How to Schedule a Visit at West County Detention Facility (Richmond)

At West County Detention Facility, social visits are scheduled only by the inmates. You can't set the appointment yourself. Your loved one schedules it from inside, then tells you the day and visiting block.

Visits at West County run in set visiting blocks, not open-ended hours. When your loved one schedules you, ask for the exact block they picked so you can plan your drive around that time. Trying to decide between days? Focus on what your loved one can actually schedule, since they control the appointment.

Timing matters. All visitors must be scheduled, and you need to arrive at the facility no later than 30 minutes before the end of your visiting block. Cut it close and you risk missing the visit entirely, even with a scheduled time.

There's a timing requirement on the inside, too. Inmates must notify the supervising Deputy Sheriff of scheduled visits and report to the visiting area 15 minutes beforehand. If your loved one forgets to notify staff or doesn't report on time, the visit can fall apart even if you showed up when you were supposed to.

• ✓ Confirm the scheduled visiting block with your loved one (since inmates schedule social visits).
• ✓ Plan your arrival so you are at the facility no later than 30 minutes before the end of the visiting block.
• ✓ Remind your loved one to report to the visiting area 15 minutes prior to the visit.

If you're late, or if your loved one doesn't follow the facility's timing rules, the visit can be cancelled. West County is clear: failure to follow visiting regulations will result in cancellation. Treat the arrival deadlines as firm on both sides.

If visiting privileges are suspended, that suspension comes only by order of the Facility Commander, unless it's imposed as part of a formal disciplinary proceeding. It's not a casual decision, but it can happen when there's a formal reason.

Before you leave home, verify the visit directly with your loved one. Since social visits are scheduled only by the inmates, they're your source for the correct day and visiting block. While you're confirming, double-check your plan to arrive no later than 30 minutes before the visiting block ends.

1. Figure out what happened: If the visit is cancelled, find out whether a timing rule was missed. Failure to follow the visiting regulations results in cancellation.
2. Reschedule through the inmate: Since inmates schedule social visits, your loved one will need to set up the next visit from inside.
3. Take rule violations seriously: Violations of laws, regulations, or procedures can lead to termination, restriction, suspension, revocation, arrest, or denial of visiting. Longer suspensions are handled by order of the Facility Commander (unless part of a formal disciplinary proceeding).