Caroline County Inmate Population

The Caroline County inmate population is managed by the Caroline County Sheriff's Office, which operates the county jail in eastern Virginia between Richmond and Fredericksburg. Caroline County also has a VADOC facility on its own soil: the Caroline Correctional Unit, which houses state-sentenced inmates. This page covers how to search for someone in Caroline County custody, how Virginia VINE provides live custody alerts, where the Rappahannock Regional Jail fits in, and how to file a records request with the county or VADOC.

Caroline County Sheriff and Jail

The Caroline County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and keeps all inmate custody records. Under Virginia Code § 53.1-31, the sheriff is the keeper of all records on persons held in the facility. Booking logs, charge sheets, bond information, and court dates are all on file. Call the sheriff's office or check VINE to confirm whether someone is currently in the county jail.

People held before trial or serving twelve months or less remain at the county jail. Those sentenced to more than twelve months are transferred to VADOC custody. For Caroline County, that often means the Caroline Correctional Unit, which is actually located in the county itself. The two facilities are separate, though, and operate under different agencies.

Below is a view of the Caroline County Sheriff's Office website, the starting point for any local inquiry about the inmate population in the county.

The sheriff's office page has contact information, links to jail services, and information on how to submit records requests for the Caroline County inmate population.

Search Caroline Inmate Population on VINE

Virginia VINE covers Caroline County Jail and runs 24 hours a day. Search by name at vavine.org or at vinelink.com. You can also call 1-800-467-4943. VINE is free and anonymous. No account required for a basic search.

Register for alerts if you want to be notified of any custody change. VINE covers release, transfer, escape, recapture, and death. Notifications go out by phone, text, email, or TTY, depending on what you choose when you sign up. VINE does not cover VADOC state prisons. If the person moved to the Caroline Correctional Unit or another VADOC facility, you need the VADOC system for state prison alerts.

Caroline Correctional Unit and VADOC Eastern Region

The Caroline Correctional Unit is a VADOC facility located at 31285 Camp Road, Hanover, VA 23069, phone (804) 994-2161. It is part of the VADOC Eastern Region. The unit houses state-sentenced inmates, not pre-trial detainees. People at this facility are serving sentences longer than twelve months and are under state custody, not county custody.

To search for someone at the Caroline Correctional Unit or any other state facility, use the VADOC Offender Locator. Enter the last name and first initial. Results show inmate ID, current facility, age, and projected release date. If someone from Caroline County is not at the local unit, they may be at another Eastern Region facility such as Greensville Correctional Center or Sussex State Prison. See the VADOC facilities directory for the full list with phone numbers.

The Rappahannock Regional Jail at rrjva.org is another option. That facility serves Caroline and surrounding counties for people who need regional-level housing. It falls between the county jail and state prison in terms of capacity and services.

Court Records for Caroline County Inmates

The Virginia Judicial System lets you search Circuit and General District Court cases at no cost. Look up cases by name to see charges, dates, and final disposition. The Clerk of Circuit Court in Bowling Green holds paper records for all criminal cases tried in Caroline County.

Court files and jail files are separate records kept by separate offices. The clerk has the sentencing order. The sheriff has the booking records. Pull from both if you need the full story. For your own criminal history record, submit a written request to the Virginia State Police under § 19.2-389 at P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23261-5076. The FOIA Officer is at 804-674-2642.

Caroline County Inmate Records Requests

Under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq., any Virginia resident can request jail logs, booking sheets, charge lists, and custody records from the county. Requests must be in writing. The county has five business days to respond. Some records are exempt: active investigation files, personnel records, and records of juveniles.

Under § 2.2-3703(C), inmates themselves cannot file FOIA requests with the facility that holds them. If a request is denied and you believe it should not be, contact the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council at (804) 698-1810 or toll-free 1-866-448-4100. For state inmate files, VADOC Central Records is at 6900 Atmore Drive, Richmond, VA 23225, phone (804) 674-3000.

Victim Notification in Caroline County

For local jail inmates, register at vavine.org. For people in VADOC state custody, sign up with VADOC Victim Services at 1-804-674-3243. VADOC sends 30-day advance release notice and alerts for parole decisions, escapes, and transfers. VINE and VADOC's system work side by side, so you can register with both to cover the full custody timeline.

Cities in Caroline County

Caroline County has no qualifying independent cities within its borders. The county seat is Bowling Green, an unincorporated community. Nearby qualifying cities include Fredericksburg, which is an independent city to the north with its own sheriff's office and inmate population records separate from Caroline County.

Nearby Counties

If the person you are looking for may have been booked in a neighboring county, check these pages.