Virginia Beach City Inmate Search
Virginia Beach City's inmate search process allows the public to discover a locally incarcerated individual’s custody status and other confinement information. Inmate records are part of Virginia Beach City's Public Records, curated and dispensed to ensure transparency within the city's jail system, keep city residents informed, and maintain public safety.
An inmate search is necessary for different reasons. It helps families locate loved ones, victims receive updates on offenders, and legal professionals get specific details for court proceedings.
Law enforcement agencies and private investigators may also want to look up Virginia Beach City inmate records for ongoing investigations, case referencing, or internal administrative reasons.
Virginia Beach City Crime and Incarceration Statistics
The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office processes 13300 admissions and releases at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center annually. The center has an average daily population of 1,100 inmates. Many inmates in the facility serve time for property crimes, as this category was the most popularly reported in 2022, as evidenced by figures released by the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD). Property crimes include burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft from motor vehicles, and all other larceny.
Virginia Beach City Prison System
The Virginia Beach Correctional Center (VBCC) is the only local detainment facility in the city. It is a 1,300-capacity jail that houses male and female inmates. The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office runs this facility. The sheriff's corrections duties make up the bulk of the office’s operation, taking up more than 70% of its budget.
The Virginia Beach jail holds pre-trial suspects and misdemeanor offenders serving sentences of not more than one year. The facility also houses inmates awaiting transfers to state prisons under the Virginia Department of Corrections' control.
How to Find an Inmate in Virginia Beach City
Individuals interested in finding details about an inmate can use any of the following means:
- The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office online inmate search tool
- Calling the jail’s phone number
- Visiting the jail
How Does a Virginia Beach City Inmate Search Work?
Virginia's Freedom of Information Act (Va. Code § 2.2-3700) delivers public access to records generated and collated by public bodies, including the Virginia Department of Corrections and the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office. Admittedly, some records are restricted by law and exempt from the FOIA, but inmate information is generally accessible by the public pursuant to the Act.
Individuals can contact the sheriff’s office for the following information about an inmate housed in the VBCC:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Booking number
- Criminal charges
- Release date
Where to Find a Virginia Beach City Inmate Locator
People looking for information about their incarcerated loved ones, clients, or another inmate can use the city sheriff’s inmate search tool or contact the jail directly.
Using the Sheriff's Office’s Online Search Tool
The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office provides an online search tool that allows individuals to retrieve information about inmates. Users can input details, such as the inmate’s booking number, last name, first name, date of birth, or release date, and click the "Search" button to fetch a list of inmates that meet the search criteria.
Selecting an inmate's name from the search results opens their profile, where users can view their incarceration status, charges, and other pertinent information.
Call or In-Person Requests to the Virginia Beach Jail
Individuals who prefer a more direct or personal approach can find inmates by phone or in person, as the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office provides traditional methods for seeking inmate information in addition to the online search tool.
One can use the following contact information to visit or call the jail to initiate the search:
2501 James Madison Boulevard
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone: (757) 385-4555
Callers or in-person requesters must provide details to facilitate the search, such as:
- First and last names
- Date of birth
Notably, individuals can also use third-party inmate locators to find inmates in Virginia Beach City. These services can make the search more straightforward as they pool inmate details from different sources. That way, users can access information from one database instead of going through various correctional systems.
For example, an inmate convicted in Virginia Beach City of a serious crime or sentenced to more than one year will serve their sentence in the custody of the Commonwealth’s corrections department. That means they may be housed at the VBCC temporarily, and their details may not be available on the Virginia Beach Jail Roster. People searching for such inmates must go through the Virginia Department of Corrections instead of the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office. A third-party inmate locator can still display the inmate’s details regardless of where they serve their sentence.
People searching third-party sites must also provide details to initiate the search, such as an inmate's name or birthdate. However, while official jail or prison databases, such as the Sheriff's Office’s resources, usually offer free access, third-party sites may charge fees. These charges may be for detailed reports and may be on a subscription or per-search basis.
How to Send Jail Mail in Virginia Beach City
Inmates at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center (VBCC) can receive mail during their time at the facility. Those wishing to correspond with an inmate must follow the facility's guidelines to ensure the mail reaches its intended recipient.
Jail staff inspect every piece of incoming mail for contraband. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid sending prohibited items. Cash, personal checks, and objects that could be dangerous are strictly prohibited.
Potential senders must include the inmate's full name and booking number on the envelope to ensure the package reaches the correct individual. The mailing address to use is:
Inmate's Full Name and Booking Number
Virginia Beach City Jail
P.O. Box 6098
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Virginia Beach City Jails and Prisons
Below are the city jail’s address and phone numbers:
Virginia Beach Correctional Center
2501 James Madison Boulevard
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone: (757) 385-4555 (Main phone number), (757) 385-6332 (Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office), (757) 385-4493 (Visitation office)
