Find Released Inmates in Albemarle County
Albemarle County released inmates records show who has left the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail and the state prison system. Use this page to look up an inmate, check a release date, or sign up for alerts. The regional jail at 160 Peregory Lane in Charlottesville handles short-term cases. State cases pass through the Virginia Department of Corrections. We list every tool you need to start a search for an Albemarle County released inmate, from the public roster to court files and VINE.
Albemarle County Released Inmates Overview
Albemarle County Sheriff and Released Inmates
The Albemarle County Sheriff is the lead office for local arrest cases. Sheriff Chan Bryant sits on the board of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail along with reps from the City of Charlottesville and Nelson County. The Sheriff's main job is courthouse security, civil process, and inmate transport. Most short-term inmates are held at the regional jail. The jail processes about 13,100 offenders a year. The average daily county-wide inmate population is 655, with a weekly turnover of 55%.
The Sheriff's office sits at 411 East High Street in Charlottesville. The phone is (434) 972-4001. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Albemarle County Police Department is a separate agency, run by Chief Sean Reeves out of 1600 Fifth Street. Police make most arrests, but the Sheriff still owns the records desk and the jail link. Concealed handgun permits flow through the Circuit Court Clerk, not the Sheriff.
The first image is from the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office, the main contact for local cases.
Use this page to find a phone number, mail an FOIA letter, or get help with a court date for an Albemarle County released inmate.
Note: The Sheriff's office and the County Police are two different agencies, so the right contact depends on who made the arrest.
Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail Inmate Search
The regional jail (ACRJ) is a medium-security facility with a rated cap of about 329 inmates. It serves Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and Nelson County. The address is 160 Peregory Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22902. The phone is 434-977-6981 and the desk is staffed 24 hours a day. The roster is updated daily, with some changes every 15 minutes. Pre-trial stays run 30 to 90 days, and short sentences run 30 to 180 days.
To find an Albemarle County released inmate, go to the jail website, click "Current Inmates," and type the last name. Results show the booking photo, the booking date, the charges, the bond, the next court date, and the expected release date. The service is free and runs 24/7. You can also call 434-977-6981 and ask for the records desk. Bring a photo ID for in-person checks.
For state prison cases, use the VADOC offender locator to check on an Albemarle County released inmate. The tool is free and updates each day. For local custody alerts at ACRJ, VINE Link sends free notifications when an inmate's status changes.
Note: Mugshot requests must go in writing to the records custodian at 160 Peregory Lane and can include a request for email delivery.
Albemarle Circuit Court Records
The Clerk of Circuit Court keeps the official file for every felony in Albemarle County. Jon Robert Zug is the current Clerk and the office phone is (434) 972-4083. The court sits at 501 East Jefferson Street in Charlottesville on Court Square. Office hours run 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Use the Virginia Circuit Court case information system to look up a name. Pick Albemarle from the list, then search by name, case number, or hearing date. The data is real time and free. Misdemeanor and traffic cases live with the General District Court instead. Use the vacourts.gov find a case tool for those. Many short jail terms only show up in General District Court.
The General District Court Clerk's desk is at the same building, room 126. The phone is (434) 972-4007. The Commonwealth's Attorney is James M. Hingeley at (434) 972-4072. Court files often hold the sentence length, the conviction date, and any probation terms. That info is the key to setting a release date for an Albemarle County released inmate. You can ask for a certified copy at the records desk for a small fee.
FOIA fees on jail records are set in Virginia Code § 2.2-3704. The agency can charge for copy and staff time but not more than the actual cost.
State Prison Cases for Albemarle County Released Inmates
Albemarle County released inmates who served state time show up in the VADOC inmate locator. The tool covers about 24,000 state inmates in 26 prisons. Search by name or seven-digit Offender ID. The page lists the facility and the projected release date. The locator does not show jail or juvenile cases. The rules on state time live in Virginia Code Title 53.1.
VINE Alerts for Albemarle County Released Inmates
VINE is the free notice tool for victims and the public. Sign up at vinelink.com or call 1-800-467-4943. You pick email, text, or phone. VINE tracks release, transfer, escape, and death. It works for ACRJ and for state prison inmates from Albemarle County. The service is anonymous.
FOIA and Criminal History Records
The Virginia FOIA at § 2.2-3700 lets you ask for jail and Sheriff files. The custodian for ACRJ records is the records desk at 160 Peregory Lane in Charlottesville. The county has five working days to reply. Active criminal investigation files do not have to be shared under § 2.2-3706. For a full criminal history, use the Virginia State Police criminal history check. The fee is $15 per name search.
Other tools to add to your search for an Albemarle County released inmate:
Note: The State Police record check is name-based by default, so two people with the same name can show up in the same return.
Cities and Nearby Counties
Albemarle County wraps around the City of Charlottesville. Charlottesville is an independent city and has its own page in the city section.
City pages near Albemarle: