Virginia Jail & Inmate Search — Complete 2026 Guide
Find out who is currently in jail in Virginia. Search inmate rosters, check booking status, and look up jail records for every Virginia city and county.
Virginia Jail & Inmate Search Guide — 2026
Need to find out if someone is currently in jail in Virginia? This guide covers every method available to search Virginia inmate records, check booking status, and locate incarcerated individuals.
How Virginia Jails Work
Virginia has three types of correctional facilities:
- Regional jails — Serve multiple cities/counties (most common)
- City jails — Operated by individual cities (Richmond, Norfolk, etc.)
- State prisons — Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) for sentences 1+ year
Search Methods
#### 1. MohnMatrix Inmate Search
The fastest way to check if someone is in custody:
- Search any Virginia city — Enter a name to find arrest and booking records
- Cross-references multiple data sources
- Shows booking date, charges, bail amount, and court dates
#### 2. VINE (Victim Information & Notification Everyday)
Virginia participates in the VINE system for victim notification:
- Register for alerts when an offender's custody status changes
- Covers most Virginia jails and all state prisons
- Free and confidential
#### 3. VADOC Offender Search
For state prison inmates serving 1+ year sentences:
- Search by name, DOC number, or SSN
- Shows facility location, expected release date, and offense details
Regional Jail Lookup by Area
#### Tri-Cities Area
- Riverside Regional Jail — Serves Petersburg, Hopewell, Colonial Heights, Prince George, Charles City, Surry
- Petersburg Records | Hopewell Records | Colonial Heights Records
#### Richmond Metro
- Richmond City Jail — Richmond City
- Henrico County Jail — Henrico County (East & West)
- Pamunkin Regional Jail — Hanover County and surrounding areas
- Richmond Records | Henrico Records
#### Hampton Roads
- Hampton Roads Regional Jail — Portsmouth, Norfolk area
- Virginia Beach Correctional Center — Virginia Beach
- Norfolk Records | Virginia Beach Records
What Information Is Available
When someone is booked into a Virginia jail, the following becomes public record:
- Full name and aliases
- Date of birth and physical description
- Booking date and time
- Charges — Each charge with code section
- Bond amount — Total bail set by magistrate
- Court dates — Scheduled hearings
- Mugshot — Booking photo (availability varies by jurisdiction)
How to Post Bail
If someone you know is in jail and has bail set:
- Contact a bail bondsman — They typically charge 10% of the bail amount
- Post cash bail directly at the jail
- Request a bond hearing for bail reduction