How Attorneys and Professional Visitors Access Inmates at Fairfax ADC
Fairfax ADC encourages approved professional visitors to use SMART Communications for virtual visitation and messaging instead of coming in person when that works for your case. If you’re approved as a professional visitor, there’s no cost to use SMART for these professional contacts, which can make it easier to stay in touch without coordinating travel and on-site check-in.
Note: Clients housed in quarantine aren’t eligible for in-person visits. If SMART Communications can’t connect them, Zoom visits may be considered.
If you do need to meet in person, you’ll start by checking in at the second-floor control booth inside the ADC. Let staff know you’re there for a professional visit and request to see your client; this is the required check-in point for in-person professional access.
- ✓ Professional visit time blocks: 9 a.m.–11 a.m. and 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
- ✓ Limit: no more than three professional visit requests per day
Keep it simple: you may only give your client legal papers during a professional visit. Those papers must be loose - no staples, paper clips, or other fasteners. Bring clean copies ready to pass without attachments.
- ✓ Money
- ✓ Jewelry
- ✓ Matches
- ✓ Cigarette lighters
- ✓ Cigarettes
- ✓ Chewing gum
- ✓ Any food
If you’re an out-of-state attorney coming to Fairfax ADC for matters tied to the inmate’s case - such as being part of a legal team, raising issues that affect custody level (including new charges or an appeal of current charges), or representing someone being held pre-sentence - you’ll need to coordinate with a Virginia attorney. Be prepared to provide documentation from the Virginia attorney showing you are co-counsel, a copy of your valid bar card, a reason for the visit on official law firm letterhead, and a copy of a state-issued driver’s license.
- Email the Inmate Programs Supervisor 48–72 hours before the visit - this is required if you want to bring an intern, law clerk, paralegal, or interpreter as a pre-approved accompanying professional visitor.
- Include the required identifiers for the accompanying visitor - attach a legible copy of their driver’s license and provide the last four digits of their Social Security number.
Interpreter rule: Relatives or social acquaintances of the inmate can’t be used as interpreters and won’t be approved as professional visitors.
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