Amherst County Released Inmates
Amherst County released inmates records help families and the press find people who have left the Amherst County Adult Detention Center in Madison Heights. Use this page to look up an inmate, check a release date, or sign up for alerts. The detention center is run by the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority and houses inmates from Amherst and several other localities. State prison cases pass through the Virginia Department of Corrections. We list each tool you need to start a fast search for an Amherst County released inmate, from the public roster to court files and VINE.
Amherst County Released Inmates Overview
Amherst County Sheriff Inmate Records
The Amherst County Sheriff's Office is the lead agency for arrests in the county. Sheriff E.W. Viar Jr. runs an 80-person staff. The office address is 115 Taylor Street, P.O. Box 410, Amherst, VA 24521. The phone is (434) 946-9381 and the fax is (434) 946-9380. The Sheriff handles patrol, criminal investigations, courthouse security, civil process, and inmate transport. Most short-term inmates are held at the Amherst County Adult Detention Center in Madison Heights. The Sheriff's office still keeps the local file on each arrest.
The first image is from the official Amherst County government website, which links to each constitutional officer.
Use this page to find phone numbers and addresses for the Sheriff, the Clerk, and the FOIA officer of an Amherst County released inmate file.
Amherst County Adult Detention Center Roster
The Amherst County Adult Detention Center sits at 384 Tinsley Lane, Madison Heights, VA 24572. The phone is (434) 847-1300. The facility opened in fall 2011 and cost $48 million. It spans 170,000 square feet on a 23.5-acre site. The center holds 380 male and female inmates, with a core designed for 460. It was the first LEED Silver certified facility for the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority. The center replaced the older Amherst and Appomattox jails plus the inmate camp in Moneta. Both Amherst County and Appomattox County send inmates here. Sheriff Viar Jr. and the Sheriff of Appomattox both serve on the BRRJA board.
To find an Amherst County released inmate, use the inmate locator on the BRRJA website. Search by name or inmate number. Results show the booking photo, charges, bond, and the next court date. The roster updates regularly. The Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority headquarters sits at 510 Ninth Street, Lynchburg, Virginia 24504. The main phone is 434-847-3100. BRRJA serves Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, Halifax, and Pittsylvania counties, plus the City of Lynchburg.
Note: The Sheriff's office and the regional jail are two different entities, so call the jail at (434) 847-1300 for current custody status and the Sheriff for arrest records.
Amherst Circuit Court Released Inmates Records
Felony case files for Amherst County released inmates live with the Clerk of Circuit Court. Deborah Mozingo is the Clerk and her email is dmozingo@vacourts.gov. The court sits at 113 Taylor Street, P.O. Box 462, Amherst, VA 24521. The phone is (434) 946-9321 and the fax is (434) 946-9323. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court is part of the 24th Judicial Circuit. Terms of court begin the second Tuesday of February, April, June, October, and December. The grand jury meets the first day of each term.
The next image comes from the Virginia Courts page for Amherst Circuit Court.
The page above lists clerk hours, judges, and the case search link for an Amherst County released inmate file.
Use the Virginia Circuit Court case information system and pick Amherst from the list. You can search by name, case number, or hearing date. Criminal cases use the prefix CR. The data is real time and free. For misdemeanor or traffic cases, use the General District Court case search. The Amherst General District Court phone is (434) 946-9351 and the address is 113 Taylor Street, P.O. Box 513, Amherst, VA 24521. Many short jail terms end here and never make it to the state offender locator.
State Prison Cases for Amherst Released Inmates
If a person from Amherst County was sent to state prison, the case moves to the Virginia Department of Corrections. The VADOC offender locator covers about 24,000 state inmates in 26 facilities. Type the first letter of the first name and the full last name, or use the seven-digit Offender ID. The tool gives the facility, the projected release date, and the offender status. It is free and updates each day. The rules for state time live in Virginia Code Title 53.1. Section 53.1-24 makes the Director keep a register of every prisoner. Section 53.1-28 lets the Director discharge a prisoner up to 30 days early.
VINE Alerts for Amherst 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. Pick email, text, or phone. VINE works for the Amherst County Adult Detention Center and for state prison inmates from Amherst County. The service is anonymous. The Amherst County released inmate is not told that someone is watching. Use VINE for fast news the moment a release happens.
FOIA for Amherst County Released Inmates
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act lets you ask for jail records. The law lives at Virginia Code § 2.2-3700. Send Sheriff record requests to the Amherst County Sheriff's Office at 115 Taylor Street, Amherst, VA 24521 or call (434) 946-9381. Send jail record requests to the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority at 510 Ninth Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504. The county has five working days to reply. Active criminal investigation files do not have to be shared, per § 2.2-3706.
Records that may be released include the current inmate roster, booking info, mugshots, charges, bond amounts, and expected release dates. Records that are held back include juvenile files, medical files, witness names, and personnel files. Read both sections before you draft a FOIA letter for an Amherst County released inmate.
Note: Most arrest reports and case files are public, but the Sheriff can withhold parts that would jeopardize an active case.
Criminal History and Other Resources
The Virginia State Police criminal history check is the formal way to get a full record. The fee is $15 per name search. Add the sex offender registry for $5 more. Use form SP-167 and mail it to the State Police in Richmond. Turnaround is about 15 business days. Juvenile records are not given out except in narrow cases listed under Virginia Code § 19.2-389.1. For sex offender data, use the Virginia Sex Offender Registry.
Other tools to add to your search for an Amherst County released inmate:
- VADOC Offender Locator
- VINE Link for release alerts
- Circuit Court Case Information
Cities and Nearby Counties
Amherst County borders the City of Lynchburg, which has its own page on this site for city-specific records help.
City pages near Amherst:
Nearby counties: Bedford, Campbell, Appomattox, Nelson, Rockbridge.