Virginia State Prisons
36 facilities- VA DOC - Augusta Correctional Center
- VA DOC - Baskerville Correctional Center
- VA DOC - Bland Correctional Center
- VA DOC - Buckingham Correctional Center
- VA DOC - Caroline Correctional Unit 2
Federal Facilities in Virginia
3 facilitiesVirginia County Jails
51 facilities- Accomack County VA Jail
- Appomattox County VA Jail
- Arlington County VA Detention Center
- Bath County VA Jail
- Botetourt-Craig Counties Public Safety Facility
ICE Detention Centers
1 facilityVirginia Department of Corrections
Virginia DOC offender search allows searches by VA DOC number or name. Virginia is unique in its jail system - in addition to county and city jails, the state has a network of regional jails serving multiple jurisdictions. Virginia abolished parole for felonies in 1995 - inmates serve fixed sentences without parole.
The official inmate search is available at vadoc.virginia.gov/offender/search. FCI Petersburg houses Virginia federal inmates. FCC Butner (NC) is also used for Virginia federal inmates.
Visitation in Virginia Facilities
Virginia DOC visitor approval requires a visitor application. Processing takes 3 - 5 weeks. Background checks for adult visitors. Virginia's southwestern maximum-security facilities (Red Onion, Wallens Ridge) are among the most remote in the eastern US.
Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Virginia prison directory.
Sending Mail to Virginia Inmates
Virginia DOC mail requires the VA DOC number. Virginia has transitioned to a centralized mail scanning system - physical mail is processed centrally and delivered electronically. Your physical letter does not reach the inmate at most Virginia state facilities.
InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Virginia facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.
Phone Calls from Virginia Facilities
Virginia is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. Securus Technologies holds the Virginia DOC contract.
Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our Virginia prison directory.
Sending Money to Virginia Inmates
Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Virginia:
- JPay (primary for Virginia DOC)
- Money orders - check if still accepted given digital mail
- Lobby kiosks
See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.
Reentry Resources in Virginia
Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Virginia:
- Virginia DOC Reentry - Official reentry programs
- Legal Aid Justice Center - Free civil legal help statewide - strong prison practice
- Offender Aid and Restoration - Richmond-based comprehensive reentry services
- ACLU of Virginia - Civil rights advocacy including prison conditions
Frequently Asked Questions About Virginia Prisons
Why did Virginia abolish parole?
Virginia abolished discretionary parole for felony offenses in 1995 under Governor George Allen, who had campaigned on a 'truth in sentencing' platform. The change meant people convicted of felonies in Virginia after January 1, 1995, serve their full sentence minus earned sentence credits - there is no parole board reviewing and releasing them early. Virginia is one of fewer than 20 states without traditional parole for most offenses. For post-1995 felony convictions, this means release planning is more predictable - your family member has a definite release date - but there is no mechanism to earn early release through a board hearing. Good conduct credit and earned time still apply and affect the release date.
What is Red Onion State Prison?
Red Onion State Prison in Pound, Wise County, is Virginia's supermax facility and one of the most remote major prisons on the East Coast - about 350 miles from Northern Virginia and nearly 5 hours from Richmond, deep in the Appalachian coalfields. Wise County is economically distressed; Pound itself has fewer than 1,000 residents. Red Onion opened in 1998 and houses Virginia's highest-risk inmates under conditions of extreme restriction: non-contact visits only, very limited movement, and significant restrictions on programming. The remoteness creates severe hardship for families. Video visitation is strongly recommended. Contact Red Onion at 276-796-7510 well before planning any in-person visit.
Does Virginia scan prison mail?
Yes - Virginia DOC has implemented a centralized mail scanning system across state facilities. Physical mail sent to most VADOC facilities is processed at a central location, scanned, and delivered electronically to inmate tablets. Your original letter does not physically reach the inmate. This was implemented primarily as a security measure to reduce drug smuggling. For the most reliable and direct delivery, submit mail digitally through JPay. If you want your inmate to have physical objects - a card, a photo print - understand that VADOC's scanning system means these arrive as screen images rather than tangible items.
What is the VA DOC number?
Every Virginia state inmate is assigned a unique VA DOC number when they enter state custody. It must appear on all correspondence and is required for the Virginia DOC offender search at vadoc.virginia.gov. County and regional jail detainees have their own booking numbers that are separate from VA DOC numbers. Once assigned at state intake, the VA DOC number is permanent for the sentence regardless of facility transfers.
Does Virginia have free prison phone calls?
No - Virginia has not eliminated phone call fees. Securus Technologies holds the VADOC contract. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps apply to interstate calls from Virginia state facilities, reducing costs from historical highs, but calls are not free. Virginia's General Assembly has considered phone fee legislation in recent sessions but has not passed it. Set up a Securus prepaid account for state facility calls. Regional jail phone systems vary by provider.
What are Virginia's regional jails?
In addition to individual city and county jails, Virginia operates a network of Regional Jail Authorities - facilities jointly operated by multiple cities and counties. Examples include the Rappahannock Regional Jail near Fredericksburg, the Western Virginia Regional Jail, and others. Regional jails handle pretrial detention and sentences under one year for their member jurisdictions. They are entirely separate from VADOC - with their own phone systems, visiting procedures, and administration. If your person is in a regional jail rather than a VADOC facility, contact that regional jail authority directly for all procedures.