Preparing for a visit: ID, what to expect at sign-in, and arrival timing
Plan to arrive early enough to handle check-in. Some facilities set a firm cutoff for signing in. One Virginia jail requires visitors to sign in one hour before the visitation completion time, and all visitors are subject to search. Before you drive, confirm the address and public number for the facility you're visiting. Some jails publish both a main line and an after-hours line (Henrico County Regional Jail West lists (804) 501-4581 and after hours (804) 501-4586).
Be ready to provide your information exactly as the facility keeps it on file. In the federal system, BOP records for the Web Visiting System (WebV) describe approved visitor data fields that can include your name, relationship, date of birth, and identification numbers such as a driver's license or state ID number, passport number, or alien registration number. Those same records display inmate details like the inmate's name and register number. Having the inmate's identifying information handy can speed up questions and corrections.
- Confirm where your loved one is housed. Addresses and rules can differ even within the same city or sheriff’s office.
- Call the facility if anything is unclear. A public line and an after-hours line may be listed for the same jail.
- Bring the information you will be checked against. Be prepared to match your identifying details to what the facility has on file, and bring the inmate’s key identifiers.
- Arrive with enough time for the sign-in window. Some facilities require you to sign in no later than one hour before the end of visitation.
Common Questions
Q
What address and format should I use to mail a letter to someone in a Virginia jail?
Use the exact address format published by the specific jail, since addresses can differ even within the same city. One example (Hampton) lists separate addresses for its Main Jail and Community Correctional Center and shows the inmate’s full name on the address block. That same facility requires letters to be mailed in a standard 8x12 envelope.
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
How long before a scheduled court appearance should I call Victim Services to confirm?
Hampton Victim Services instructs victims and witnesses to call the After Hours Docket Line the day before court to confirm if they will be needed. The number listed is 757-727-6399, and the office is located on the first floor of the General District Courthouse at 236 N. King Street in Hampton.
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