Fairfax County, Virginia Inmate Search

An inmate search is an inaccessible online tool, typically maintained by a county Sheriff's Office, that provides information on individuals incarcerated in a local county jail, city, or state prison. As of September 2025, the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office does not maintain a public-facing online inmate search.

Requesters seeking information on inmates may use the Sheriff's Office phone system and Virginia's VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) notification service. The contact addresses of the Adult Detention Center and Sheriff's Office are as follows:

How to Find an Inmate in Fairfax County Jail

Since Fairfax County does not have an online inmate search tool, individuals seeking to locate an inmate in the county may contact the Adult Detention Center (ADC) or register for the statewide Virginia VINE service.

Interested parties may call the Fairfax ADC on 703-246-2100 and follow the prompts to reach the inmate information line. Jail staff are usually able to confirm if someone is currently detained in their facility.

Alternatively, requesters may sign up with Virginia VINE for custody checks and alerts. With the service, they may search custody details and register for inmate release or transfer notifications online or by phone.

If the options above do not yield the desired information, call the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office headquarters for assistance at:

How to Use the Fairfax Jail Roster

As of September 2025, the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office does not maintain an online inmate roster or lookup tool for the county jail. However, requesters may obtain inmate information through the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office phone system and the statewide Virginia VINE service.

Fairfax Adult Detention Center (ADC)

• Call the ADC main line: 703-246-2100
• Follow the phone prompts to reach Inmate Information
• Staff may confirm if someone is currently in custody and provide basic status
• Supply the following to find the record quickly:
• Full legal name (and any aliases)
• Date of birth
• Booking/case number (if you have it)
• For next steps (e.g., court dates, video visiting, or sending mail or money), please ask the operator or refer to the ADC information pages.

Virginia VINE

• Visit Virginia VINE (web or mobile) or use the VINE phone option. VINE is the official statewide service for local jail custody status and notifications
• To search for someone, enter the name (add DOB to narrow results), select Fairfax County if prompted to choose a jail jurisdiction.
• Register for notifications (optional but recommended). Choose alert options: phone, text, email, or TTY.
• Create a PIN to confirm or stop notifications.

What Information is Included in the Fairfax Inmate Roster

Fairfax County does not have an online roster like most US counties. Information seekers may obtain inmate information through the Adult Detention Center (ADC) phone line and the Virginia VINE system. Some inmate details available through VINE include:

• Full Name: The inmate's complete official name.
• Custody Status: This information indicates whether the person of interest is currently in custody, has been released, is being transferred, or has escaped.
• Inmate Location (Facility/Jail): identifies which facility (e.g., Fairfax County ADC), but does not go down to the unit or cell for safety reasons.

Contact Details for Fairfax Jail or Sheriff's Office

Individuals searching for inmate information in Fairfax County may contact jail staff or the Sheriff's Office at the following addresses:

Jail Facility Overview in Fairfax

The Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (ADC) was constructed in 1978 and comprises three interconnected structures. The first facility had an initial capacity of 198 and consisted of a single cell with a linear arrangement meant for medium-security detainees. This edifice later became known as the East Building.

In 1987, the Sheriff's Office expanded the Fairfac Adult Detention Center by constructing the North Building. The North Building adds a third and fourth level, increasing ADC capacity to 589. The North Building contains podular accommodation for maximum-security offenders. The West Building, the third and last section of the jail, opened in 2000. It utilizes direct supervision, the most common type of jail accommodation for minimum-security inmates. The ADC has a maximum capacity of 1,260, according to Virginia Department of Corrections guidelines.

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Fairfax County Adult Detention Center

According to the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, available methods of funding inmates' accounts include the following:

• Online Portal via SmartCommunications: Depositors may securely add funds to inmates' accounts via SmartInmate.com.
• On-Site Kiosks: Depositors may send money to inmates via the self-service kiosks located in the ADC lobby, using cash and credit cards.
• Money Safe (Lobby Drop Box): Depositors may send funds to inmates through the money safe located in the ADC lobby (accepts money orders or cashier's checks only; no envelopes, letters, or cash are accepted). Depositors are expected to include the inmate's name, inmate number, and their details.

Note: The ADC does not accept mail-in deposits, except through the money safe method above.

Inmate Search by Jail Facility

Fairfax County does not have a public online jail roster. The Sheriff's Office manages a single detention facility, the Fairfax Adult Detention Center (ADC). As a result, there are no multiple rosters for different facilities.

Interested individuals may obtain inmate custody information through the Sheriff's Office phone system and Virginia's VINE notification service.

Fairfax Visitation Rules and Schedules

In-person visits are no longer available at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. Since August 2021, only scheduled video visits are permitted. People eligible for video visits usually need to book in advance through Smart Communications (SmartJailMail.com). Some of the requirements for video visitation are as follows:

Who Can Visit

• Individuals registered with Smart Communications and approved for video visitation.
• Juvenile visitors accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Personal video visits do not include professional or legal visits. Such visits are arranged separately.

ID or Approval Required

• Visitors are required to create an account on SmartJailMail.com (Smart Communications).
• Visitors are expected to produce a valid government-issued photo ID during registration.
• Only approved visitors are permitted to schedule visits with inmates.

Dress Code and Behavior Expectations

• Visitors are expected to maintain appropriate attire (no offensive, explicit, or revealing clothing).
• Visitors are required to behave respectfully. Abusive language or actions may result in the termination of the session.
• Visitors are expected to sit in a well-lit area, with their faces clearly visible to the camera. The system will block the video if no face is detected.

Video Visitation Duration

• One video visit per day per inmate.
• Sessions may be 15 minutes or 30 minutes long.
• The cost is $0.10 per minute for remote visits.
• On-site lobby kiosk visits are free, but still require advance scheduling.
• When the time expires, the visit ends automatically.
• Visitors cannot resume Sessions that ended prematurely by clicking the End Visit button.

General Days and Hours for Visitation

• Prospective visitors are required to schedule and pay for their visits (via Smart Communications) at least 24 hours ahead of time.
• Approved visitation hours are:
• 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Video visits are available every day, including holidays, as long as the inmate meets the qualification requirements.

Mailing and Commissary Information

As of September 2025, the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office requires all general inmate correspondence to be sent via the county-approved third-party mail vendor, Smart Communications. Friends and family are expected to send mail to incarcerated individuals at the following address:

Personal Mail Requirements

Incoming personal mail is expected to include:

• Inmate's complete legal name and booking/inmate number
• Full return address with sender's first and last name
• Only flat paper items (letters, standard cards, photos, drawings)

Mails Not Allowed

• Cash, personal checks, or money orders
• Packages, magazines, or books (unless from an approved publisher/vendor)
• Bound items like notebooks or books
• Polaroid photos, stickers, glitter, glue, or electronic cards
• Photos larger than 4x6, or more than 10 photos per mailing
• Any content with nudity, violence, or obscenity