Portsmouth City Jail

City Jail

Last Updated: April 17, 2024
Address
701 Crawford St, Portsmouth, VA 23704
Beds
478
County
Portsmouth City
Phone
757-393-8210
Fax
757-393-5181

Portsmouth Jail is for City Jail offenders sentenced up to twenty four months.

All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for City Jail - medium facility.

The phone carrier is Global Tel Link (GTL) - ConnectNetwork, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.

If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders

Satellite View of Portsmouth City Jail

You can support your loved ones at Portsmouth Jail on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 757-393-8210.

The Portsmouth Jail serves as a low/medium-security city detention center located at 701 Crawford St in Portsmouth, VA. Operated locally by the police and sheriff's departments, it houses inmates and detainees awaiting trial or sentencing. Most sentenced inmates have terms of less than two years. The facility also accepts inmates from surrounding towns and occasionally from the US Marshal's Service.

New detainees are regularly admitted to the jail, with some being released on bail or placed under pretrial services caseloads. Others may be supervised by probation agencies or released on recognizance with a court appearance agreement. Those who remain in custody await their court appearances at the facility, receiving accommodations such as bedding and meals.

For access to arrest records in Virginia, you can view them here.

Portsmouth, an independent city situated in southeastern Virginia's Hampton Roads region, boasts a population of around 96,000 residents and covers approximately 30 square miles. Its urban landscape mirrors neighboring cities such as Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Suffolk. Founded in 1752, Portsmouth holds a significant place in American history, largely due to the robust military presence centered around the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center and the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, both nestled within the city's limits on the Elizabeth River.

The Portsmouth Sheriff's Office plays an active role in offering a diverse array of programs aimed at inmate rehabilitation and preparing them for successful reintegration into society upon their release from jail. While some inmates are mandated by the court to participate in these programs, the majority voluntarily engage in activities geared toward self-improvement. The focus of most programs centers around education and skills development, providing inmates with opportunities to enhance existing skills, acquire new ones, refine problem-solving techniques, or reinforce positive values.

Through these initiatives, inmates are encouraged to take proactive steps toward personal growth and development during their incarceration. By engaging in constructive activities and educational opportunities, inmates can cultivate a sense of purpose and direction, laying the groundwork for a more promising future beyond their time in jail.

There are no restrictions on the number of First Class letters an inmate can send or receive, nor on the number of people, they can correspond with, except for communication with other inmates within the Portsmouth City Jail, which is prohibited. Mail will not be withheld as a disciplinary measure.

Legal mail will be opened in the presence of the inmate to whom it is addressed, but the contents will not be read by staff. However, designated jail staff may read non-legal letters for security reasons.

All outgoing and incoming mail must have a complete return address. If additional postage is required, the cost will be deducted from the inmate's canteen funds. Mail without sufficient postage will be returned to the sender.

Outgoing mail is collected and sent at the end of each shift. Once the mail is placed in the postal system, the Portsmouth Sheriff's Office bears no responsibility for it.

Indigent inmates are allowed to have up to three letters mailed by the canteen operator each week. Canteen services, which allow inmates to purchase snack foods and personal items not provided by the jail, are available only to fully classified and committed inmates. The canteen is operated by a contracted service, not directly by the jail.

Canteen funds can be deposited into an inmate's account through the following methods: funds possessed at the time of commitment to jail or through the TOUCHPAY Payment System. Family or friends can also deposit money using the electronic kiosk located in the jail lobby, or by calling 866-345-1884 or visiting the Access Corrections website. No funds or money orders will be accepted in the jail lobby or through the mail.

Inmate Locator

To utilize the Inmate Search page on InmateAid, begin by selecting the relevant prison facility in Virginia. This allows you to view the current list of inmates housed at Portsmouth City Jail.

The second section features the InmateAid Inmate Search tool, providing a user-generated database of inmates. You can access this resource to utilize any of InmateAid's services. If you require assistance in creating an inmate profile to maintain communication, please contact us at aid@inmateaid.com, and we'll gladly help you locate your loved one.

As a last resort, you might have to pay for that information if we do not have it. The Arrest Record Search will cost you a small amount, but their data is the freshest available and for that reason, they charge to access it.

Visitation Information

Visiting hours for Portsmouth Jail are subject to change, so it's crucial to confirm them by contacting the facility directly by phone. Please reach out to 757-393-8210, on visitation procedures, applications, or directions to the facility in Portsmouth. Please note that visitors will undergo a thorough search before entering the premises, and personal belongings, including cell phones, are strictly prohibited. Individuals under probation, parole, or community corrections supervision must obtain approval from both their supervising officer and the superintendent before visiting, although such visits are not typically approved.

Ask The Inmate

Ask a former inmate questions at no charge. The inmate answering has spent considerable time in the federal prison system, state and county jails, and in a prison that was run by the private prison entity CCA. Ask your question or browse previous questions in response to comments or further questions of members of the InmateAid community.