Penmate Inmate Support Guides

Why the Blue Ridge Regional Jail (Amherst/Bedford) Inmate Tracker Shows 'An unhandled error has occurred'

If the Blue Ridge Regional OMS inmate tracker is showing "An unhandled error has occurred. Reload," you're not doing anything wrong. This message has appeared on the public tracker pages for both the Amherst and Bedford listings, and it prevents the online search from completing.

• 3 min read Verified from official sources

On the OMS public jail tracker, the Amherst listing ("Blue_Ridge_Regional_VA_Amherst") has displayed the message: "An unhandled error has occurred. Reload". The Bedford listing ("Blue_Ridge_Regional_VA_Bedford") shows the same thing. When you hit this screen, the tracker simply isn't returning search results.

Examples of the pages showing the error: https://omsweb.public-safety-cloud.com/jtclientweb/jailtracker/index/Blue_Ridge_Regional_VA_Amherst and https://omsweb.public-safety-cloud.com/jtclientweb/jailtracker/index/Blue_Ridge_Regional_VA_Bedford.

"An unhandled error has occurred" means the public-facing tool ran into a problem it couldn't recover from on its own. The practical impact is straightforward: the lookup won't complete, so you won't be able to confirm custody status or pull up a person's listing through that page until the error clears.

Note: The message includes "Reload," which is the site's built-in prompt to retry the page. Sometimes a reload works. If the error keeps coming back, the problem is almost certainly on the site's end, not yours.

Immediate Steps Try

  • ✓ Tap or click “Reload” on the error message
  • ✓ Try again later (the issue can come and go)
  • ✓ Try a different browser or a different device
  • ✓ Take a screenshot of the error so you can reference it if you need to follow up

If you need to report the problem or just want to keep your own records, save the exact wording you saw: "An unhandled error has occurred. Reload". Also note which page you were on (Amherst or Bedford) and the date and time you tried. Those details help show that the issue is with the tracker page itself, not a one-time typo or bad search.

  1. Use the “Reload” prompt. Try it once or twice, then move on if the same message keeps coming back.
  2. Switch browsers or devices. If it fails on one phone or browser, test another to rule out a local glitch.
  3. Wait and retry later. If the page is erroring out, time is sometimes the only fix you can control.
  4. Capture proof for follow-up. Screenshot the message “An unhandled error has occurred. Reload,” and write down the page address plus the date and time.

Document and Escalate

  • ✓ Screenshot showing: “An unhandled error has occurred. Reload”
  • ✓ The full page address you used
  • ✓ The date and time you tried (and whether it was Amherst or Bedford)
  • ✓ Any repeats of the same error at different times

If you still can't find someone through the tracker, reach out directly for help. Start with the jail's administrative contact line or front desk, then escalate to the county or agency that oversees the listing if needed. If the tracker runs through a third-party system, vendor support may also be involved. Whichever route you take, include the exact saved error text ("An unhandled error has occurred. Reload"), your screenshots, the page address, and the timestamps so they can reproduce what you're seeing.

The tracker error isn't the only disruption. When checked, several Blue Ridge Regional Jail pages returned a 403 message reading "Access to this page is forbidden," including the facility page (https://brrja.state.va.us/acadc-2), the inmate visitation page (https://brrja.state.va.us/inmate-visitation), and the inmate mail page (https://brrja.state.va.us/inmate-mail). If you're bouncing between pages trying to get answers, you may hit dead ends in more than one place.

Note: A "forbidden" (403) response on multiple pages often points to broader site access or configuration problems. It's normal to see other information channels break at the same time.

Find an Inmate at Blue Ridge Regional Jail -Amherst

Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.

Exact spelling helps find results faster

Free to search · Used by families nationwide
Woman using phone to connect with loved one

More from Blue Ridge Regional Jail -Amherst

Does Your Loved One Qualify for Work Release or the WorkForce Program at Blue Ridge Regional Jail?

If your loved one wants to work while incarcerated at Blue Ridge Regional Jail, two options come up most often: Work Release and the WorkForce work-detail crews. Here's what the jail's public program guidance says about eligibility, disqualifying factors, and what participation requires.

Phone & Messaging

How to Contact an Inmate at Blue Ridge Regional Jail -Amherst (VA)

If you're trying to reach someone at Blue Ridge Regional Jail -Amherst, there's a catch: several of the jail's usual "how-to" pages aren't publicly accessible right now. Here's what that means for you and the most reliable next steps.

How to Send Mail to a Loved One at Blue Ridge Regional Jail — Amherst (Phoenix, MD scanning address & photo rules)

Sending mail to someone at Blue Ridge Regional Jail - Amherst works differently than you might expect. Your letter goes to a P.O. Box in Phoenix, Maryland, where it's scanned and delivered electronically to your loved one's tablet.