Mercer County Jail Roster Overview
The main Mercer County jail roster is the WV Regional Jail Authority OIS inmate search. It covers the regional jail system rather than a sheriff-run Mercer County jail. That distinction is important because most Mercer County arrestees who remain in custody after short-term holding are sent to Southern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility in Beaver. The jail is operated by WVDCR and serves Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, and Wyoming counties.
OIS is free and public, but it is not a criminal-history database. The roster page warns that information updates regularly, can change quickly, and may not show true current location, release date, status, or other details. Sentencing information on OIS is not meant to state the underlying criminal action, so court records must be checked when the question is a filed charge, bond order, plea, dismissal, or conviction. The roster is a custody tool first.
Use the Mercer County Roster
The roster search needs a last name. If the arrest happened the same day, do not assume the person is free just because no result appears. The person may still be at the Mercer County Sheriff's Department Temporary Holding Facility, Princeton Police Department, Bluefield Police Department, in transport, at a court appearance, or waiting for regional booking to post.
- Open the WV Regional Jail Authority OIS inmate search.
- Enter at least the first three letters of the person's last name.
- Add a first name when the last name returns too many matches.
- Review the match for facility assignment and custody status.
- If the result is missing, check daily incarcerations and call Southern Regional Jail or the arresting agency.
The research file includes a screenshot of the Mercer Sheriff Records Division, which is the local records fallback for sheriff reports and closed-case criminal investigation reports.
That records office is separate from WVDCR jail custody. Use it for sheriff-created records, not as a replacement for the regional jail roster.
Mercer County Roster Search Fields
OIS accepts a partial or full last name, with a first name as an optional filter. Daily incarcerations use institution or county links where available. The search page also includes a PREA notice directing information about alleged inmate sexual abuse or harassment to the facility administrator or the WV Regional Jail Authority central office at (304) 558-2110.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Name, partial or full | Text | Yes | At least first three letters are required. |
| First Name | Text | No | Optional narrowing field. |
| Search | Button | Yes | Submitting accepts the DCR terms and public disclaimer. |
| Daily incarcerations | List or filter | No | May show active or admitted inmates by institution or sentencing county. |
Mercer County Inmate Profile Fields
A jail profile may show enough to identify the person and facility, but it should be checked against the source office before action is taken. The research could not capture a live person profile, so the field list below follows OIS public notes, DCR disclaimers, and daily incarceration context. Sensitive items can be withheld, and some records may be redacted because of juvenile status, medical privacy, sealed or expunged records, open investigation limits, or jail security.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Name | The person returned by the last-name and optional first-name search. |
| Current location or facility | May identify Southern Regional Jail or another DCR location, subject to the location disclaimer. |
| Custody or release status | Current status may appear, but release and transfer changes can outpace the public display. |
| Booking or admission context | Daily incarcerations can connect recent admission information to an institution or county filter. |
| Charges or sentencing notes | Lead information only. Court records control the filed case and final outcome. |
| Mugshot or booking photo | WV regional jail entries often include photos when available, but the research did not capture a live sample profile. |
County Jail State Federal Search
A Mercer County jail roster search is not the same as a state prison search. Current regional jail custody belongs in OIS. Sentenced state prisoners move to the WVDCR offender search. Federal sentenced inmates are searched through the BOP inmate locator, while immigration custody uses the ICE detainee locator. Southern Regional Jail may also house U.S. Marshals detainees by contract, so a federal pretrial detainee can appear locally before later BOP placement.
| Custody | Where to Look | Typical Mercer County Use |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term local holding | Sheriff, Princeton Police, or Bluefield Police | Very recent arrest before transfer or court. |
| Regional jail | WV Regional Jail Authority OIS | Mercer County arrestees after transfer to Southern Regional Jail. |
| State prison | WVDCR offender search | Sentenced prisoners after commitment. |
| Federal custody | BOP locator or USMS custody channel | Sentenced federal inmates or pre-sentence detainees. |
| Immigration custody | ICE Online Detainee Locator | Suspected ICE custody or immigration hold. |
Mercer County Jail Facilities
Mercer County users often search for a Mercer County Jail building, but the research shows that long-term local jail housing runs through the regional jail system. The sheriff and municipal police facilities matter during the first hours after an arrest. They also matter for local records, property, court contacts, and warrants.
Southern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
1200 Airport Road
Beaver, WV 25813
(304) 256-6726
Non-contact visits by inmate request and advance scheduling.
Mercer County Sheriff's Department Temporary Holding Facility
1501 West Main Street
Princeton, WV 24740
(304) 487-8306; non-emergency (304) 487-8364
Short-term holding only. No public visitation.
Princeton Police Department
100 Courthouse Road
Princeton, WV
(304) 487-5000
Municipal police custody before court, bond, release, or transfer.
Bluefield Police Department
200 South Mercer Street
Bluefield, WV 24701
(304) 327-6101
Municipal court and police contact for Bluefield arrests and warrants.
Mercer County Booking Process
Booking may begin with the Mercer County Sheriff, Princeton Police, Bluefield Police, West Virginia State Police, or another agency. Local short-term holding can include intake, identification, record keeping, property handling, and medical care when needed. The sheriff's temporary holding page says detainees cannot receive visits, personal items, packages, or direct family communication while held there. Property release requires valid government identification and either a notarized detainee statement or a letter from the attorney of record.
After the short local phase, the person may be released, taken to court, or moved to Southern Regional Jail. A first appearance or bond question often begins in magistrate court. The Mercer Magistrate Clerk is listed at 120 Scott Street, Suite 103, Princeton, WV 24740, phone (304) 431-7115. Roster data can point to custody, but bond and case status must be checked through the court record or clerk.
Note: Same-day arrests may not appear in OIS until local processing, transport, and regional jail intake are complete.
Southern Regional Jail Visitation
Southern Regional Jail uses non-contact visitation under WVDCR facility rules. The inmate must submit SRJ form 5-0029. A visit is limited to one adult and two minor children or two adults. Each inmate is allowed one visit per month, and visits last 30 minutes. Visits must be scheduled before the visitation day by calling the visitation scheduling line at (304) 256-6738. Longer visits require prior approval from the Superintendent or Chief Correctional Officer 24 hours in advance.
| Rule | Detail | Source Context |
|---|---|---|
| Visit type | Non-contact | Official Southern Regional Jail page |
| Request method | Inmate submits SRJ form 5-0029 | Official facility rules |
| People allowed | One adult and two minors, or two adults | Official facility rules |
| Frequency | One visit per inmate per month | Official facility rules |
| Length | 30 minutes | Official facility rules |
| Scheduling | Call (304) 256-6738 before visitation day | Official facility rules |
Contact a Mercer County Inmate
Mail, phone, video, and deposit details depend on where the person is held. WVDCR offender banking uses ConnectNetwork by phone at 888-988-4768, web, or app. WVDCR calling and video visit services use GettingOut. The official text captured in the research did not publish facility-specific pricing or a mail-format table for Southern Regional Jail, so exact fees and mail format should be confirmed through WVDCR or the vendor before money or mail is sent.
| Service | Provider or Rule | What to Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Money deposits | ConnectNetwork for WVDCR accounts | Current fees, account details, and facility selection. |
| Phone and video | GettingOut for WVDCR calling and video visits | Rates, schedule, and approved contact rules. |
| WVDCR facility mail rules | Format, allowed items, and legal mail handling. | |
| Temporary holding | No visits, no direct family communication, no personal packages | Property release requirements and transfer status. |
Mercer County Booking Record Requests
When the online roster is not enough, the request goes to the agency that holds the record. For sheriff reports, the Mercer Sheriff Records Division is the local contact. For county-level FOIA instructions, Mercer County tells requesters to submit written requests to the agency holding the record and to be specific. For DCR custody records, use WVDCR. For police records, contact Princeton Police or Bluefield Police when they were the arresting agency. For filed charges and court documents, use the Mercer magistrate or circuit clerk rather than the jail.
The county FOIA page is a useful official reference for written record requests.
Mercer County FOIA instructions explain that requests should identify the records sought and go to the correct custodian.
Under WV Code § 29B-1-3, the custodian generally has up to five business days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, to provide copies, set inspection, or deny the request with reasons.
Mercer County VINE Alerts
West Virginia VINE provides custody status and notification options for victims and other registered users. WVDCR FY2025 reporting states that VINE registration is available by phone, email, TTY, SMR text, and the VINE app. VINE can help track release or transfer notifications, but it should be treated as a notification channel. For immediate custody questions, call the jail or agency that holds the record.