Visitation rules, dress code, and scheduling in Virginia facilities
Visitation rules are set by the facility, but two themes come up again and again: you must be approved, and you must follow the dress code. One Virginia jail requires all visitors to be on the inmate's visitation list, requires visitors to sign in one hour before the visitation completion time, and limits visits to 30 minutes. That same facility also states all visitors are subject to search.
Dress-code enforcement can get specific. Hampton prohibits see-through tops or bottoms (including cut-out or ripped pants) and requires midriffs and stomachs to be covered. Halter tops, tank tops, spaghetti or strapless tops, and muscle shirts are prohibited. Federal facilities also warn that visitors should wear appropriate clothing and can be denied visitation for provocative or revealing attire. The BOP states you can only visit after the inmate places you on an approved visiting list and you are cleared.
Warning: Virginia Department of Corrections visitation can be canceled statewide (for example, due to expected inclement weather) or limited to specific units or buildings. In at least one statewide cancellation announcement, VADOC stated that video visitation would continue even though in-person visitation was canceled.
Common Questions
Q
What should I wear to a visit and how long are visits?
Dress conservatively and follow the facility’s posted dress code, since you can be turned away for prohibited items. One Virginia jail example prohibits see-through clothing (including cut-out or ripped pants) and requires midriffs and stomachs to be covered, with tank tops and similar tops prohibited. That same facility lists visits as 30 minutes and requires visitors to be on the inmate’s visitation list.
Q
Why was an in-person visit canceled and is video visitation still available?
In Virginia, cancellations can be statewide (like weather-related closures) or limited to a specific pod, unit, or building. VADOC has announced statewide cancellations of in-person visitation where video visitation continued, and it has also posted facility-level cancellations where both in-person and video were canceled for particular housing areas. Check the facility’s current announcements before you travel, and have a video option ready if your facility offers it.
Q
What services do jail staff commonly provide to support contact and programs?
Services vary, but Virginia jail pages commonly describe both contact support and programming. One example (Henrico County Regional Jail West) lists services that include virtual visitation and mail delivery, along with religious services, mental health and substance abuse services, education, laundry, recreation, and property control. That same facility describes itself as a maximum-security jail that houses both pre-trial and post-trial inmates.
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