The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is January 2025)
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Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors unfortunately got in trouble with the law. And records were kept from arrests through court cases to prison documents. Now, more and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and are being made available online.
Types of Records
- Criminal court proceedings
- Police reports
- Prison and jail admission registers
- Arrest records
- Mug books
- Pardon and discharge information
- Hospital record books
- Workhouse records
Types of Information
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Education
- Habits (alcohol use)
- Relations (parents living)
- Date incarcerated
- Court where charged
- Recommitments
- How and when discharged
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the state; the first list is for multi-state collections:
West Virginia Criminal Records
United States
- Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
- Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages
West Virginia
- Boone County Jail, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Executions at the West Virginia Penitentiary, 1899-1929
- Fayette County Jail. 1940 Census
- Greenbrier County, Alderson Womens Federal Prison Cemetery
- Harrison County, West Virginia Industrial Home for Girls 1930 Census
- List of Executed Prisoners Within West Virginia Penitentiary
- Logan County Jail, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Marion County Jail, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Marshall County, 1870 Washington District Census, including the Penitentiary
- Marshall County, West Virginia Penitentiary 1930 Index of Female Prisoners
- Marshall County, West Virginia Penitentiary Farm 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Marshall County, West Virginia Penitentiary, 1930 Index of Prisoners, A-C
- Marshall County, West Virginia Penitentiary, 1930 Index of Prisoners, D-H
- Marshall County, West Virginia Penitentiary, 1930 Index of Prisoners, I-M
- Marshall County, West Virginia Penitentiary, 1930 Index of Prisoners, N-S
- Marshall County, West Virginia Penitentiary, 1930 Index of Prisoners, T-Z
- Marshall County, White Gate Cemetery AKA Prison Cemetery or Toms Run Cemetery
- Marshall County, Whitegate (Penitentiary) Cemetery
- Monongalia County Jail, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Ohio County Jail, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Summers County Jail, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- West Virginia Executions
- West Virginia Industrial Home for Girls, 1930 Census
- West Virginia Penitentiary Farm, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- West Virginia Penitentiary, 1930 Index of Female Prisoners
- West Virginia Penitentiary, 1930 Index of Prisoners, Surnames A – C
- West Virginia Penitentiary, 1930 Index of Prisoners, Surnames D – H
- West Virginia Penitentiary, 1930 Index of Prisoners, Surnames I – M
- West Virginia Penitentiary, 1930 Index of Prisoners, Surnames N – S
- West Virginia Penitentiary, 1930 Index of Prisoners, Surnames T – Z
- West Virginia, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, Prisoners, Insane, In Hospitals, 1917-1918
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!