Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) - VA is a county detention facility at 2402 Godwin Blvd, operated by the Independent City 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.
InmateAid has been helping families navigate county jails, state prisons, and federal facilities since 2012. Our founder served 66 months in federal custody. We know this system from the inside, and we built this resource so you do not have to figure it out alone. InmateAid holds a BBB A+ rating.
"I had no idea what to do when my son was arrested. InmateAid walked me through everything - the calls, the money, the visits. I do not know what I would have done without it."
-- A mother in Virginia
Need help right now? Contact InmateAid - we are here.
If you are not certain they are there, the fastest way to confirm is the Independent City 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 Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) - VA at 757-539-3119.
Most people booked at Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) - VA 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 Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) - VA 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 Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) - VA 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 Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) - VA is subject to the facility's current schedule, which can change without notice. Before making the trip, call 757-539-3119 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.
Western Tidewater Regional Jail - VA - Visitation
Housing Unit Visitation Schedule
| DAY | BLOCK | SECTION | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Bravo | 1 | 7:00pm |
| 2 | 7:30pm | ||
| 3 | 8:00pm | ||
| 4 | 8:30pm | ||
| 5 | 9:00pm | ||
| Tuesday | Charlie | 1 | 7:00pm |
| 2 | 7:30pm | ||
| 3 | 8:00pm | ||
| 4 | 8:30pm | ||
| 5 | 9:00pm | ||
| 6 | 9:30pm | ||
| Wednesday | Delta | 1 | 7:00pm |
| 2 | 7:30pm | ||
| 3 | 8:00pm | ||
| 4 | 8:30pm | ||
| 5 | 9:00pm | ||
| 6 | 9:30pm | ||
| Thursday | Echo | 1 | 7:00pm |
| 2 | 7:30pm | ||
| 3 | 8:00pm | ||
| 4 | 8:30pm | ||
| 5 | 9:00pm | ||
| 6 | 9:30pm | ||
| Friday | Foxtrot (non worker) | 1 | 7:00pm |
| 2 | 7:30pm | ||
| 3 | 8:00pm | ||
| Saturday | *Alpha | 1 | 7:00pm |
| *Alpha Block Only | 2 | 7:30pm | |
| 3 | 8:00pm | ||
| Sunday | **Work Programs | F-4 | 9:00am |
| *Juveniles | *F-5 | 10:00am | |
| E-7 | 1:00pm | ||
| E-8 | 3:00pm | ||
| B-6 & B-7 | 7:00pm |
B. Attorneys 7:30am - 9:30pm Monday through Sunday
C. Others
Clergy, religious volunteers, social workers and representatives of volunteer organizations may be granted visiting privileges in accordance with current procedures and schedules. Contact the Director of Treatment with any questions or to schedule a special visit time.
D. Holiday visiting will be prescribed according to staff mandates.
E. Former WTRJ Inmates are not permitted to visit other inmates in the Jail until 30 days have transpired since their release.
F. Inmates may decline visits by particular individuals, news media, etc.
G. Restrictions to Visiting:
Inmates in disciplinary segregation, cell restriction, medical isolation, close observation, or suicide watch will be denied personal visits with family or friends. This does not apply; however, to attorneys or court related personnel in the performance of their duty.
H. Visitors may not bring items for inmates. The Director of Security or Treatment may grant exceptions.
Visiting Rules
A. Visiting is a privilege and will be extended to inmates as described below.
a. Visitor Guidelines
WTRJ is committed to encouraging relationships between inmates, their family and friends. We strongly feel that visitation is an important part of inmate rehabilitation. At the same time WTRJ must provide for the safety/security of the facility, staff, inmates, and most importantly, the safety of other visitors, the public and you.
b. Visitation Termination
Your visit will be terminated if:
- The inmate violates any established rules and regulations.
- The visitor does not comply with the rules and regulations governing visitation.
Note: ALL visitors are subject to search. Refusal to be searched will cancel your visit.
Note: All visitors must acknowledge that visitation is a privilege and may be suspended. Violation of the privilege may result in disciplinary action against inmate/visitor. Inmates on administrative/disciplinary segregation or in control status may be denied visitation.
c. Visitors Per Inmate
Due to increased occupancy and limited visitation space, WTRJ limits lobby and visitor panel access only to authorized visitors.
NO MORE THAN TWO (2) AUTHORIZED VISITORS PER INMATE ARE ALLOWED.
d. Inmate and Visitor Rules and Regulations
- Inmates are allowed one (1) twenty (20) minute visit.
- Visitors must be on the inmates Request for Visitation Privileges form (RVP).
- Visitors MUST be signed in thirty (30)minutes prior to the start of the visitation time (see schedule).
- ALL visitors MUST be 16 years of age or older with a valid drivers license, ID, military ID, passport or school ID.
- Visitors will NOT be allowed to switch phones AT ALL.
- When the phone is terminated, visitor must immediately exit the facility.
- Visitors are prohibited from leaving personal items unattended in the lobby area. Items may be stored in provided public lockers or secured in vehicles.
- NO unattended children in the lobby.
e. Items Allowed in Visitation Panel/Building Keys - Example: Car Keys or House Keys
f. Items NOT allowed in Visitation Panel/Building
- TOBACCO
- TOBACCO RELATED PRODUCTS
- PARAPHERNALIA
- LIGHTING DEVICES
- POCKET BOOKS
- HAND BAGS
- BACK PACKS
- FOOD
- BEVERAGES
- COMMUNICATION DEVICES
- PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICES
NO EXCEPTIONS
g. Dress Code
- Shirt and shoes mandatory
- Clothing that expose an undue amount of flesh(ex. exposing chest, back, br breast,thighs, or midsections) is prohibited. Sleeveless shirts will NOT be allowed
- Bermuda-length shorts may be worn provided they are NOT to exceed no more than (3”) above the kneecap.
- NO sleeveless dresses will be allowed, dresses and skirt hems are NOT to exceed more than (3”) above the kneecap.
- Any article of clothing with a picture or language that may be considered profane or offensive by the current public or WTRJ staff will NOT be allowed.
- Clothing designed or intended to be tightly worn, to excessively accent the body (ex. spandex, tights, leggings, tank tops, etc.) is prohibited.
NO EXCEPTIONS
Visitors may wear casual dress that is reasonable and appropriate.
WTRJ reserves the right to refuse admittance to inappropriately dressed visitors.
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 Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) - VA:
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.
Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) - VA accepts mail addressed to your family member at 2402 Godwin Blvd. 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 Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) - VA
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. Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) - VA 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 Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) - VA at 757-539-3119 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.