Tygart Valley Regional Jail & Correctional Facility

Search the name on Barbour County Inmate Search. People brought in by Philippi police, the Sheriff's Office or the State Police show up once the jail finishes the booking. A fresh arrest can take a few hours to appear, so check again before you panic.

For anything the search does not answer, call the jail at 304-637-0382. Have the full legal name and date of birth ready.

West Virginia counties do not run their own pretrial jails the way many states do. Barbour County sends its people to the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, 400 Abbey Road, Belington, WV 26250. That jail is in Randolph County and also takes Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker and Upshur.

State law does let a court keep a person in an approved county or city jail for up to 96 hours first. After that, the regional jail is where a pretrial inmate waits.

The officer must take the person to a magistrate in the county of arrest without unnecessary delay. State law sets no number of hours. A magistrate reads the charge, explains the right to a lawyer, and sets the conditions for release.

If the person is already sitting in the regional jail, the first appearance happens by video with a Barbour County magistrate. You do not need to be in the room.

Barbour County magistrates set bail at the first appearance. The Magistrate Court is at Church and Main Streets in Philippi; the mailing address is P.O. Box 541, Philippi, WV 26416. The clerk's office answers at 304-457-3676, and the two magistrates have their own lines at 304-457-4153 and 304-457-4234.

A circuit judge can set or change bail too, once a felony case reaches the circuit court.

Almost always. A person arrested for an offense that is not punishable by life in prison must be admitted to bail. For a life-sentence charge, the judge who would try the case decides whether to allow bail at all.

The West Virginia Constitution adds one more rule: bail may not be excessive.

Often, yes. For a misdemeanor, the magistrate must release the person on a written promise to appear, with no money, unless good cause is shown. The judge looks at residency, ties to the community and risk of running.

That presumption does not cover charges involving violence, a child victim, a deadly weapon, drugs under the controlled substances act, sexual abuse, DUI-type traffic offenses, or theft and tampering over $250.

A magistrate cannot release on a bare promise anyone charged with a violent felony against a person, a felony with a minor victim, felony arson or burglary, or a felony drug offense. Money, a bondsman, property or strict conditions come into play there.

Judges also weigh the person's ability to pay, past convictions, probation or parole status, the strength of the evidence, and missed court dates in the past.

Bail goes to the magistrate clerk or the magistrate on duty. Walk into the Magistrate Court during office hours and ask the clerk, or call 304-457-3676 first. Bring the person's full name and the case details if you have them.

The court accepts cash, cashier's checks, certified checks, money orders and traveler's checks. A personal check may be refused. Credit and debit cards cannot be used to post a bond.

One Barbour County magistrate is on call whenever the court is closed. That magistrate checks with the jail at set hours, on weeknights from 10 to 11 p.m., on Saturday and holiday mornings and evenings, and on Sunday at noon and again at night. If someone is in jail and can post bond, the magistrate goes to the court office to take it.

Do not expect a magistrate at the courthouse around the clock. The jail at 304-637-0382 can tell you where a release stands.

A licensed bondsman charges at least ten percent of the bond. That ten percent is a minimum, not a ceiling. The fee can be paid all at once, or as little as 3 percent down with the rest spread over no more than twelve months. Total fees may not exceed the bond itself.

The Insurance Commissioner licenses bondsmen. Ask for a receipt for any collateral, because the law requires one with the bondsman's name, the amount and the date. A bondsman may not promise to fix your charge.

Yes, in one of two ways. Adults who own real property in West Virginia can sign a recognizance if the property, after liens, carries an assessed value on the county land books of at least half the bail. A judge can also accept a written promise to forfeit unencumbered property, with proof of ownership.

Take the deed and tax information to the Magistrate Court clerk at 304-457-3676 before you commit the property. A judge may not recommend a relative as the surety.

Ask a lawyer or the magistrate to review it. A motion to change bail requires notice to both sides and a hearing within five days of filing. For a misdemeanor, a person still jailed because of a money bond must get a hearing within five days of the bail being set.

Conditions can replace cash: staying with a responsible adult, a job or job search, no contact with a victim, no alcohol or drugs, or monitoring where a program exists.

A bond in a family or household case can bar all contact with the victim. If the judge finds a threat, the bail must keep the person away from the victim's home, school and job. An officer who sees a violation must arrest on the spot, and bail can be revoked.

The magistrate must also bring the person back to court with a lawyer at least every sixty days. The circuit clerk at 304-457-3454 gives victims certified copies of the conditions free.

Barbour County has no public defender office of its own on the state's office map. The magistrate tells the person about the right to a lawyer at the first appearance, and a judge can appoint counsel for someone who qualifies. Say you cannot afford one when you are asked.

The state's Public Defender Services office in Charleston answers at 304-558-3905.

The Division of Juvenile Services runs the state's detention centers for young people. The Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center, One Lory Place, Julian, WV 25529, takes youth from all 55 counties and answers at 304-369-2976.

The on-call magistrate checks the juvenile facility during the same nightly windows used for adults. Ask the Magistrate Court clerk where a Barbour County youth was placed.

Federal charges are heard in the federal court for the northern half of the state. Barbour County falls in its Elkins division, P.O. Box 1518, Elkins, WV 26241, phone 304-636-1445. Federal release is decided by a federal judge, not a state magistrate.

Do not pay a state magistrate for a federal hold. Call the Elkins clerk first.

A missed court date is a separate crime. When the original charge was a felony, the penalty is a fine up to $5,000, one to five years in prison, or both. For a misdemeanor, it is a fine up to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both.

The court may declare the bail forfeited. A surety or an outside depositor gets ten days' notice by certified mail to show cause. A bondsman who delivers the person back within two years of forfeiture recovers the forfeited sum.

No. Money placed on an inmate's account does not release anyone. Bail is paid only to the court clerk or magistrate, or through a licensed bondsman.

The housing cost of a pretrial inmate is billed to the county, not to your family.

Barbour County criminal cases begin in the county Magistrate Court for many misdemeanor matters and preliminary felony proceedings. Felony trials are within Circuit Court jurisdiction. These are separate from the facility holding the person.

• Barbour County Circuit Court / Circuit Clerk: 26 N. Main Street, Suite 2, Philippi, WV 26416, 304-457-3454
• Barbour County Magistrate Court / Magistrate Clerk: 47 Church Street, Philippi, WV 26416, 304-457-3676

Magistrate Court is the first point of contact for many arrests; the Circuit Clerk maintains Circuit Court felony records.

An officer may bring an arrested person before a magistrate after booking. The magistrate checks the charge, explains initial rights and considers release conditions. If the court orders continued detention, the regional facility listed here manages the person’s custody.

Regional detention facility serving Barbour County: Tygart Valley Regional Jail & Correctional Facility, 400 Abbey Road, Belington, WV 26250. Telephone 304-637-0382. This regional jail serves multiple West Virginia counties. The county sheriff does not operate a separate ordinary county jail for these bookings.

Booking may involve identification, a photograph, fingerprints, inventory of property and a medical screening. A jail assignment is not a conviction.

For a Barbour County charge, a magistrate commonly considers whether the person may be released on a personal-recognizance promise, a secured bond, a surety bond or other lawful conditions. Bond amounts belong to the court case; staff at Tygart Valley Regional Jail & Correctional Facility can help identify the custody record and payment arrangements.

For facility-specific information, read the bail and bond instructions.

Have the person’s full legal name and booking information ready. A licensed bonding company charges a fee, which is separate from any refundable deposit made with a court.

A misdemeanor typically remains in Magistrate Court, although some cases can reach Circuit Court on appeal or through specific procedures. Many charges are resolved after a court date, a plea discussion or trial. The accused can ask for legal representation when incarceration is possible.

Actual misdemeanor penalty examples

• Petit larceny: Theft of property worth less than $1,000 may bring up to one year in jail, a fine up to $2,500, or both (WV Code §61-3-13).
• First ordinary DUI under §17C-5-2(e): Up to six months in jail and a fine of $100–$500, plus driver license consequences.
• DUI with a blood-alcohol level of 0.15% or above under §17C-5-2(f): Two days to six months and a $200–$1,000 fine, with a minimum actual confinement requirement.

There is no single fine that applies to every West Virginia misdemeanor; the offense’s own statute determines the range.

For a felony allegation in Barbour County, the first appearance and any preliminary hearing are generally handled in Magistrate Court. A grand jury indictment sends the case to Circuit Court, where arraignment, evidence exchange, motions, a possible plea agreement and any felony trial take place. The prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

A person charged with a felony can apply for appointed counsel if unable to pay an attorney. A conviction does not automatically mean the statutory maximum sentence; the charge, mandatory provisions, criminal history and sentencing decisions matter.

Murder and other serious violence allegations proceed in Circuit Court, with close attention to forensic evidence, victim testimony and release decisions. Detention may continue during the case if the legal requirements for holding the accused are satisfied.

West Virginia’s penalty for first-degree murder can be life imprisonment, while second-degree murder is also punishable by substantial imprisonment. Whether parole is possible depends on the offense and the judgment. Certain repeat serious felonies can trigger enhanced punishment under §61-11-18; those enhancements require the legal findings specified by the statute.

A person under 18 ordinarily goes through the juvenile provisions of West Virginia’s court system rather than the adult regional jail. The Circuit Court has juvenile jurisdiction, and the judge may order diversion, supervision, treatment or a lawful placement after considering the youth’s circumstances.

Juvenile detention facilities are separate from Tygart Valley Regional Jail & Correctional Facility. A parent or guardian should ask the court for the child’s hearing details and request appointed counsel when eligible. Some grave allegations involving older teenagers can be transferred under specific statutory procedures.

West Virginia does not use one universal Class A/B/C felony sentencing chart. A person’s exposure depends on the offense statute and any applicable enhancement. The following are concrete examples:

• Petit larceny, below $1,000: up to 12 months in jail and/or $2,500 (§61-3-13(b)).
• Grand larceny, $1,000 or more: generally 1–10 years in a state correctional facility, or a discretionary jail alternative of up to one year and fine up to $2,500 (§61-3-13(a)).
• First ordinary DUI: up to six months in jail and $100–$500 (§17C-5-2(e)).
• Third DUI under §17C-5-2(m): 2–5 years in a state correctional facility, with a discretionary $3,000–$5,000 fine and license penalties.
• Impaired driving causing death under §17C-5-2(b)(2): 3–15 years and $1,000–$3,000, subject to the statute’s details.

Probation, suspension of sentences, restitution, mandatory minimums and repeat-offender laws can change the outcome. A listed range is not a prediction of the sentence in a particular case.

Someone without enough money to hire a lawyer should ask the magistrate or Circuit Court about appointed counsel at the earliest appearance. Eligibility depends on financial circumstances and the nature of the case. The Barbour County court can take an application for appointed defense counsel; West Virginia Public Defender Services administers publicly funded representation.

An attorney can examine charging papers, request discovery, challenge an unlawful detention, advise on a plea offer and present information at sentencing. Family members can gather court papers and accurate contact information for counsel.

Some city ordinance citations and local traffic matters are handled in municipal courts where the municipality maintains one. A county criminal charge is different: its hearings follow the county Magistrate or Circuit Court. Read the citation or court notice to identify which court actually issued it.

The Barbour County Magistrate Clerk can be reached at 304-457-3676 at 47 Church Street, Philippi.

Federal prosecutions involve violations of federal law, such as certain interstate fraud, federal firearms offenses, federal drug trafficking or crimes on federal property. They do not automatically go to Barbour County Circuit Court.

U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia: Elkins division courthouse, Jennings Randolph Federal Center, 300 Third Street, Elkins, WV 26241, telephone 304-636-1445. Another division courthouse may be assigned to the particular federal case.

Federal defendants may be detained in local or contracted custody before trial. People serving federal prison sentences are placed within the federal prison system as designated by the Bureau of Prisons. To search for a federal inmate, use the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.