How do I Locate a Person in Jail in Virginia?
The department of corrections in the state of Virginia "operates approximately 50 institutions statewide," according to Virginia's official website. Despite the overwhelming number of correctional facilities in Virginia, determining the location of a specific inmate is relatively simple.
-
Identification Information
-
In order to find an inmate, you will need to know the first two letters of the first name and the entire last name of the offender you are searching for. You may also have the option to search for them using their department of corrections identification number.
Virginia Department of Corrections
-
Searching for an offender on the Internet is the easiest way to find an inmate. Begin by visiting the "Virginia Department of Corrections" official website. Click the "Offenders" tab located on the homepage and proceed to the link titled, "Offender Locator." Complete all required fields in the search engine and hit "submit" to view the the name of the correctional facility where the offender is being held.
-
Local Resources
-
If you are searching for an offender who has recently been jailed or sentenced, they may not yet be registered at a correctional facility. The Virginia Performs Agency Strategic Plan explains that as of June 2009, "6,148 state responsible offenders were housed in local correctional facilities awaiting transfer to Department facilities." Additionally, the Virginia Association of Regional Jails "consists of 21 regional jails located throughout Virginia, which may make your search for a specific inmate much more difficult to accomplish. If this is the case, you may contact the non-emergency line of the police department or the county jail where the person was detained to request further information about their current location.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit jailhouse window image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
