How to Get on an Inmate's Approved Visitor List at Southside Regional Jail
Getting approved to visit starts with one rule: you have to be on the inmate’s approved visitor list. Here’s what Southside Regional Jail publishes about visitor lists, visit limits, and what to confirm directly with the facility.
At Southside Regional Jail, you can’t just show up and expect to be allowed in - visitors must be on the inmate’s approved visitor list. For local custody inmates, the jail’s posted limit is two 15-minute visits per week, so even after you’re approved, visit time is short and scheduling matters. If you’re trying to plan around work, childcare, or travel, it helps to treat those two visits as “appointments” you’ll want to protect by confirming you’re on the list before you make the trip.
One detail that trips families up is how often the list can be updated. Southside Regional Jail says inmates are allowed to change their approved visitor list once every 30 days, so if your name wasn’t added (or was removed), it may not be something they can fix immediately.
Southside Regional Jail states that all visits are non-contact visits, meaning you should expect a barrier between you and the inmate rather than in-person contact. The jail also describes limited exceptions: the only exception to the non-contact rule is a visit with the inmate’s attorney, probation/parole officer, or a mental health counselor. On top of that, the jail says “no special visits” are allowed except for the inmate’s attorney, minister, or probation/parole officer. If you’re hoping for an extra visit outside the normal routine, these categories are the ones the facility specifically calls out as exceptions.
Photo ID and Entry Rules
- ✓ Bring photo identification - Southside Regional Jail requires photo ID for all visitors.
- ✓ If you’re visiting in a professional capacity (attorney, minister, or probation/parole officer), expect different rules to apply than a standard social visit.
- Ask the inmate if you’re already on the list - since visitors must be on the approved visitor list, it’s worth confirming what name and information they used for you.
- Contact Southside Regional Jail to confirm the approval process - call (434) 634-2254 or email admin@southsideregionaljail.org and ask what you need to do to be added.
- Use the address if you need it for paperwork or directions - Southside Regional Jail is located at 244 Uriah Branch Way, Emporia, VA 23847.
Tip: When you call or email, ask what form (if any) is required, how visitor information must be submitted, and how long approval usually takes - those details can save you a wasted trip.
Note: The jail’s posted information doesn’t spell out the exact “application” steps for getting added (required forms, where/how to submit them, or processing time). Confirm those specifics with the facility before you assume you’re approved to visit.
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