About VBCC

Inmates Walking in Line

With an average daily population of 1,000 inmates, the Virginia Beach Correctional Center is one of the largest city jails in Virginia. The jail is responsible for pre-trial inmates and inmates serving misdemeanor sentences of a year or less, as well as inmates awaiting transfer to the Virginia Department of Corrections. The Sheriff’s Office provides for the security and care of inmates committed to the Correctional Center, including meals, medical and mental health care, visitation, education services, rehabilitative programs and work opportunities. Operating the Correctional Center and providing related functions comprise the largest portion of Sheriff’s Office operations and account for more than 75% of its $48 million annual budget.

In addition to Correctional Operations, the Sheriff’s Office also provides inmate booking, record-keeping and classification, maintenance of the jail and a Criminal Intelligence Unit that investigates and prosecutes any criminal activity that occurs within the facility. The VBSO Criminal Intelligence Unit and K9 Unit also assist with local, state and federal investigations.

The Virginia Beach Correctional Center routinely earns perfect scores on audits and inspections conducted by independent state and federal agencies, which critique nearly every aspect of operations, most importantly the safety, security and health of the facility. These include the:

  • Virginia Department of Corrections Life, Health and Safety inspection, an unannounced annual inspection to ensure compliance with 50+ standards pertaining to the health and safety of inmates housed in the Virginia Beach Correctional Center;
  • Virginia Department of Corrections three-year audit, a planned triennial audit evaluating 160 standards covering everything from use of force to fire safety (auditors review records, tour the jail and interview inmates and staff);
  • U.S. Department of Justice Prison Rape Elimination Act audit, a scheduled audit to evaluate compliance with federal requirements — outlined in 43 standards — designed to protect prisoners from sexual abuse and ensure any allegations of sexual assault or harassment in lockups are reported and investigated; and
  • U.S. Marshals Service facility inspection, an annual inspection to ensure standards are met for holding federal prisoners taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.