We are glad you came to this page. We will work hard to help you with your Arlington County Inmate Search. Our aim is to give you the facts you need. We hope this page makes your search clear and easy.
If you wish to start your Arlington County Inmate Search right now, you can visit https://virginiainmaterecords.com/arlington-county-inmate-search/. This site may help you find the person you seek. It is a place to start your quest for data. Check it out if you need quick info. The search can take time. This link might speed it up for you. Use it to see if it has what you need now.
You have ways to find an inmate in this area. The best way will depend on where the person is held. Some are in the care of the local jail. Others are in state care. Some may be in a U.S. run jail.
The Arlington County Sheriff's Office runs the local jail. They may have an online tool to look for folks held there. You can check their site. Or call them to ask how to find out if someone is in their jail. To search, you may need the name of the person. A date of birth or book number can help too. If you find them, you may see a photo. It may list why they are there. It may show the next court date too. You might also see bond facts. The Sheriff's Office is the main place for local jail facts.
The Arlington County Sheriff's Office is key for local inmate data. They keep records of who is in the Arlington County Detention Facility. You can reach them if you have questions. Their main phone is (703) 228-4460. Their main office is at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 9100, Arlington, VA 22201. They handle all parts of the jail. This includes who is in it. They also do courthouse safety. And they serve legal forms. Their staff can guide you on how to best find an inmate in their care. They aim to serve the public well. This makes them a good first stop in your search.
If an inmate is not in the county jail, they may be in a state prison. The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) holds these inmates. You should use the VADOC search if the person was sent to a state place. They have an online tool. Find it at https://vadoc.virginia.gov/general-public/inmate-locator/. To use this, you need some facts. You need at least the first letter of the first name. And you need the full last name. Or, you can use the inmate's VADOC ID number. This is a seven-digit number. The search shows where the inmate is. It may also give a date for when they might get out. Some say it only shows where they are held. So, check the site. For more facts, you may need to ask for them by law.
The VADOC site is a key tool. It holds data for all state run jails in VA. When a court sends a person to state prison, VADOC takes charge. Their site aims to be easy to use. Make sure you type names right. A small change can mean no match. If you do not find the person, they might be in a local jail. Or they might be in a U.S. jail. The VADOC tool will not show those folks. It is just for those in state care. This tool is free to use. You can use it any time.
Some folks are held by the U.S. government. These are federal inmates. This might be if they broke a U.S. law. Or if they were tried in a U.S. court. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) holds them. The BOP has its own inmate search tool. You can find it at https://www.bop.gov/inmates/. Use this if you think the person is in a U.S. jail. You will need their name. Or you can use a BOP register number. This search is for all U.S. jails. It does not list state or county inmates.
To find out more about an inmate's case, you may need other records. These include arrest files and court files. There are ways to get these in Arlington County.
The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) keeps arrest records. You can ask for these from their Records Unit.
Location: 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 2100, Arlington, VA 22201.
Phone: (703) 228-4292.
Fax: (703) 228-4298.
Email: ACPDRecords@arlingtonva.us.
Hours for in-person help: Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Staff can help by phone, mail or email Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
You can ask for these files online. There is a fee for this. You will need to show your ID. You can also ask in person or by mail. You may need to fill out a form. One is the Criminal History Records Information Form (SP-167 or SP-230). The cost is often a $10 fee. There may be more costs if you ask online. This fee is for them to find and give you the files. These records show when a person was held. They show what the charge was. This is not the same as a court file. It is just about the arrest itself.
Court records give facts on what came next after an arrest. The Virginia Judiciary's Online Case Information System has these. You can look for cases by name. Or use a case number. Or use a hearing date. The site will show the date of the crime. It will show if the person is in jail. And where. It lists the case type. It gives the date of arrest. It also shows how the case ended. And it lists all charges. This tool is a good way to track a case. It has data from courts all over VA. Not just Arlington.
You can ask for public records using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This law is often called FOIA. It gives you the right to see most government files.
How to Make a FOIA Request:
Use the Online Portal: Arlington County has a Gov-QA portal.
Mail: FOIA Officer, County Attorney's Office, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 403, Arlington, VA 22201.
Fax: 703-228-7106.
Email: FOIAofficer@arlingtonva.us.
In Person: 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201.
Arlington County FOIA Officer Contact: Rachel Healy. Phone: 703-228-0720. Email: foiaofficer@arlingtonva.us.
Information Specificity and Turnaround Time: You must ask for records with care. Be clear what you need. They should write back in five work days.
Potential Costs: If the cost to find files is more than $200, you may have to pay some first.
Exemptions to FOIA: Some files are not public. These include staff files. Or notes from a lawyer to the county. See the Code of Virginia § 2.2-3700 et seq. for a full list at https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title2.2/chapter37/.
Using FOIA can get you records not found other ways. Be sure to ask for what you need in a clear way. This helps them find it fast. Know that they have five days to say yes or no. Or to ask for more time. If they say no, they must say why. And cite the part of the law that lets them keep it from you. This helps keep government open.
The Arlington County Detention Facility (ACDF) is the local jail. It holds people waiting for trial. It also holds those with short jail times.
Address: The main address for the Sheriff's Office, which runs the jail, is 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 9100, Arlington, VA 22201. Some jail documents mention 1435 N. Courthouse Rd. for the facility itself.
General Phone (Sheriff's Office): 703-228-4460. This is the number for most questions.
The ACDF is part of the Arlington County Justice Center. It is near the courthouse. This makes it easy to move inmates to court. The Sheriff runs the jail. Their staff can help with questions. But they may not give all details by phone. This is to keep inmates safe. And to keep staff safe too. Call them if you need to know where to go for mail. Or for a visit.
Life in jail has rules. Inmates have some ways to keep in touch with the world.
Inmate Mail
All mail sent to inmates goes to a mail scan place. It is not sent right to the jail first.
Mailing Address: Inmate's Name, Global Subject number (also called P number), c/o Securus Digital Mail Center - Arlington County, P.O. Box 952, Lebanon, MO 65536.
Process: Mail is sent to Securus. They scan it. Inmates see it on screens.
Restrictions: No packages. No mail that needs a signature. These are sent back. Mail must be easy to scan. It must not be too big. (No more than 8.5 by 11 inch paper). Non-paper things are sent back.
Legal Mail/Publications: Some mail goes straight to the jail. This is for law mail. Books and like items must come from the shop or store. Not from you. Magazines are not let in. If you send mail and want it back, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. All real mail is gone in 60 days after it is scanned.
This mail scan rule is new in some jails. It is to stop drugs or bad things from getting in. It means mail may take a bit more time. Be sure to use the full mail name and P number. If not, it might be late. Or sent back. This helps keep the jail safe for all.
Inmate Phone Calls
Inmates can make phone calls. But they can not get calls.
System Used: Phones may be run by Securus or a like firm. This is the same group that scans mail and may do video calls.
Call Types: Inmates can make calls that the one who gets it pays for (collect). Or they can use cash from their own jail account (PIN Debit).
Funding Calls: Friends and family can set up an AdvancePay account. This lets an inmate call your phone. Or, you can put cash in an inmate's PIN Debit phone funds.
Restrictions: All calls are recorded. And someone may hear them. This is not so for calls to a lawyer if set up right. Calls have a time limit. This lets all use the phones.
Securus Contact for Questions: For help with phones or video visits, call 1-800-844-6591.
It costs cash for inmates to call. The rates can be high. Know that all they say may be heard by staff. So, be wise in what you talk of. If an inmate has no cash, they may still get some free calls. This is often for calls to their lawyer. Or for a short call to family when first in jail.
Sending Money (Commissary)
Inmates can buy things from a jail store. This is called the commissary. They use cash from their own jail account.
Methods to Send Money:
Electronic: Use the website https://www.smartdeposit.com. You will need the inmate's name. And their Global Subject Number. The Facility Code is DCA. The Pay location code is #5500.
Kiosk: There is a stand in the ACDF front room. You can put cash on an account there. It takes cash, debit cards, or credit cards. You must sign up first. This needs an email, phone number, and driver's ID.
Money Order Drop-off: You can leave a money order in the ACDF front room. Put it in the black box. Make it out to the inmate. Put their Global Subject Number on it. Each money order can not be more than $100.
Account Use: This cash is for the store. They can buy food, soap, stamps. It can also be moved to pay for phone calls.
It is good for an inmate to have some cash in their account. This lets them get things they need. Or want. The jail gives basic things. But the store has more choice. Sending cash this way is the only way they can get it. Do not mail cash or checks.
Visitation (ACDF)
Seeing an inmate in person or by video is key. There are strict rules for visits.
On-Site Personal Visits
These visits take place at the jail.
Scheduling: The inmate must start the ask for a visit. Visits are set by where the inmate lives in the jail.
Frequency: Inmates can get up to two, one-hour visits each month. This can change if there are rule breaks.
Number of Visitors: No more than three people at one time.
Minors: Kids under 18 must have an adult with them.
ID: Adult guests must show a real ID with a photo. Like a driver's license, state ID, military ID, or passport.
Dress Code: You must dress right. No clothes you can see through. No tops that show your gut. No tube tops or tank tops. No short skirts. Wear shoes. Staff can say no if they think you are not dressed right.
Prohibited Items: Do not bring things that can be used to hurt. Or that are a risk to the jail. If you have a baby, you can bring one bottle, one diaper, and one pack of wipes. Use the lockers for your things. Staff will not hold them.
Former Inmates: If you were in ACDF in the last 30 days, you can not visit.
Conduct: Do not go from one booth to the next. Use the phones to talk. These visits are recorded. Do not make a lot of noise. Bad words or acts will end the visit. No guns. No smoking.
Video Visitation
You can also visit by video on a screen.
Provider: Set up an account at www.videoconnectanywhere.com. This is likely a Securus service. They ask for a card on file but it might not charge for basic use.
Frequency: Inmates get two video visits each week. The week starts on Sunday.
Scheduling: The guest sets up the video visit. It is first come, first serve.
Registration: All guests age 18 and up must sign up. They must show a real ID. Staff must say yes to your sign up.
Rules: Only the guest who signed up can be in the video visit. No one else. Do not use a phone or camera to add more people. Staff watch all video visits. Bad acts will end the visit.
Professional Visits
Lawyers and others like them have set times to visit.
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 9 AM to 6 PM. And then from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
ID: Must show a professional ID. Like a bar card or state ID for their job.
Always call the jail or check their website first. Rules for visits can change. It is best to know all rules. This will help make sure your visit goes well. It is a good way to help the one in jail feel connected to the world outside.
Bail is cash paid to a court. It lets a person out of jail while their case goes on. They must show up for all court dates.
A judge sets bail. This often happens at a first court date called an arraignment. The judge looks at many things. Like if the person has been in trouble before. What the new charge is. If they might run off. If they have ties to the area like a job or home. Bail should not be too much. The U.S. Constitution says this in the Eighth Amendment. You can read it at https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-8/.
There are a few ways to pay bail.
Cash Bond: Pay the full bail sum in cash to the court. If the person shows up for all court dates, this cash is given back at the end of the case. Less any fees.
Bail Bond: Get help from a bail bondsman. You pay them a fee. This is often 10% of the full bail. The bondsman then tells the court they will pay the full sum if the person does not show up. This fee is not given back.
Sometimes a person can get out with no cash paid. This is called "released on their own recognizance" (ROR). This is for those with strong ties and not a big risk.
When out on bail, a person must follow rules. The main rule is to show up for all court dates. The judge can add more rules. Like do not leave the state. Or stay away from someone. Or do not have a gun. If they break these rules, bail can be taken back. And they go back to jail.
If a person does not show up for court, they skip bail. This is bad. The court keeps any cash paid for bail. If a bondsman was used, they will look for the person. And for the cash. The court will also put out a new arrest warrant. This means more charges.
Here are some key places for Arlington County inmate search and related matters.
Address: 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 9100, Arlington, VA 22201.
Phone: 703-228-4460.
Responsibilities: Runs the Arlington County Detention Facility. Gives courthouse safety. Serves civil papers.
FOIA Contact (ACSO): acsofoia@arlingtonva.us.
Address: 1425 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, Virginia 22201.
Records Unit Location: Suite 2100 (see prior section for full contact details).
Records Unit Phone: (703) 228-4292.
Location: 1425 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201. (This is the main courthouse address).
Clerk's Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
Phone: (703) 228-7900.
Website: https://vadoc.virginia.gov/
Phone (General): (804) 674-3000.
Website: https://www.arlingtonva.us/ This site has links to many county departments. It is a good place to start to find out more on county services.
These links and phone numbers can help you. They lead to the right place for facts. Things can change, so it is good to check the websites too. Or call to make sure hours or rules are still the same. This helps your search go smoothly.