Tools for a Virginia Inmate Search

The Virginia Department of Corrections is responsible for incarcerating and supervising the convicted criminals of Virginia. These criminals are housed in several correctional facilities throughout the state; the department attempts to ensure a humane, yet cost-effective environment for the offenders.

Although there have been changes in the state laws of Virginia, offenders are still released under some form of supervision once they have completed their incarceration term successfully. Most of these facilities require the offender to perform some amount of community service, and during these times the inmates are often held in half way houses. Offenders housed in such facilities may be on probation or under special supervisory release. The Virginia Department of Corrections attempts to rehabilitate offenders before they become eligible for release; it aims to convert offenders into productive, law-abiding citizens during their terms in correctional facilities.

Conducting an Inmate Search

The official website of the Virginia DOC offers the option of conducting a Virginia inmate search online. This resource can be accessed at http://www.vadoc.virginia.gov/offenders/locator/index.cfm. The search page is self-explanatory; visitors can conduct an inmate search by the special seven-digit DOC number or by the old six-digit inmate number. It is also possible to search by an inmate's name. Entering both the first and last name of the inmate will ensure that he or she appears in the search results. One can also enter the first few characters of the inmate's first name if the full name is not known. The system will return all inmates whose names begin with those letters.

The Virginia Department of Corrections

The database of the Department of Corrections is updated daily. While the DOC makes every effort to keep its data current, you may occasionally find that the Virginia inmate locator does not reflect the latest status of an inmate. This is because legal status, release dates, and other information changes quickly while such adjustments take time to be incorporated into the database. The information that is accessible from this online resource of the Virginia DOC is limited to Virginia state offenders only. If you find that there is incomplete or inaccurate information in the database, you can contact the Offender Management Unit of the Virginia DOC via e-mail at clasrec@vadoc.virginia.gov. Alternatively, you can also mail the department at:

Virginia Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 26963
Richmond, VA 23261-6963

You can call the Department at 804-674-3000. Accessing the online system at http://www.vadoc.virginia.gov/offenders/locator/ will only provide you with information about the inmates housed at present in the various correctional facilities of the state. You should contact the Virginia Police Department if you are interested in obtaining information about a past criminal record.