Arlington County, Virginia Inmate Search

An inmate search allows members of the public to find information about someone in custody at a jail or correctional institution. In particular, Arlington County inmate searches are queries to the local detention facility or jail run by the Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division for bail, charge, status, or other public information about a jail inmate.

While inmate inquiries in Arlington can be made directly (i.e., by calling, emailing, or visiting the jail or the Corrections Division), the county also provides a free online tool to access inmate information.

It is important to note that Arlington County inmate searches are limited to the single detention facility within Arlington County. All adults arrested within the county are transported directly to the county jail facility for processing; there are no independent municipal jails. Juveniles are processed through an entirely separate system.

For individuals transferred to state custody following a conviction, the appropriate agency is the Virginia Department of Corrections, which handles all state correctional facilities. Conversely, to find information on federal inmates, one should contact the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

How to Find an Inmate in Arlington County Jail

Members of the public generally have these options for locating an inmate in the Arlington County Jail, formally referred to as the Arlington County Detention Facility (ACDF):

• Contact the jail directly, or
• Access the jail’s online Inmate Search Query application, or jail roster

The ACDF is located at 1435 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201.

Individuals seeking information about Arlington County inmates via formal VFOIA requests or wishing to provide care information can also contact the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO).

1425 North Courthouse Road

Suite 9100, Arlington, VA 22201

How to Use the Arlington County Jail Roster

The Arlington County jail roster is hosted as a public search interface on the county sheriff’s website. This roster can be accessed and searched as follows:

• Navigate to the "Corrections" section on the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office website, then click on the link titled "Click Here to Learn about our Corrections Division."
• On the following page, select "Inmate Search Query." This action loads the search application.
• Enter a name, subject number, booking number, booking date range, or housing facility. Users can also narrow the results to show only individuals presently in custody.
• From the results list (which displays full names, photographs, and subject numbers), select the search subject’s name for more detailed information.

What Information is Included in the Arlington County Inmate Roster

Members of the public can access inmate information in Arlington County under Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA). This law provides widespread access to records related to government functions and activities.

To this end, the following information can be viewed by anyone on the Arlington County Inmate Search Query portal (i.e., the county’s online jail roster).

• Demographic Information: The inmate’s full name, subject number, and mugshot and its corresponding timestamp (date and time the inmate was photographed during the booking process following an arrest).
• Booking History: The inmate’s booking number, booking date and time, bond type, and total bond amount.
• Charge and Court Information:
  • Charges: The specific charges associated with the crime or arrest and scheduled to be heard in court.
  • Court Hearing Details: The court date and time for each charge, and the court handling the case.
  • Charge Number and Description: The precise number of charges (1, 2, 3, etc.) and a short description of each one. For example, Fail to Appear on Misdemeanor Charge.
  • Offense Date: The exact date and time when a criminal act was perpetrated.
  • Docket Number: A distinct identifier assigned by the clerk’s office of the presiding court to track the resulting legal proceedings.
  • Sentence Date and Length: The date on which the court sentenced the individual and the specified duration of their incarceration.
  • Disposition and Disposition Date: The "Disposition Date" field indicates the date a final decision was reached for charges that did not result in an incarceration sentence. Meanwhile, the "Disposition" column shows the method of disposition (for example, nolle prosequi, court-ordered release, dismissed)

Note that the information disseminated through the Arlington County Inmate Search Query portal is strictly classified as "public." While the VFOIA ensures public access to inmate records, it excludes any information made confidential by statute or judicial order. Examples of exempt records include juvenile information and an inmate’s protected health data.

Contact Details for Arlington County Jail or Sheriff’s Office

Individuals who desire to contact staff at the Arlington County Jail or the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office regarding an inmate can use the following details:

Arlington County Detention Facility

1435 North Courthouse Road

Arlington, VA 22201

Phone: (703) 228-4470

Arlington County Sheriff’s Office

1425 North Courthouse Road

Suite 9100, Arlington, VA 22201

Phone: (703) 228-4460

Email: sheriff@arlingtonva.us

Jail Facility Overview in Arlington County

The Arlington County Detention Facility is the county’s sole jail facility, where all adult arrestees (males and females) are initially taken for booking/processing. Designed as a minimum to maximum security facility with a general capacity of 710 inmates, the jail serves individuals charged with various crimes-from minor offenses like petty larceny to serious offenses such as first-degree murder.

The facility’s population consists of pre-trial detainees (including some facing federal charges), persons awaiting sentencing, and those serving sentences of up to 12 months for misdemeanor convictions. Additionally, the facility houses some state-sentenced inmates in accordance with Va. Code. Ann. §§ 53.1-20.1 and 53.1-21(B). The detention facility’s average daily population is approximately 300 inmates. In 2024, an average of 364 inmates were housed at the facility each day. The age range of the jail’s inmate population is 18 to 75.

Separate from the Arlington County Jail system, the county accommodates juveniles at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center (NVJDC). This facility is operated by the County of Arlington, the City of Alexandria, and the City of Falls Church through the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Commission and is regulated by the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). The NVJDC has a rated capacity of 70 beds and detains youths as ordered by the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court or the Circuit Court.

Agency	Office and Mail Address	Phone Number	Office Hours	Email
Arlington County Detention Facility	1435 North Courthouse Road Arlington, VA 22201	(703) 228-4470	24 hours a day, 7 days a week	No direct email address, but inmate inquiries can be addressed to the county sheriff’s office at sheriff@arlingtonva.us.
Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center	200 South Whiting Street Alexandria, VA 22304	(703) 751-3700	24 hours a day, 7 days a week	webadmin@jdcnv.org

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Arlington County Detention Facility

Funds/money can be deposited into an inmate’s commissary account at the Arlington County Detention Facility, enabling them to purchase items from the commissary. These funds can also be transferred to the Inmate Telephone System for making calls to vetted numbers.

To deposit money to an inmate at the Arlington County Detention Facility, individuals can complete an electronic transfer on the jail’s approved vendor’s website. These details will be required:

• The inmate’s name
• Global Subject Number (or P number), which can be found using the Arlington County Inmate Search Query system
• Facility code (i.e., DCA), and
• Pay location code (i.e., #5500)

The following on-site options are also available:

• Deposit money at the kiosk in the ACDF’s lobby. Cash, debit card, and credit card are accepted, but account registration is necessary. Details required for registration include an email address, phone number, and driver’s license.
• Deposit money orders in the black box at the ACDF’s lobby. The inmate’s name and their Global Subject Number must be provided for successful processing.

Inmate Search by Jail Facility

To find an inmate in the Arlington County Detention Facility, individuals can access the facility’s online Inmate Search Query application, as previously detailed.

However, information about youths held at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center is confidential by Virginia law (Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-301). Under state law, juvenile records are protected from disclosure to unauthorized persons. In other words, access is restricted to authorized parties, such as court officials, parents or legal guardians, the juvenile’s counsel, treatment and service providers, and court-ordered parties.

Agency	Availability of Public Inmate Search	How to Access Information	Limitations/Notes
Arlington County Detention Facility	Yes	Online using the Inmate Query application on the Arlington County Sheriff’s Corrections Division’s website.	Confidential information is not released to the public.
Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center	No	Contact the facility.	Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-301 restricts the dissemination of juvenile records to unauthorized persons.

Arlington County Visitation Rules and Schedules

The rules and schedule for visiting an inmate at the Arlington County Detention Facility vary based on the type of visitor (legal/professional or personal), the preferred method of visitation (online/video or on-site), and the inmate’s housing unit.

On-Site Personal Visits

The day/time schedule for on-site visits from family and friends is Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On-site visits are initiated by the inmate and scheduled based on the inmate’s housing unit. Inmates are permitted up to 2 one-hour visits per month, provided no restrictions are imposed, such as being on disciplinary segregation for less than 15 days.

Inmates are permitted a maximum of three visitors, who must be pre-approved by being listed on the inmate’s request sheet. All adult visitors are required to present an unexpired government-issued identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, government ID (including date of birth), or a DMV-issued ID. Visitors who are minors (under 18 years of age) must be accompanied by an adult.

All visitors are required to adhere to the jail’s standards for dressing and conduct and are subject to a search of their person and belongings.

Online (Remote Video) Personal Visits

The following time slots are available for personal video visits to an Arlington County inmate:

• 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Friends and family members can schedule up to two 20-minute video visits per week with inmates. These visits must be booked through the jail’s private service provider, which requires prior registration. All personal video calls are monitored and recorded, and visitors are required to maintain proper attire and appropriate behavior throughout the call.

For information about legal/professional visits, as well as the complete visitation rules for the Arlington County Jail, one can review the ACDF Rules and Regulations manual (Spanish version).

Mailing and Commissary Information

To send personal mail to inmates at the Arlington County Jail, individuals must comply with the facility’s specific guidelines. The jail itself does not directly manage this service; instead, it outsources the service to a third-party vendor. Mail routed to this vendor is digitally scanned and then made accessible to inmates for viewing on their personal tablets or shared kiosks. Generally, any mail that cannot be scanned will be returned to the sender. Detailed instructions for mailing items, including the correct inmate mailing address format, are outlined on the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office Send Mail and Packages page.

The ACDF only directly accepts legal mail and publications sent by a publisher, distributor, or authorized retailer (excluding magazines). For more information, one can contact the jail at (703) 228-4470.

Guidelines for depositing funds into an Arlington County inmate’s commissary account are outlined in the "How to Send Money to an Inmate in Arlington County Detention Facility" heading above.