Difference Between Virginia Prison and Federal Prison

What is the Difference Between Virginia Prison and Federal Prison?

State and federal prisons serve similar purposes; however, there are differences in state and federal prisons' operation, management, and capacity. State prisons and correctional facilities hold persons convicted of state crimes such as arson, burglary, and assault. State laws such as the Virginia Criminal Code provide crime definitions and applicable penalties. State prisons also hold persons awaiting trial for state crimes. On the other hand, federal prisons hold persons convicted of federal crimes. Examples of federal crimes are credit card fraud, mail fraud, identity theft, racketeering, and cybercrimes.

State and federal prisons serve different jurisdictions and therefore have various managing agencies. Since state prisons are under state jurisdiction, state agencies oversee state prisons and correctional facilities. Similarly, federal agencies tend to federal prisons and correctional facilities. Also noteworthy is that apart from inmates convicted of state crimes that are punishable by imprisonment for life, federal inmates typically serve longer terms than state inmates. This is because federal crimes have minimum sentence terms and do not offer parole options. There are more state prisons in the United States than federal prisons.

Federal and state offer programs that help inmates rejoin society successfully; programs may differ from one facility to another. Additionally, state and federal prisons make inmate information publicly available, and interested parties may search the public websites and databases for inmate location and incarceration information.

The Virginia Prison System

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) oversees state correctional facilities. More than 30 correctional facilities in the state have more than 37,000 inmates and over 12,000 employees. It is one of the state's largest agencies, and it provides safe incarceration and reintegration programs that help inmates become productive society members upon release. VADOC oversees parole, probation, time computation, interstate compact, interstate compact transfers, community corrections, alternative programs, and medical services. Each division has offices in different regions of the state.

Interested parties may send money to inmates online, by phone, mail, money order, mobile app, or cash. Parties may also add money to the inmate's phone plan. Family and friends may also correspond with inmates by phone or mail. All mail correspondence must include:

The offender's first and last name
State ID number
Facility or institution name
Facility address and zip code

Inmates' loved ones can also contact the emails by phone; however, the contacted persons must be on the inmate's approved call list. Inmates may have no more than 15 numbers on approved lists. Additionally, phone calls may last no longer than 20 minutes.

How to Lookup an Inmate in Virginia

Interested members of the public may obtain Virginia inmate records by querying the prison facility where the inmate is held, or using the online inmate locator. VADOC's Offender Locator offers information about inmates, including the release date and offender ID number. Interested parties may search by name, alias, age, location, release date, race, and offender ID. Inmate's immediate family members may apply to visit inmates in the following state correctional facilities:

Augusta Correctional Center
Phone: (540) 997-7000
1821 Estaline Valley Road
Craigsville, VA 24430

Bland Correctional Center
Phone: (276) 688-3341
256 Bland Farm Road
Bland, VA 24315

Cold Springs Correctional Unit #10
Phone: (540) 337-1818
221 Spitler Circle
Greenville, VA 24440

Green Rock Correctional Center
Phone: (434) 797-2000
475 Green Rock Lane
Chatham, VA 24531

Keen Mountain Correctional Center
Phone: (276) 498-7411
State Route 629
Oakwood, VA 24631

Marion Correctional Treatment Center
Phone: (276) 783-7154
110 Wright Street
Marion, VA 24354

Patrick Henry Correctional Unit
Phone: (276) 957-2234
18155 A. L. Philpott Highway
Ridgeway, VA 24148

Pocahontas State Correctional Center
Phone: (276) 945-9173
317 Old Mountain Road
Pocahontas, VA 24635

Red Onion State Prison
Phone: (276) 796-7510
10800 H. Jack Rose Highway
Pound, VA 24279

River North Correctional Center
Phone: (276) 773-2518
329 Dell Brook Lane
Independence, VA 24348

Wallens Ridge State Prison
Phone: (276) 523-3310
272 Dogwood Drive
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219

Wise Correctional Unit
Phone: (276) 679-9204
3602 Bear Lane, P.O. Box 1198
Coeburn, VA 24230

Baskerville Correctional Center
Phone: (434) 447-3857
4150 Hayes Mill Road
Baskerville, VA 23915

Buckingham Correctional Center
Phone: (434) 983-4400
1349 Correctional Center Road
Dillwyn, VA 23936

Central Virginia Correctional Unit #13
Phone: (804) 796-4277
6900 Courthouse Road
Chesterfield, VA 23832

Coffeewood Correctional Center
Phone: (540) 829-6483
12352 Coffeewood Drive
Mitchells, VA 22729

Dillwyn Correctional Center
Phone: (434) 983-4200
1522 Prison Road
Dillwyn, VA 23936

Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women
Phone: (434) 984-3700
144 Prison Lane
Troy, VA 22974

Halifax Correctional Unit
Phone: (434) 572-2683
1200 Farm Road
Halifax, VA 24558

Lunenburg Correctional Center
Phone: (434) 696-2045
690 Falls Road
Victoria, VA 23974

Nottoway Correctional Center
Phone: (434) 767-5543
2892 Schutt Road
Burkeville, VA 23922

Nottoway Work Center
Phone: (434) 767-5543
2892 Schutt Road
Burkeville, VA 23922

Rustburg Correctional Unit
Phone: (434) 332-7354
479 Camp Nine Road
Rustburg, VA 24588

State Farm Correctional Center
Phone: (804) 598-5503
3500 Woods Way
State Farm, VA 23160

State Farm Enterprise Unit
Phone: (804) 598-4251
3600 Woods Way
State Farm, VA 23160

State Farm Work Center
Phone: (804) 556-7060
1954 State Farm Road
State Farm, VA 23160

Virginia Correctional Center for Women
Phone: (804) 556-7500
2841 River Road
Goochland, VA 23063

Caroline Correctional Unit
Phone: (804) 994-2161
31285 Camp Road
Hanover, VA 23069

Deerfield Correctional Center
Phone: (434) 658-4368
21360 Deerfield Drive
Capron, VA 23829

Deerfield Men's Work Center
Phone: (434) 658-4368
15172 Old Belfield Road
Capron, VA 23829

Deerfield Men's Work Center 2
Phone: (434) 658-4368
15080 Old Belfield Road
Capron, VA 23829

Greensville Correctional Center
Phone: (434) 535-7000
901 Corrections Way
Jarratt, VA 23870

Greensville Work Center
Phone: (434) 535-7000
901 Corrections Way
Jarratt, VA 23870

Haynesville Correctional Center
Phone: (804) 333-3577
421 Barnfield Road
Haynesville, VA 22472

Haynesville Correctional Unit #17
Phone: (804) 333-3577
363 Camp Seventeen Road
Haynesville, VA 22472

Indian Creek Correctional Center
Phone: (757) 421-0095
801 Sanderson Road
Chesapeake, VA 23328

Lawrenceville Correctional Center
Phone: (434) 848-9349
1607 Planters Road
Lawrenceville, VA 23868

St. Brides Correctional Center
Phone: (757) 421-6600
701 Sanderson Road
Chesapeake, VA 23328

Sussex I State Prison
Phone: (804) 834-9967
24414 Musselwhite Drive
Waverly, VA 23891

Sussex II State Prison
Phone: (804) 834-2678
24427 Musselwhite Drive
Waverly, VA 23891

Virginia County Jails

Virginia county jails hold persons convicted of or awaiting trial for misdemeanor crimes. In Virginia, misdemeanors are punishable by up to one (1) year in prison. County jails are smaller than state prisons because county jails hold fewer people for shorter periods. Persons serving short jail terms, ranging from 24 hours to 30 days, are also held in county jails.

County Sheriff's offices, local police departments, or other local administrators oversee Virginia county jails. Each jail has visitation, correspondence, and banking rules, and the rules may vary from one county jail to another. To visit an inmate, send funds to an inmate, or correspond with an inmate, interested parties must visit the County Sheriff's or the local jail's website to obtain information about visitation, correspondence, and inmate banking. Some counties also have online inmate rosters or offender search tools that request parties access to inmate location and incarceration information. For counties or jails that do not have the required information online, interested parties may directly contact the jail administrator or County Sheriff.

How Does the Federal Prison System Work?

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) oversees the federal prison system, which comprises federal prisons and correctional facilities. Federal prisons hold persons convicted of federal crimes, persons awaiting trial for federal crimes, and felony offenders from the District of Columbia. Under special arrangements, federal prisons may also hold state offenders.

The BOP supervises federal correctional facilities, ensuring inmates' safety, security, and general well-being. Additionally, BOP offers specialized and evidence-based programs to federal inmates. These programs, which range from education to skill acquisition and substance abuse treatment programs, are designed to help federal inmates successfully reintegrate into society.

To find an inmate's location or get incarceration information about an inmate, including possible release dates, interested parties may use the Inmate Locator tool on the BOP website. The tool allows users to search through a database of inmates using:

Names
BOP number
Age
Race
Gender
INS number
FBI number
DCDC number

Interested parties may visit federal inmates or communicate with inmates by mail, email, and telephone. Parties may also send money to inmates or send packages. However, the BOP has rules and guidelines about who may visit inmates, what kind of correspondence inmates may receive, and how interested persons may send inmates money. The BOP allows inmates to receive funds electronically or through the United States Postal Service (USPS).