VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – About 45 inmates will have an opportunity to connect directly with local employers and community resources during the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office (VBSO) Inmate Job Fair on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 9 a.m. to noon.
The job fair, the fourth hosted by the VBSO in recent years, will take place in the Indoor Recreation Yard at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center, 2501 James Madison Blvd. The event is coordinated through VBSO Inmate Reintegration and Modified Incarceration Programs and will feature private-sector and City of Virginia Beach employers, along with organizations offering resources to help inmates preparing to return to the community.
Inmates housed in the jail’s general population are eligible to participate. Priority is typically given to inmates within 90 days of release, although inmates with longer periods remaining on their sentences may also attend.
Participating inmates will be able to move among the employer and resource tables and speak directly with representatives of their choosing. Depending on the participating organization, inmates may also have an opportunity to complete applications or participate in interviews. No job offers will be made during the fair.
Employment opportunities represented at the event will primarily include customer service, utilities, and public works-related positions. Resource organizations will also provide information and assistance that inmates can use as they transition back into the community.
“This job fair is about giving people an opportunity to leave our jail with resources, connections, and a better chance to succeed,” said Sheriff Rocky Holcomb. “A steady job provides more than a paycheck. It provides stability, responsibility, and a sense of purpose. By connecting inmates with employers and community resources while they are still here, we can help them begin thinking about what comes next and what they need to build a stable life after incarceration.”
VBSO has held inmate job fairs annually, with more than 50 inmates participating in each of the previous events. The number of employers and resource organizations participating has continued to grow since the first fair.
The goal is not necessarily for inmates to leave the event with a job waiting for them, but rather to introduce them to potential employers, career opportunities and resources they can pursue after release.
“We know that returning to the community can come with significant challenges, and finding employment is one of them,” Holcomb said. “We want to give inmates tools and opportunities they can use to move forward. When someone can find employment, establish stability, and support themselves and their family, they have a stronger foundation for making better choices and staying out of jail. That’s good for them, and it’s good for public safety.”
The Oct. 15 event is part of VBSO’s broader focus on preparing inmates for successful reentry through educational, vocational, and rehabilitative programming at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center.
Employers and organizations interested in participating in current or future VBSO inmate job fairs may contact Sgt. Jess Thomson at jthomson@vbso.net or757-385-4470.
Members of the news media interested in covering the Oct. 15 job fair should contact Lt. Tim Grindle at tgrindle@vbso.net or 757-385-4203. Inmate interviews may be available during the event depending on participation and inmate consent.
About the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office
The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office is responsible for operating the Virginia Beach Correctional Center, providing courthouse and courtroom security, serving civil process, and supporting community engagement initiatives throughout the City of Virginia Beach.