Free Virginia Inmate Search (Access Jail & Prison Records)

Conduct a free Virginia inmate search in just seconds using the convenient online databases linked throughout this resource.

Information on individuals incarcerated in either jails or prisons in the state is available to citizens per state and federal public record laws.

Having the right tools to complete a search allows friends and family members to contact incarcerated loved ones and reassures them about the transparency of the records they obtain. Whatever the specific needs being addressed, this clear, concise resource provides everything you need to track down inmate details in Virginia.

The Difference Between Being Incarcerated in Jail vs Prison

There are key differences between jail and prison in the American justice system. The results of any inmate search will depend on the type of facility where an inmate is incarcerated. Interested individuals conducting a search should always respect the privacy of any inmate or offender, especially when results might reveal personally sensitive information.

As defined by the Commonwealth of Virginia, a jail is a correctional facility operated by a locality or a regional facility operated by a group of localities where the inmates are either waiting for trial or sentencing and can’t be held for more than 12 months at a time. Locality is an umbrella term for counties and cities.

County jails are generally run by the sheriff’s office in each county, while city or municipal jails are run by local police departments.¹ Each type of jail holds people arrested in its relevant jurisdiction.

Often, city police departments hold prisoners until they can be transferred to a county jail, and occasionally they will arrest and hold inmates on behalf of other jurisdictions.

There are a number of reasons for inmates to be jailed. They could be:

• Charged with a misdemeanor or felony and either can’t meet bail or are waiting to be tried with no bail set
• Sentenced to jail on misdemeanor charges
• Serving a sentence of 12 months or less on felony charges
• Waiting for a probation or parole violation hearing
• Held for a local ordinance violation

Prisons – by contrast – are correctional facilities run by the state or federal government. Sentences generally exceed 12 months in length, and inmates reside in state or federal prisons depending on the type of laws they’ve broken and the level of severity. As a general rule, the Commonwealth handles the sentencing of crimes committed within its borders. However, when a crime violates constitutional law, it becomes a federal offense.

These could be counterfeiting, kidnapping, drug possession, copyright infringement or child trafficking, among others.

America’s most numerous inmates are found in jails, followed by state prisoners. Federal inmates are the rarest. The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) operates state-level prisons and corrections centers in the Commonwealth, but it also collects incarceration information from the state’s jails. Federal facilities are managed by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).²

How To Conduct a Virginia Inmate Search of Anybody in Jail for Free

Inmates in Virginia’s local, county or regional jails remain on watch by the state government since jails in the Commonwealth must report their records to the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC). Even at the local level, an inmate search can still be conducted for offenders housed in short-term facilities.

It can take some time for inmate information to make the transit from a Virginia jail to the VADOC Inmate Locator (discussed in the following section).³

Fortunately, some county and municipal jurisdictions keep up their own inmate databases that may be more current.

The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, for instance, provides a free inmate search tool.⁴ Just like the DOC’s online search, this database can be searched by:

• First & Last Name
• Date of birth (DOB)
• A number of other unique identifiers, such as booking numbers

Results can offer extremely detailed location information – potentially down to the level of specific cells and beds – along with commitment and release dates and details about the inmate’s charges. Those interested in personal interaction with the sheriff’s office can do so at:

Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office
2501 James Madison Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23456

Email: pio@vbso.net
Phone: 757-385-4555

Virginia Beach is, however, an exception rather than the rule among local jurisdictions in the Commonwealth. More commonly, acquiring inmate information at the county level requires going beyond online databases. That’s the case in Prince William County, where inmate records need to be accessed by phone.

Adult Detention Center Inmate Records
1 County Complex Court
Prince William, VA 22192

Phone: 703-792-5811 (M-F, 8 am – 4 pm)
After Hours: 713-792-6420

Richmond is one of the largest cities in Virginia, and it operates a temporary housing facility for those who will eventually be brought to the county correctional facility. The Richmond City Justice Center has an inmate search tool that can be filtered by last name, first name, inmate ID or booking data.⁵

The center is located at the sheriff’s office, and specific inquiries about an inmate can also be made by contacting them directly at:

Richmond City Justice Center
Office of the Sheriff
1701 Fairfield Way
Richmond, VA 23223

Email: sheriff@rva.gov
Phone: 804-646-4464
Fax: 804-646-4291

The Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail in Williamsburg has a list of current inmates, sorted by the most recently incarcerated, but searches can only be conducted using the first and last name of the inmate.⁶ No other sorting options exist.

Third-party sites can also provide useful supplementary information, but they often charge a fee. However, those sites can be quite helpful when all other resources have been exhausted.

How To Find Inmates in a Virginia State Prison

With over 50 facilities spread across the state, Virginia organizes its list of institutions and prisons into regions. Searchers interested in contacting any of these facilities can first select the western, central or eastern region. From there, choose facilities or probation and parole offices to narrow down the results.

Secure medical facilities are also included in this list.

When shifting from the local municipal search, the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) has an online search tool that allows anyone to find an inmate in the custody of a Virginia state prison.⁷ A flexible and powerful inmate search is possible using the DOC Inmate Locator tool. The database can be searched by first and last name, and searches can be further narrowed by:

• Inmate Number
• Known Aliases
• Location
• Demographic Information (Age, Gender & Race)

These searches specify the facility where an inmate is incarcerated and provide a release date. They also include inmates who are under any form of Community Release supervision in the state.

Records maintained at the state level in Virginia typically show the progression of an inmate through the criminal justice system. This includes police reports, accusations, charges, court records, sentencing and jail records. Once an inmate has been located, searchers should contact the overseeing authority at the corresponding facility.

Sometimes, individuals want additional information for themselves or for the inmates they’re seeking. Here are additional resources that may help with finding that information or answering further questions:

• Sending mail to an inmate
• Visiting an inmate
• Facility release schedule of inmates
• Community resources for victims
• DOC’s most wanted list⁸
• Freedom of Information Act Records Request
• Map of federal prisons in Virginia⁹

How To Complete a Search for Federal Prisoners

The Commonwealth of Virginia operates three federal prisons: one medium-security and one low-security facility in Petersburg and a state penitentiary in Lee. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) oversees all of these correctional campuses.

For inmates housed in federal facilities, the BOP offers a federal inmate lookup tool which allows a search by name or ID number.¹⁰

At present, the BOP includes records for federal prisoners from 1982 forward housed in any one of the BOP’s 130 facilities.¹¹

If information is needed for a prisoner incarcerated prior to this, records may be found for a fee at the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) or by utilizing online tools offered through the National Archives (NARA).¹²

Understanding which agencies most likely have inmate information and knowing how to find the details needed reduces the time involved in the search process. When running a Virginia inmate search, the guidance throughout this streamlined article equips searchers with the tools necessary to find any details they seek.