Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional is a county detention facility at 160 Peregory Ln, operated by the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office. Most people here are awaiting trial or serving a sentence under one year. This is not a prison - stays are typically days or months, not years. Information on this page was last verified August 2026.
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If you are not certain they are there, the fastest way to confirm is the Albemarle County inmate search or InmateAid's inmate locator, which searches by name across Virginia facilities.
Booking takes time - sometimes several hours after arrest. If the search comes back empty, wait a few hours and try again before assuming they are somewhere else. You can also pull their arrest record and booking details to confirm the charges and facility assignment. For the most direct answer, call Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional at 434-977-6981.
Most people booked at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional appear before a judge within 24 to 48 hours. At that first appearance the judge sets bail - or denies it - based on the charges, history, and flight risk.
If bail is set, your family member can be released by paying the full amount or through a bail bondsman who typically charges 10 percent as a non-refundable fee. If bail is denied or unaffordable, they remain at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional until the case resolves. InmateAid's bail and bond guide covers every option including what to do when you cannot afford a bondsman.
Right after arrest your family member goes through intake - identity verification, medical screening, property inventory, and classification. Classification places them in a housing unit based on charges, prior record, and intake behavior. It is not a punishment. It is how the facility manages a population that ranges from people on minor warrants to individuals facing serious charges.
Phone access and visitation are typically unavailable during the first 24 to 48 hours while booking completes. Once they are assigned to a housing unit those channels open. InmateAid's what happens in jail guide walks through the full intake process step by step.
Your family member calls you - you cannot call them.
Calls from Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional go through the facility's contracted phone provider. Visit InmateAid's jail calls page to find the current provider for this facility and get your account set up before the first call.
Phone contact is more important than most people realize going into this. A regular call - even a short one - makes a measurable difference in how someone holds up inside.
Visitation at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional is subject to the facility's current schedule, which can change without notice. Before making the trip, call 434-977-6981 to confirm current hours, any registration requirements, and what you can bring. Showing up without confirming first is the most common mistake families make - it results in a wasted trip and a missed visit.
General rules across most Virginia county jails: dress conservatively, avoid colors that resemble inmate uniforms, leave your phone in your car, bring valid government-issued ID. Children may be permitted with specific requirements. Read InmateAid's visitation guide for a full pre-visit checklist.
Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail VA - Visitation
Public Inmate Visitation Schedule (Subject to change at any time)
It is recommended that all visitors contact the facility at 434-977-6981 ext. 261 prior to their arrival every time. Due to the needs of the facility, visits may be cancelled at any time. Inmates housing assignments can change at any time, and when it does, they are immediately under their new housing areas assignments. Inmates are responsible for ensuring their families are aware of these changes. Call ahead to be sure about their location visitation status.
- Pastoral Visits Are scheduled Monday’s, Tuesday’s, Thursday’s & Friday’s from 8:00-11:00 a.m and 1:00-3:30 p.m.
- Evening Visits are Monday’s, Tuesday’s & Wednesday’s from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
- Wednesday Inmates housed in Segregation Units, Intake and Medical Visiting Hours are 0800-1100 and 1300-1600.
- Thursday Inmates housed in Segregation Units, Intake and Medical Visiting Hours are 1830-2200.
- Saturday Inmates Housed in HU-1, HU-2, and HU-3 Visiting Hours are 0700-1100.
- Saturday Inmates Housed on West and Ground Floor Visiting Hours are 1230-1700 and 1830-2200.
- Sunday Inmates Housed in HU-1, HU-2, and HU-3 Visiting Hours are 0700-1100
- Sunday Eastside /Female Visitation hours are 1230-1700.
General Population inmates receive two (30 minutes) visits per month only.
- The exception is that all trustee inmates are allowed to receive one visit per week for a total of four visits a month.
- No individual may swap out so that someone else can go in.
- The inmate must be classified and have all visitors including babies listed.
- All visitors must be pre-approved. The inmate will be notified of their approved visitor list.
- We do not provide this information over the phone. Individuals must present a valid government-issued photo ID to see if they are on an inmate’s visitation list.
When an inmate is moved their visitation is changed to their new housing location.
YOU ARE ADVISED TO CALL 434-977-6981 ext. 261 prior to visiting because the facility could lockdown at any time unexpectedly. This means visitation will be cancelled.
NOTE: (This facility adheres to the County of Albemarle holiday schedule)
Visits are scheduled on a "walk-in basis" based on availability first come/first serve. "Walk-in" is defined as a visitor being signed in for the contact/booth visit upon arrival to the facility. Once the visitor and the inmate are seated in the visitation room, the visitation begins.
VISITS ARE SCHEDULED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.
- Each inmate is allowed three (3) visitors including any combination of adult(s) and child(ren) to visit them at a time.
- Inmates can have up to 5 individuals on their visitation list.
- Inmates are responsible for notifying you if you are approved to visit. they need your*:
- full name
- date of birth
- address
Only the following forms of photo government-issued identification will be accepted:
- Driver’s license or Non-Driver’s state-issued photo identification card
- Passport
Any visitor under the age of eighteen (18) will only be allowed to visit an inmate if a facility issued Parental Permission Slip is completed. This form must be completed and signed at the facility and be supported by the child’s original birth certificate (for age verification) and an approved form of parental/ legal guardian ID.
All visitors must walk through and successfully clear the electronic metal detector and are subject to themselves and their persons to be searched.
If there are protective orders in place on either party visitors will not be allowed to visit with the inmate.
GENERAL RULES FOR VISITORS
- The facility requires each visitor to adhere to a dress code.
- Visitors will not be permitted to enter the contact visit room or booth visit room in layered clothing, ripped clothing, orange clothing, hooded clothing or tank tops spaghetti straps or shorts or any other attire deemed in appropriate for visitation with ACRJ inmates.
- Visitors must wear clothing that is size appropriate. If visitors wear clothing that is too small or excessively big, they will be prohibited from visiting the inmate.
- Visitors shall NOT bring any items into the contact visit room or booth visit room including baby care items. Doing so will terminate current and future visits.
- All personal items must be left in the visitor’s locker. (i.e. combs, pen/pencils, cosmetics, food items, beverages, gum, tobacco products, money, wallets, cell phones, keys, coats, hats, plastic/metal barrettes and unapproved jewelry.) The only exceptions will be an approved wedding band and an approved religious medal, no larger than two (2) inches with a chain. Doing so will terminate current and future visits.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING CONDUCT
An inmate and his or her visitor(s) are required to adhere to conduct which is consistent with the standard of public decency and correctional facility appropriate behaviors. The following can cause termination of a visit or future visits at ACRJ (this list is not inclusive and subject to facility staff discretion).
- Physical contact between visitors and inmates is prohibited.
- An inmate and his or her visitor(s) are directly responsible for the conduct and behavior of children in their charge. Children must remain seated and within the immediate area of the inmate and visitor(s) at all times and shall not run around or destroy facility property.
- No visitor is allowed to communicate with ANY inmate outside of the inmate telephone or email system or facility authorized communication methods.
- Smoking is permitted in designated areas only
- No personnel shall interact with jail staff in an unprofessional manner.
- Bringing contraband to the facility for the purpose of inmate consumption or use is forbidden.
Attorney Visits
- Inmates will consult with their attorney in the attorney booths of the jail. Communications between an inmate and their attorney will be private and confidential.
- Attorney visits are preferred to take place during the designated time.
Other Professional Visitors - Professional visits are preferred to take place during normal visiting hours.
Money on the books - also called the commissary or trust account - gives your family member access to hygiene items, snacks, phone time, and postage. It directly affects their daily comfort and ability to stay connected.
Steps to send money to Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional:
1. Go to InmateAid's send money page to find the approved deposit method for this facility
2. Have your family member's full legal name and booking number ready
3. Choose online deposit, phone deposit, or facility kiosk
4. Use the name and number exactly as they appear in the jail's system - any error will delay or reject the deposit
A letter or a printed photo costs almost nothing to send and means far more than most people on the outside appreciate.
Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional accepts mail addressed to your family member at 160 Peregory Ln. Include their full legal name and booking number on every piece. Standard rules at most Virginia county jails: plain white paper only, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Standard print-size photos only, nothing written on the back. Mail that does not meet the facility's standards will be rejected - and they may not notify you. Keep it simple.
InmateAid's send mail service prints and mails on approved stock from your phone or computer. Formatting rejection is not a risk.
Books and magazines must be ordered new from the publisher or an online retailer - not shipped from your home address. Order through Amazon or directly from the publisher. Anything from a personal address will be rejected.
Visitation rules, phone access, bail processes, inmate search tools, and what happens at release all vary by state. InmateAid's Virginia prison resources hub covers all of it - written specifically for families navigating the Virginia system.
Have a specific question from someone who has been through it? Browse questions and answers at InmateAid Virginia Q&A.
Frequently Asked Questions about Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional
How long does county jail booking take?
Booking at a county jail typically takes between 2 and 8 hours depending on how many people are being processed at the same time. During that window your family member may not appear in the inmate search system and phone and visitation access will not yet be available.
What is the difference between county jail and state prison?
County jails are short-term facilities operated by the county sheriff, holding people awaiting trial or serving sentences under one year. State prisons are operated by the Virginia Department of Corrections for sentences of one year or more. Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional is a county jail - your family member may not have been convicted yet and could be released before trial if bail is posted.
Can I receive calls from someone in county jail?
No. Calls from county jail are outbound only - your family member calls you from the facility phone. You cannot call them directly. Set up an account with the phone provider before the first call so it connects immediately.
How long can someone be held in county jail without being charged?
In most states police have 48 to 72 hours to formally charge someone or they must be released. After charges are filed your family member remains in custody until bail is posted or the case resolves. Timelines vary by state and charge - InmateAid's bail and bond guide has state-specific information.
What can I bring when visiting someone in county jail?
Most county jails permit only valid government-issued photo ID for visitors. Leave your phone, wallet, keys, and personal items in your car or facility lockers. Call Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional at 434-977-6981 before your visit to confirm current rules - they vary by facility and change without notice.
County jail time is hard in a specific way. The uncertainty - not knowing how long, not knowing what comes next - is its own kind of weight. What you can control is the connection. Calls, letters, visits, money on the books. Every one of those things tells your family member that someone out here is paying attention and is not going anywhere.
InmateAid was built for exactly this moment. Use us.