West Virginia Charge Code Lookup
Type a West Virginia charge code from a booking sheet, jail roster or ticket and see which law book and section it points to, with a link to the official text. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.
Enter a code to see which law book it comes from and open the official text.
West Virginia criminal code books and abbreviations
West Virginia offenses are cited to one main law book:
- West Virginia Code (WV Code, W. Va. Code). Sections are written as chapter-article-section (61-2-9, 17C-5-2), for example 61-2-9, 17C-5-2, 60A-4-401. See section 61-2-9
After an arrest in West Virginia: the first court appearance
A person making an arrest must take the arrested person without unnecessary delay before a magistrate of the county where the arrest is made. (W. Va. Code § 62-1-5(a)(1))
(1) An officer making an arrest under a warrant issued upon a complaint, or any person making an arrest without a warrant for an offense committed in his presence or as otherwise authorized by law, shall take the arrested person without unnecessary delay before a magistrate of the county where the arrest is made.
West Virginia courts call this hearing the initial appearance.
What this page does not do
- It does not look up a person, a booking or a case.
- It does not say what a charge will lead to; the prosecutor decides what is filed.
- It collects nothing; what you type stays in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I read a West Virginia charge code?
Find the number and the abbreviation. WV Code is the West Virginia Code. A section is written as chapter-article-section (61-2-9, 17C-5-2). The lookup above links the official text.
How long can you be held in West Virginia before seeing a judge?
A person making an arrest must take the arrested person without unnecessary delay before a magistrate of the county where the arrest is made. (W. Va. Code § 62-1-5(a)(1)).
Sources
Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.
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