own published prices.
- $20 West Virginia statewide search
- $15 access fee
- Circuit and magistrate court coverage, all 55 counties
- Full disposition and sentence detail
- Quality review on every possible match
- SSN trace included at no extra cost*
*Access to SSN Trace functionality is restricted at initial registration. This feature cannot be accessed at initial signup until your organization’s business use case is verified.
Order a West Virginia Criminal Background Check in Four Steps
Open Your Account
Sign up online, then complete our business verification.
Collect Consent
Give the FCRA disclosure and get the applicant’s written authorization.
Enter the Applicant
Add the full legal name, date of birth and any prior names.
Review the Report
Read results online. Next, follow FCRA adverse action steps if needed.
Sample West Virginia Statewide Criminal Report
The sample below uses our real report layout with fictitious identifiers.
We changed every name, number and date to protect privacy.
Sentence
Probation revoked at the final violation hearing on 08/25/2025.
Committed to the custody of the West Virginia Department of Corrections for 1 to 3 years in the penitentiary.
Term runs from 07/16/2025 under the amended order of 03/09/2026. The original order ran it from 07/18/2025.
Credit given for 01/09/2024 and 01/10/2024. Defendant ordered to pay costs.
Motion for reconsideration of sentence denied 11/18/2025.
Official Certificate of Discharge filed by the Division of Corrections on 08/03/2026.
Earlier Case History
Amended order revoking home confinement entered 04/22/2024.
Motion for reconsideration of that sentence denied 07/08/2024.
Official Certificate of Discharge filed by the Parole Board on 11/25/2024.
Petition to revoke probation filed 03/11/2025. Capias issued 05/05/2025 and served 07/22/2025.
In plain terms: the defendant pled guilty to a felony and later violated probation. The court then imposed a 1-to-3-year prison term, and corrections discharged him in August 2026.
Complete Docket Entries
| Entry | Filing Date | Event Code | Description | Entered By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 116 | 08/03/2026 | Conversion | Official Cert. of Discharge filed by Div. of Corrections. | jm |
| 114-115 | 03/16/2026 | Conversion | Filed by Court: Letter from Parole Board & Letter to M. Tolliver, Chairperson. | jm |
| 106-113 | 03/09/2026 | Conversion | AMENDED ORDER FOLLOWING FINAL PROBATION VIOLATION HEARING / ORDER REVOKING PROBATION / ORDER COMMITTING DEFENDANT TO CUSTODY OF WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS: 08-25-25 Prob. revoked. Plea of guilty to Ct 2: Felony offense Attempt to Obtain a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation. Committed to 1-3 yrs. pen. from 07-16-25, given credit for 01-09-24 & 01-10-24. Pay cost. Copy-PA, PO, PD, McDowell Co. Corr. Center, pen. BK#71, Pg. 212 | jm |
| 104-105 | 11/18/2025 | Conversion | ORDER Denying Motion for Reconsideration of Sentence. Copy PA, Halvorsen. | rk |
| 102-103 | 11/17/2025 | Conversion | Motion for Reconsideration filed by R. Halvorsen. Cert. of Service. | rk |
| 93-99 | 08/26/2025 | Conversion | ORDER FOLLOWING FINAL PROBATION VIOLATION HEARING / ORDER REVOKING PROBATION / ORDER COMMITTING DEFENDANT TO CUSTODY OF WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS: 08-25-25 Prob. revoked. Ct 2: Felony offense Attempt to Obtain a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation. Committed to 1-3 yrs. pen. from 07-18-25. Copy-PA, PD, PO, NCRJ, pen. BK#68, Pg. 118-121 | jm |
| 100-101 | 08/26/2025 | Conversion | JUDGMENT & COMMITMENT ORDER: Copy-PA, PD, NCRJ, pen. BK#68, Pg. 122-123 | jm |
| 90-92 | 07/28/2025 | Conversion | ORDER SCHEDULING FINAL PROBATION VIOLATION UPON DEFENDANT’S ARREST ON CAPIAS: 07-21-25 Final Probation violation 08-25-25 at 10:15 A.M. Copy-PA, PD, NCRJ, PO | jm |
| 89 | 07/22/2025 | Conversion | Capias served by Mag. Court Clerk. | jm |
| 86-87 | 05/05/2025 | Conversion | ORDER Issuing Capias. Copy PA, PO, Halvorsen, SHC, NCRJ. BK#66, Div. 1, Pg. 41-43. | rk |
| 88 | 05/05/2025 | Conversion | CAPIAS issued. Served ? | — |
| 85 | 04/28/2025 | Conversion | Filed by Court: Motion & Capias filed by Mag. Ct. Clk. | jm |
| 80-81 | 03/12/2025 | Conversion | Notice of Appearance of Counsel filed by R. Halvorsen. Cert. of Service. | jm |
| 82-83 | 03/12/2025 | Conversion | Notice of Request for Counsel to be Present during Interrogation filed by R. Halvorsen. Cert. of Service. | jm |
| 84 | 03/12/2025 | Conversion | Discovery Motion filed by R. Halvorsen. Cert. of Service. | jm |
| 76-79 | 03/11/2025 | Conversion | ORDER FILING PETITION TO REVOKE PROBATION / ORDER SCHEDULING HEARINGS: 03-10-25 Public Def. appt. atty. P.H. set before Mag. Pruett on 03-27-25 at 2:30 P.M. Final hearing 04-14-25 at 1:30 P.M. Copy-PA, PD, PO, Mag. Pruett, Def. | jm |
| 75 | 11/25/2024 | Conversion | Official Cert. of Discharge filed by Parole Board. | jm |
| 70-71 | 07/08/2024 | Conversion | Motion for Reconsideration filed by R. Halvorsen. Cert. of Service. | jm |
| 72-74 | 07/08/2024 | Conversion | ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION OF SENTENCE: Def’s Motion for Reconsideration of Sentence is hereby Denied. Copy-PA, PD | jm |
| 68-69 | 05/13/2024 | Conversion | Filed by Court: Letter from Parole Board & Letter to M. Tolliver, Chairperson. | jm |
| 64 | 04/22/2024 | Conversion | AMENDED ORDER REVOKING HOME CONFINEMENT / ORDER COMMITTING DEFENDANT (earlier entries 1-63 not shown in this sample) | jm |
Sample only. The subject, case number, attorneys, officials and all dates are fictitious. Any resemblance to a real person or case is coincidental.
West Virginia Hiring Rules to Follow
The federal FCRA governs every West Virginia statewide criminal background check we deliver.
So, build these four steps into each hire.
Disclosure
Give a clear, standalone written disclosure before you order.
Authorization
Get the applicant’s written consent, then place the order.
Pre-Adverse Notice
Send a report copy and the Summary of Rights before deciding.
Adverse Action Notice
Finally, send the final notice with our contact details and dispute rights.
West Virginia Points to Watch
Expungement Waiting Periods
Under W. Va. Code §61-11-26, a single misdemeanor becomes eligible after one year.
Multiple misdemeanors wait two years, while nonviolent felonies wait five years.
Once a court grants expungement, we do not report the case.
Seven-Year Rule
The FCRA bars reporting non-conviction records older than seven years for most jobs.
That limit lifts for positions paying $75,000 or more. Convictions carry no federal time limit.
Ban-the-Box
West Virginia has no statewide ban-the-box law for private employers.
Even so, EEOC guidance still asks for an individualized review of each record.
For every statute, agency and lookback detail, read our guide to West Virginia background screening laws.
Who Uses a West Virginia Statewide Criminal Search
Employers across the Mountain State rely on this search every day.
Healthcare and Senior Care
Hospitals, home health agencies and care homes screen staff who work with patients.
Also, many pair it with a FACIS® exclusion search.
Energy, Mining and Manufacturing
Plants and job sites screen workers for safety-sensitive roles.
For those roles, a full sentence history matters.
Transportation and Logistics
Carriers add driving records, because drivers cross county lines daily.
Together, both searches show the full risk picture.
Staffing Agencies
Recruiters place workers fast, so real-time results keep offers moving.
Published pricing also keeps client quotes simple.
Property Managers
Landlords screen maintenance staff who enter tenant homes.
In that case, a clear sentence summary speeds the decision.
Schools and Nonprofits
Programs that serve children or vulnerable adults screen staff and volunteers.
Some roles still require state fingerprints by law, so check your licensing rules first.
Why Employers Choose BCS Background Screening LLC
We built this service for employers who need speed and accuracy together.
First, every possible match goes through human quality review before release.
Next, each report shows the full court story, not a one-line summary.
On top of that, our client portal runs on SOC 2 Type II audited infrastructure.
BCS Background Screening LLC is also a PBSA member with a BBB A+ rating.
- Published price of $35 per name
- Circuit and magistrate courts in all 55 counties
- Full dispositions, sentences and post-sentence events
- Identity matching on name and date of birth
- FCRA-compliant reports delivered online
Searches That Complete a West Virginia Background Check
A statewide court search works best alongside a few targeted add-ons.
County Criminal Court Search
Search a single courthouse directly for $18 plus court fees.
Nationwide Criminal Database
Locate out-of-state records for $17, then verify each hit at the source.
Federal Criminal Search
Cover federal cases from the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia.
Driving Records
Check license status and violations for any role behind the wheel.
West Virginia Statewide Criminal Background Check FAQs
What does a West Virginia statewide criminal background check include?
It searches circuit and magistrate court records across all 55 counties.
Each record lists the case number, court, charges, file date, disposition and full sentence.
Our quality review team also checks every possible match before release.
How much does a West Virginia statewide criminal search cost?
BCS Background Screening LLC charges $20 per name plus a $15 access fee.
So the total comes to $35 per name. Add-on searches carry separate prices.
Does the West Virginia State Police offer a name-based check for employers?
No. The State Police no longer runs checks directly and refers applicants to IdentoGO for fingerprinting.
Also, W. Va. Code §15-2-24(d) requires the subject’s signed and acknowledged authorization.
How far back does a West Virginia criminal background check go?
The FCRA limits non-conviction records to seven years for most jobs.
However, convictions can appear regardless of age. West Virginia adds no separate lookback cap.
Can expunged West Virginia records appear on the report?
No. Once a court grants expungement under §61-11-26, we do not report that case.
Law enforcement and corrections employers keep limited access through official channels only.
Is the free WVPASS portal enough for employment screening?
WVPASS is a helpful public index that launched on March 10, 2025.
Still, it does not confirm identity or create an FCRA consumer report.
Hiring from raw portal results therefore adds risk.
Do I need the applicant’s consent before I order?
Yes. The FCRA requires a standalone written disclosure and the applicant’s written authorization first.
Before a final decision, you must also follow pre-adverse and adverse action steps.
What if my applicant has lived outside West Virginia?
Order a statewide or county search for each place the applicant lived.
Our included SSN trace helps reveal those past addresses.
For wider reach, add the $17 nationwide criminal database and verify every hit.
Start Your West Virginia Statewide Search Today
Open an account, add your applicant and get court-level West Virginia results.
Meanwhile, our team stays ready to answer every question.
Our quality review team works 24/7/365
(800) 661-0278 · support@usabackground.com
Every user account includes optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) security.
BCS Background Screening LLC is a consumer reporting agency. This page offers general information, not legal advice.