Are Virginia Inmate Records Public Information?
Yes, pursuant to the provisions of the Virginia code, inmate records, as well as other forms of public record generated by public officials, are public information. 6VAC15-40-90 provides for the assembly and dissemination of these records within the confines of the law. According to the statute, these records will be maintained securely for access to interested persons. The information contained in these records typically includes:
- The personal data of the inmate
- Court order or commitment form of the inmate
- Classifying records
- Records of unusual incidents or disciplinary actions
- Work records
- Records of inmate property expenditure
Virginia Inmate Search
Virginia inmate records include all official documents containing information about individuals incarcerated in prisons and jails in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Generally, these records contain personally identifying information as well as administrative records detailing inmates' offender status, location, and release date. Unless restricted by court order, information in Virginia inmate records is public information per the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. They are available upon requesting them from relevant custodians or conducting a Virginia inmate search using their self-service tools.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and, therefore, are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
How to Perform a Virginia Jail Inmate Search
The VADOC maintains a prison lookup tool that is publicly available. Interested persons may perform a free inmate search by name or offender ID to find someone in prison. The offender ID is a unique seven-digit number assigned to every inmate in Virginia prisons and correctional facilities.
How to Perform a Virginia County Jail Inmate Search
County and regional jails in Virginia have their own inmate lookup tools. These are usually available on the web pages hosting their information. To search for an offender in a county or regional jail, visit the local law enforcement official website and search the inmate list or jail roster. Alternatively, interested persons may contact the facility directly to find a person in jail.
Facilities Operated by the Virginia Department of Corrections
The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) oversees the operations of state prisons and correctional facilities, as well as 41 state detention facilities. The VADOC directory contains the physical addresses and contact information of these facilities.
Besides state and private prisons, there are also county and regional jails in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Sheriff's Offices run county jails, while regional jails are independent correctional facilities that serve multiple counties and cities. The Department of Education provides a complete list of Virginia county and regional jails.
The following are the addresses and contact information of state prison facilities in Virginia:
Abraxas House
603 North Coalter Street,
Staunton, VA 24401
Beaumont Juvenile Correctional Center
3500 Beaumont Road
P.O. Box 491,
Beaumont, VA 23014
Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority - Amherst County Adult Detention Center
219 South Riverview Road,
Madison Heights, VA 24572
Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority - Bedford County VA Detention Center
1000 Broad Street,
Bedford, VA 24523
Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority - Campbell County VA Adult Detention Facility
90 Courthouse Lane,
Rustburg, VA 24588
Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority - Halifax County VA Adult Detention Facility
1010 Blue Ridge Lane,
Halifax, VA 24558
Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority - Lynchburg VA Adult Detention Facility
510 Ninth Street,
Lynchburg, VA 24504
Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center
1900 Chatsworth Avenue,
Bon Air, VA 23235
Culpeper Juvenile Detention Center
12240 Coffeewood Drive
P.O. Box 1000,
Mitchells, VA 22729
Farmville Field Office (ICE)
508 Waterworks Road,
Farmville, VA 23901
Hampton Place
3701 Granby Street,
Norfolk, VA 23504
Hampton Roads Regional Jail (ICE)
2690 Elmhurst Lane,
Portsmouth, VA 23701
Hanover Juvenile Correctional Center
7093 Broad Neck Road,
Hanover, VA 23069
Highlands VA Juvenile Detention
2105 Shakesville Road
P.O. Box 16248
Bristol, VA 24209
James River Juvenile Detention
3650 Beaumont Road
P.O. Box 880,
Goochland, VA 23063
Loudoun County VA Juvenile Detention Center
42020 Loudoun Center Place,
Leesburg, VA 20175
Moneta Adult Detention Facility
1484 Radford Church Road,
Moneta, VA 24121
Bedford City
Newport News Juvenile Detention
350 25th Street,
Newport News, VA 23607
Norfolk Juvenile Detention Center
1260 Security Lane,
Norfolk, VA 23502
Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center
200 South Whiting Street,
Alexandria, VA 22304
Northwestern Regional Juvenile Detention
145 Fort Collier Road,
Winchester, VA 22603
Oak Ridge Juvenile Correctional Center
1801 Bon Air Road,
Bon Air, VA 23235
Piedmont Regional Juvenile Detention Center
701 Industrial Park Road
P.O. Box 344,
Farmville, VA 23901
Prince William County VA Juvenile Detention
14873 Dumfries Road,
Manassas, VA 20112
Rappahannock VA Juvenile Detention Center
275 Wyche Road,
Stafford, VA 22555-1480
Reception and Diagnostic Center
1601 Bon Air Road,
Bon Air, VA 23235
Richmond VA Juvenile Detention Center
3600 West Broad Street Suite 400,
Richmond, VA 23230
Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center
498 Coyner Springs Road,
Roanoke, VA 24012
Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority - Tazewell
102 Water Street,
Tazewell,
VA 24651
Susan Bundy Girls Home
1005 East Main Street
P.O. Box 1725,
Lebanon, VA 24266
How to Get Approved to Visit an Inmate in Virginia Prisons and Jails
To visit inmates in state prisons, a visitor must first be approved for visitation and be on the offender's visit list. Interested persons may apply for approval online by submitting a visitation application. Approved visitors must renew this privilege every three years at least 30 days before their current privileges expire. Out-of-state visitors must re-apply 90 days before the expiration of their visiting privileges.
Generally, visits to Virginia prisons are per the Department of Corrections visitation policy. Visitors must have at least one valid, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport, or military ID. On the other hand, Virginia county and regional jails have varying rules and guidelines for visitation. Visitors must visit the jail's official website to find the regulations and visitation times for the facility where the inmate of interest is serving time.
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Virginia
The VADOC allows friends and family members to send money to inmates in the facilities it operates through JPay. This fund transfer processor provides multiple options to send money, including:
- Walk-in cash deposits
- Online credit/debit card deposits
- Payments made over the phone
- Payments made from mobile apps
- Money orders sent by mail
The fastest way to fund an inmate's account is to make an online payment at JPay's website. To make payments over the phone, call (800) 574-5729. Alternatively, use the JPay mobile app to send money to an inmate. This app is available for Android phones and iPhones.
In-person and mail-in deposits are also possible for up to $300 per transfer. When sending money to an inmate, the depositor must provide the inmate's seven-digit Offender ID number. To deposit cash into an inmate's account, walk into a MoneyGram agent location, including Walmart and CVS Pharmacy. When sending a money order, make sure to include a completed deposit slip. Mail the order and slip to:
JPay
P.O. Box 278170
Miramar, FL 33027
Funds sent by money orders are available to inmates within three business days. Most county and regional jails in Virginia allow friends and family members to send checks and money orders to inmates. These facilities usually contract fund transfers to payment processors like JailATM and TouchPay. They also allow visitors to send money to offenders by making cash, credit card, and money order deposits at ATMs and/or drop boxes located in their lobbies. Some also provide the option to send money online through their payment processors.
How to Perform a Virginia Prison Inmate Search?
To view and copy inmate records, submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the facility keeping them. For a state prison managed by VADOC, send a request for offender information to the Warden or Superintendent of the facility using the contact information provided in the directory. You may submit your request in person or by phone, email, fax, or US Mail.
Ask for specific records and request electronic records if available. The request does not have to provide a reason for wanting inmate records.
To request other types of jail records from VADOC, use the Contact Us form provided on its website or call or send a request by mail to:
Virginia Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 26963
Richmond, VA 23261
Phone: (804) 674-3000
To obtain inmate and jail records from a county or regional jail in Virginia, visit the website of the Sheriff's Office (for county jails) or the regional jail's website and follow the procedures provided for requesting inmate records. If there are no specific instructions, find the contact information of the jail's FOIA Officer or Warden.
Virginia State Prisons and County Jails: Understanding the Difference
The Virginia Department of Corrections is responsible for the operation of all state prisons and county jails in Virginia. The department also oversees the operation of some county jails.
The Virginia Department of Corrections has a total budget of $1.3 billion. The department employs over 6,000 people.
In 2020, there were over 29,000 inmates housed in Virginia state prisons. This is an increase from the 27,324 inmates who were incarcerated in 2015. The average cost to house an inmate in a Virginia state prison is $24,410 per year.
As of June 2017, there were 3,648 inmates housed in county jails in Virginia. This is an increase from the 3,606 inmates who were incarcerated in county jails in 2016. The average cost to house an inmate in a Virginia county jail is $22,837 per year.
In 2016, the Virginia Department of Corrections had an operating budget of $742 million. The department's capital budget for 2016 was $121 million.
How Do I Find Out an Inmate Release Date?
Inmate release date is available information online or by contacting the jail administrator unless a court or the record custodian makes the information private for safety reasons. In such cases, only the inmate's immediate family members, crime victims, attorneys, and authorized criminal justice officials will have access to the inmate's exact release date.
