Virginia Beach Inmate Population

Virginia Beach is the largest city in Virginia by population and operates its own correctional facility independent of any county. The Virginia Beach inmate population is held at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center, operated by the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office under Sheriff Rocky Holcomb. You can search current inmates online, register for VINE custody alerts, and access criminal case records through the Virginia Beach Circuit Court. This page covers each system so you know where to start for any custody or records question.

Virginia Beach Sheriff and Correctional Center

The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office is the legal custodian of the Virginia Beach inmate population. Sheriff Rocky Holcomb leads the office. Corrections forms the core of the VBSO and is organized into four main areas: Correctional Operations (watch teams and Emergency Response Team), Correctional Administration (Medical, Power Shift, Uniform Shop), Correctional Support (Intake and Release, Records, Property, Reentry and Alternative Sentencing), and Inmate Services (Canteen, Inmate Kitchen, Staff Kitchen). In October 2019, the Virginia Department of Corrections conducted its three-year audit and awarded the VBSO a 100% score, its seventh straight perfect score across all 160 Minimum Standards for Jails and Lockups. Under Virginia Code § 53.1-31, the sheriff is the keeper of all custody records for people held in the city's care.

The VBSO provides an Inmate Lookup Tool at inmateinfo.vbso.net:8083/IML. Option 1 lets you search by first and last name. Option 2 lets you search by selecting an identifier from a drop-down list or entering a value in the search field. Results include charges, bonding information, and mugshots for current inmates at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center. The VBSO also processes FOIA requests for inmate records including body-worn camera video, facility video, inmate tablet messages, inmate records, medical records, and VBSO policy documents. In FY2024, the VBSO handled 112 requests: 62 FOIA requests, 21 subpoenas, and 29 general requests.

The Virginia Beach Sheriff's homepage is the main entry point for the city's inmate search and records requests.

The VBSO site covers the Correctional Center, inmate lookup, FOIA procedures, and staff contacts for all questions about the Virginia Beach inmate population.

Virginia Beach Correctional Center Inmate Services

The VBSO FY2024 Annual Report, available at vbso.net/annual-reports/, gives a full picture of correctional operations. In FY2024, the facility processed 3,821 nurse sick calls, 4,909 physician sick calls, 358 chronic care visits, and 312 obstetrics and gynecology appointments. Medical staff oversaw 4,764 inmates placed on detoxification protocol for substance abuse and 1,104 on other medical protocols. The annual report is published each fall and reflects the prior fiscal year of operations.

Inmate services at the Correctional Center include visitation (on-demand video visits are available), telephone access through Telmate, CareMart for meal packages and care items, and reentry and alternative sentencing programs. To send mail, address it to: Inmate Name, Inmate OMS Number, Virginia Beach Correctional Center, P.O. Box 6098, Virginia Beach, VA 23456. The OMS number is available through the inmate lookup system. All incoming and outgoing mail is subject to inspection and may be opened and searched before delivery.

The Virginia Beach inmate mail procedures page has current addressing requirements for the Correctional Center.

The mail page covers addressing format, inspection policies, and what inmates may and may not receive at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center.

Virginia VINE for Virginia Beach Inmate Population

The Virginia Beach Correctional Center participates in Virginia VINE. Search by name at vavine.org or the national portal at vinelink.com. Select Virginia and then the Virginia Beach facility. The system shows current custody status and lets you register for free alerts by phone, email, text, or TTY. The VINE notification line is 1-800-467-4943 and is available every day around the clock.

VINE alerts are sent for release, transfer, escape, recapture, and death in custody. It does not explain why a change happened or where a person went. For location after a VADOC transfer, use the VADOC Offender Locator. VINE is anonymous. You do not need to give your name to search or register. Once a Virginia Beach inmate transfers to a state prison, VINE stops tracking them. For federal charges, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. Federal inmates are not in the city or state system.

Visitation details including scheduling and policies are covered on the VBSO visitation page.

The VBSO calls and visits page covers scheduling, ID requirements, and video visitation options for people in the Virginia Beach inmate population.

Virginia Beach Court Records and Inmate Population

Court records explain why someone is in custody. The Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk holds the case file for every criminal case in the city. That file includes charges, plea, verdict, sentencing order, and any probation conditions. For a free online search, use the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System, which covers Virginia Beach Circuit and General District Court records statewide at no cost. The Virginia Beach VADOC Probation and Parole office is District 23, located at 2520 Nimmo Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, phone (757) 821-7575, Chief Rachel Gholston.

Court records and custody records come from separate offices and serve different purposes. The Correctional Center knows where someone is right now. The Clerk's Office knows what the court ordered. If someone appears sentenced in court records but is missing from the jail search, they may have already moved to a VADOC facility or been released. For your own criminal history, the Virginia State Police runs the Central Criminal Records Exchange under § 19.2-389. Request through the Virginia State Police records page or mail to P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23261-5076.

Requesting Virginia Beach Inmate Population Records

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, § 2.2-3700 et seq., gives Virginia residents the right to public records. Jail logs, booking sheets, mug shots, charges, and custody status are all public. To request them, use the VBSO FOIA request process at vbso.net/foia/. The Professional Standards Office handles these requests and works with the City Attorney's Office to review what can be released. Virginia law requires a response within five business days. Some materials are withheld under specific exemptions such as medical privacy laws or active investigation protections.

The VBSO processes requests for body-worn camera video, facility video, inmate Telmate tablet messages, inmate records, medical records, and policy documents. If your request is delayed or denied, contact the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council at foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov or call (804) 698-1810, toll-free 1-866-448-4100. Inmates cannot use FOIA to obtain their own records under § 2.2-3703(C).

Victim Services and Virginia Beach Inmate Alerts

For victims tied to the Virginia Beach inmate population, VINE and NAAVI cover two different custody stages. While someone is at the Correctional Center, use VINE at vavine.org or call 1-800-467-4943 to register for free, anonymous alerts. VINE sends notifications for release, transfer, escape, recapture, and death. Once the person transfers to a VADOC state prison, register with the VADOC Victim Services unit at 1-804-674-3243 for NAAVI notifications. NAAVI provides 30-day advance release notice and updates for parole events, name changes, work release, escape, and recapture. Many victims register with both for unbroken coverage across both custody stages.

State Prison Transfers from Virginia Beach

When a Virginia Beach resident receives a sentence over twelve months, VADOC takes custody. State inmates from Virginia Beach generally transfer to VADOC Eastern Region facilities, though actual placement depends on security level, remaining sentence, and space. Track a transferred inmate through the VADOC Offender Locator, which returns the inmate ID, current facility, and projected release date. You need the full last name and at least the first letter of the first name.

VADOC Central Records is at 6900 Atmore Drive, Richmond, VA 23225, phone (804) 674-3000. Submit FOIA requests for state-held Virginia Beach inmates there. The offender locator is free and requires no account. Results include name, inmate ID, age, race, sex, current facility, and release date.

• Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office: vbso.net
• VBSO Inmate Lookup Tool: inmateinfo.vbso.net:8083/IML
• VADOC Probation and Parole, District 23: 2520 Nimmo Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, (757) 821-7575
• Virginia VINE: vavine.org or 1-800-467-4943
• Federal BOP Locator: bop.gov/inmateloc/

Virginia Beach Sex Offender Registry

The Virginia Sex Offender Registry is governed by §§ 9.1-900 et seq. of the Virginia Code and is maintained by the Virginia State Police. It covers all registered offenders in Virginia Beach and every other jurisdiction in the state. Search by name at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov. Results include name, photo, conviction details, and compliance status. If a registered offender is currently in custody, the registry shows their incarceration status. Registry records and inmate population records come from different agencies. Always cross-check with VINE or the VADOC Offender Locator for current custody confirmation.

Nearby Virginia Cities

Virginia Beach is in the Hampton Roads region, close to several other large independent cities. These pages cover inmate population searches and local custody records.