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This page lists all 73 county jails in Virginia. You can browse by county below, search for specific facilities, or navigate to related pages.
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About County Jails in Virginia
Understanding county jails in the Virginia
Welcome to the most complete and up-to-date directory of county jails and correctional facilities in Virginia. This page lists every active county-level detention facility operating across Virginia, providing families, attorneys, bail bondsmen, social workers, and the general public with fast, reliable access to accurate information about county-level incarceration. County jails are often the first longer-term facility a person is sent to after initial arrest and police booking, making this directory essential for anyone trying to locate a recently arrested loved one.
What Are County Jails and How Do They Work?
County jails in Virginia are local correctional facilities operated by the county sheriff's office or county department of corrections. They serve as the primary point of longer-term detention for individuals awaiting trial, unable to make bail, or serving shorter sentences for misdemeanor offenses.
The county jail system is decentralized — each county operates its own facility tailored to its population size, court system, and law enforcement needs. This means county jails vary significantly in size, capacity, programming, and conditions.
How County Jails Differ From Other Facilities
- County Jails: Operated by sheriff's office. Hold pretrial detainees, those unable to make bail, misdemeanor sentences under one year.
- City/Municipal Jails: Operated by city police. Shorter holds immediately after arrest before county transfer.
- Police Lockups: Short-term holding (24-72 hours) during initial booking and processing.
- State Prisons: Operated by Virginia's DOC for felony sentences over one year.
- Federal Prisons: Operated by Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal crimes.
Types of County Correctional Facilities
- County Jail: Standard county detention facility serving the general pretrial and sentenced misdemeanor population.
- County Correctional Center: Larger facility with expanded programming, multiple housing units, and specialized services.
- County Detention Center: Often houses higher proportion of pretrial detainees or federal contract inmates.
- County Work Release Center: Minimum-security allowing day employment with evening return.
- County Medical/Mental Health Facility: Specialized units for inmates requiring ongoing medical or mental health care.
- County Honor Farm: Minimum-security where inmates perform outdoor work assignments.
How to Use This Directory
- Browse the full directory of all county jails in Virginia by scrolling below.
- Filter by county using the dropdown to narrow results to a specific county.
- Switch states using the state selector to load county jails in any other US state.
- Click any facility to open its dedicated page with contact details and inmate search.
- Locate an inmate using the search feature on any facility page or our main inmate locator.
Finding an Inmate in a County Jail
County jails maintain their own inmate databases, and most offer online inmate lookup tools through the county sheriff's website. The fastest way to find someone is to identify the county where they were arrested using the directory below, then visit that facility's dedicated page to use the inmate search feature. You can also use our free US inmate locator tool to search across all county jails simultaneously.
Visitation
Policies vary considerably — some jails offer in-person contact visits, others have non-contact or video visitation only. Check visitation rules for the specific facility before planning a visit. Click any facility to view its complete visitation guidelines.
Calling an Inmate
Phone calls are outbound only from pre-approved numbers. Your number must be registered with the facility's phone provider and a prepaid account funded. Read our calling guide for complete setup instructions.
Getting Bail
Once bail is set at arraignment, pay it directly to the county jail or court, or work with a licensed bail bondsman who will post bail for a fee of 10-15% of the total amount.
Programs Available
Larger county jails typically offer GED and literacy programs, substance abuse counseling, religious services, and sometimes vocational training. Program availability varies significantly by facility size and resources.
Sheriff's Role
In most counties, the sheriff's office operates and manages the county jail. The sheriff is accountable for safe, humane, and legally compliant operation, including staffing, programming, medical services, and state/federal compliance.
Release & Reentry
Release can happen through bail, sentence completion, dismissal of charges, or court order. The transition back to daily life requires planning for employment, family reconnection, court-ordered supervision, and financial stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
County Jails by County in Virginia
View facilities organized by county
Filter County Jails by County
Virginia has County Jails spread across dozens of counties, and finding the right one quickly can be challenging without the right tools. Use the county list below to instantly narrow results and view only the County Jails in a specific county within Virginia. This is particularly helpful if you are trying to locate someone who was recently arrested in a specific area, or if you are planning a visit and need to find the closest facility to your location.
All County Jails in Virginia
Complete listing of county jails
Browse the Complete List of County Jails in Virginia
The full directory of county jails and correctional facilities in Virginia is displayed below. Every active county-operated detention facility is included in this listing. Each entry includes the facility name, operating county, location, address, security classification, and contact information. County jails are operated by the county sheriff's office or county department of corrections and serve as the primary detention facility for the county's pretrial population and sentenced misdemeanor offenders.
| Facility Name | County | Action |
|---|---|---|
|
Accomack County VA Jail
23323 Wise Ct
PO Box 149, Accomack, VA 23307
|
Accomack | View Details |
|
Alleghany Regional Jail VA
268 West Main St, Covington, VA 24426
|
Alleghany | View Details |
|
Appomattox County VA Jail
179 Morton Lane
PO Box 366, Appomattox, VA 24522
|
Appomattox | View Details |
|
Arlington County VA Detention Center
1435 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201
|
Arlington | View Details |
|
Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Detention Center
300 Technology Drive, Staunton, VA 24401-3968
|
Augusta | View Details |
|
Waynesboro County VA Jail
250 South Wayne Ave
Suite 107, Waynesboro, VA 22980
|
Augusta | View Details |
|
Bath County VA Jail
85 Courthouse Hill Road, Warm Springs, VA 24484
|
Bath | View Details |
|
Botetourt County VA Jail
205 North Roanoke St
PO Box 18, Fincastle, VA 24090
|
Botetourt | View Details |
|
Brunswick County VA Jail
120 East Hicks St, Lawrenceville, VA 23868
|
Brunswick | View Details |
|
Buchanan County VA Jail
1012 Walnut St, Grundy, VA 24614
|
Buchanan | View Details |
|
Caroline County VA Jail
118 Courthouse Ln
PO Box 39, Bowling Green, VA 22427
|
Caroline | View Details |
|
Charlotte County VA Jail
222 Law Lane, Charlotte Court House, VA 23923
|
Charlotte | View Details |
|
Chesterfield County VA Jail
6900 Mimms Drive, Chesterfield, VA 23832
|
Chesterfield | View Details |
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Chesterfield VA Juvenile Detention Home
9600 Krause Rd, Chesterfield, VA 23832
|
Chesterfield | View Details |
|
Craig County VA Jail
Main St
PO Box 266, New Castle, VA 24127
|
Craig | View Details |
|
Culpeper County VA Jail
131 West Cameron St, Culpepper, VA 22701
|
Culpeper | View Details |
|
Dickenson County VA Jail
133 McClure Ave
PO Box 339, Clintwood, VA 24228
|
Dickenson | View Details |
|
Dinwiddie County VA Jail
14230 Sycamore Drive
PO Box 120, Dinwiddle, VA 23841
|
Dinwiddie | View Details |
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Essex County VA Jail
304 Prince St
PO Box 955, Tappahannock, VA 22560
|
Essex | View Details |
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Merrimac VA Juvenile Detention Center
9300 Merrimac Trail, Williamsburg, VA 23185-5967
|
Essex|king William|middlesex|mathews|glouchester | View Details |
|
Fairfax County VA Adult Detention Center
10520 Judicial Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
|
Fairfax | View Details |
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Fairfax VA Juvenile Detention Center
10650 Page Ave, Fairfax, VA 22030
|
Fairfax | View Details |
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Fairfax VA Pre-Release Center
10528 Judicial Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
|
Fairfax | View Details |
|
Falls Church County VA Jail
300 Park Ave
Suite 201 West, Falls Church, VA 22046
|
Falls Church City | View Details |
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Fauquier County VA Adult Detention Center
50 Lee St, Warrenton, VA 20186
|
Fauquier | View Details |
County Jails in Other States
Browse county jails in other states
Explore County Jails in Other States
Looking for county jails beyond Virginia? We've got you covered. Use the state selectors below to instantly switch to a full directory of county jails in any other US state. Whether you need to look up facilities in a neighboring state or search across the country, our nationwide directory makes it simple to find the information you need in just a few clicks.