Inmate Population in Highland County
The Highland County inmate population is held at the county jail in Virginia's Allegheny Highlands region. Highland is one of the least-populated counties in Virginia, and the Sheriff's Office handles all local custody and inmate records. You can check current inmates through Virginia VINE, call the Sheriff directly, or use the VADOC offender locator for people serving state sentences. This page covers how to find someone in the Highland County jail, how VINE works for this small rural facility, what VADOC handles for longer sentences, and how to request records under Virginia FOIA.
Highland County Quick Facts
Highland County Sheriff and Jail Inmate Population
The Highland County Sheriff's Office is the agency that operates the local jail and holds custody records for the county. Anyone arrested in Highland County goes through this office. Under Virginia Code § 53.1-31, the sheriff is the legal custodian of all records on people held in the county jail. That covers booking sheets, charge records, bond information, and release paperwork. For current phone numbers, office hours, and mailing address, contact the Highland County government offices in Monterey.
Highland County is a very rural county. The local jail is small compared to facilities in more populated counties. For pre-trial detainees and people serving sentences of up to twelve months, the Sheriff's Office is the right contact. For sentences over twelve months, the person transfers to VADOC within sixty days of the final sentencing order. The Sheriff can confirm whether a specific person has already moved to state custody.
Because Highland County shares a judicial circuit with Bath County, some case processing may involve neighboring county courts. Highland County falls under the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit. Court records for cases in Highland County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Monterey. For active custody questions, always start with the Sheriff's Office.
Note: Highland County is one of the smallest counties in Virginia by population. For small facility inquiries, calling the Sheriff directly is often faster than online searches.
Highland County Inmate Population Through VINE
Virginia VINE is available for Highland County. The facility takes part in the statewide VINE system. Go to vinelink.com, pick Virginia, and select Highland County Jail as the facility. The search shows current custody status. It is free and available around the clock, which is useful for a county where the Sheriff's Office may not have extended business hours.
You can also register for VINE alerts. If the person you are watching is released, transferred, escapes, or dies in custody, you get a notification by phone, email, text, or TTY. The service is anonymous. No name required to run a search. Call VINE at 1-800-467-4943 for phone-based status checks, or go to vavine.org for the Virginia portal.
VINE does not cover state prisons. Once someone moves from the Highland County jail to a VADOC facility, use the VADOC Offender Locator to continue the search. VINE handles only local and regional jail populations.
Highland County and VADOC Western Region Inmate Population
Highland County is in the VADOC Western Region. State-sentenced inmates from Highland County with more than twelve months go into Western Region facilities. Those include Augusta Correctional Center, Bland Correctional Center, Cold Springs Work Center, Green Rock Correctional Center, Keen Mountain Correctional Center, Marion Correctional Treatment Center, Red Onion State Prison, River North Correctional Center at (276) 773-2518, and Wallens Ridge State Prison. Classification results determine the actual facility based on security level, medical needs, and other factors.
VADOC runs Probation and Parole offices throughout the region. For Highland County cases, the nearest district office handles supervised releases. You can view all VADOC Western Region facilities and offices on the VADOC facilities and offices page. To find someone in state custody, use the VADOC Offender Locator. Enter the last name and at least one letter of the first name. Results show inmate ID, current facility, and projected release date.
Note: State inmates from Highland County typically go to VADOC Western Region facilities. Augusta Correctional Center is the closest major facility.
Highland County Court Records and Inmate Files
Court records and jail records are two different things. The Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps the case file with the charge, plea, verdict, and sentencing order. The Sheriff holds the jail record tracking bookings, custody changes, and releases. For the full picture on someone in the Highland County inmate population, pull both sets.
The Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System lets you search Circuit and General District Court cases by name at no cost. Fees apply only for printed copies. Highland County falls under the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit. Cases appear in the state system after the clerk enters them.
For a full criminal history check, the Virginia State Police runs the Central Criminal Records Exchange under Virginia Code § 19.2-389. Visit the Virginia State Police records page for forms and instructions. Send requests to P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23261-5076.
Requesting Highland County Inmate Population Records
Basic inmate information in Highland County is public under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq., Virginia residents can request jail logs, booking sheets, charges, and custody status without giving a reason. Agencies have five business days to respond, with up to seven extra days for complex requests.
Some records are exempt. Active investigation files, personnel records, and attorney-client material can be withheld. Inmates themselves cannot use FOIA to get records under § 2.2-3703(C). If a request is denied or delayed, the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council can help at foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov or (804) 698-1810, toll-free at 1-866-448-4100.
For state inmate file requests, direct FOIA inquiries to VADOC Central Records at 6900 Atmore Drive, Richmond, VA 23225, phone (804) 674-3000.
Victim Notification for Highland County Inmates
If you are a crime victim and want custody alerts for a Highland County inmate, VINE is the main tool. Register at vavine.org or call 1-800-467-4943. VINE sends notifications for releases, transfers, escapes, and deaths in custody. The service is free and private.
For state prison inmates, VADOC's NAAVI system handles victim notifications. When someone moves from the Highland County jail to a state prison, VADOC takes over. Register through the VADOC Victim Services page or call 1-804-674-3243. VADOC provides 30-day advance notice of release for qualifying cases and updates for parole hearings. VINE covers local jails. NAAVI covers state prisons. If the case could move between systems, sign up for both.
The VADOC facilities page lists every Western Region prison where Highland County state-sentenced inmates may be held.
From this page you can find the address and phone number for any VADOC facility that might house a state-sentenced inmate from Highland County.
Cities Near Highland County
Highland County does not contain or border any independent cities that meet the qualifying population threshold for separate city pages on this site. The nearest qualifying city is Staunton in Augusta County to the east. For statewide inmate population searches, use the tools on this page or the state-level resources linked throughout.
Nearby Counties
Highland County borders several Allegheny Highlands and Shenandoah Valley counties. For records in neighboring jurisdictions, visit their county pages.