Lee County Jail Roster Search
The Lee County jail roster lists people held by the Lee County Sheriff's Office and the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority. Lee County is the westernmost county in Virginia, near the Cumberland Gap. Inmates are held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Duffield. Use this page to look up an inmate, find booking dates, see charges, and learn how to check custody status. Most searches start online. The sheriff's office can also help by phone or in person if you need more details on a Lee County booking.
Lee County Jail Roster Overview
Lee County Sheriff's Office
The Lee County Sheriff's Office runs the local jail roster and books people into custody. It also handles court security, civil process, and inmate transport. Staff post new bookings throughout the day. The sheriff's main office sits in Jonesville, and deputies cover all of Lee County. Contact the office at leecova.org for the most current jail roster and custody information.
You can call or visit during normal hours. Phones are answered 24 hours for jail and emergency matters. The sheriff's office acts under Va. Code § 53.1-120, which sets the duty of the sheriff to operate the local jail and care for inmates.
| Office | Lee County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 33640 Main Street, Jonesville, VA 24263 |
| Phone | (276) 346-7753 |
| Website | leecova.org |
| Jail | Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority |
Note: Call ahead before you visit, since the Lee County Sheriff's Office posts hours and visit rules that change from time to time.
How to Search the Lee County Jail Roster
You can check the Lee County jail roster online or by phone. Most folks start online. The sheriff's office or the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority posts a list of current inmates with names, charges, and booking dates. You can search by full name or partial name. The roster updates many times a day. New bookings show up after they are processed.
If you need more than the basic roster, call the jail. Staff can confirm if a person is in custody. They can give you the next court date and bond amount. Some details are kept private under state law and federal rules. The sheriff's office follows Va. Code § 2.2-3700 and the rest of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act when releasing records.
Things you may need to search:
- Full name or last name of the inmate
- Date of birth if you have it
- Booking number from the sheriff or court
- Approximate date of arrest
Court records can also help. Use the Virginia Court Case Information system at vacourts.gov to find a case by name. The system links each charge to the General District or Circuit Court that handles it.
Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority Jail Roster
Inmates booked in Lee County are usually held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority. This is where most Lee County jail roster lookups end up. The regional jail keeps bookings, charges, bond, and court dates on file. You can find an inmate by name or booking number on the regional jail website.
Regional jails in Virginia operate under Va. Code § 53.1-95.2, which lays out how counties join together to run a shared facility. Each member county sends its own inmates. The jail board oversees daily operations. The Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority also handles intake, classification, medical care, and release.
Note: Regional jail rosters refresh often, so a booking may not show up in the Lee County jail roster for several hours after an arrest.
Statewide Jail Roster Tools
Lee County does not run its own public inmate portal, so most Lee County jail roster lookups go through the regional jail or the statewide court system at vacourts.gov.
The Virginia Court Case Information system links every General District and Circuit Court case to a defendant. It pairs well with the regional jail roster when you track an inmate.
Booking and Inmate Information
When deputies bring a person to jail, they go through booking. Staff take a photo, fingerprints, and basic info. They check for warrants and medical needs. The new inmate is then placed in a holding cell or general housing. The Lee County jail roster entry is created at this point. Most bookings show up online within a few hours.
The standard booking record holds the inmate's name, date of birth, race, sex, height, weight, and booking date. It also lists the charges, the arresting agency, and the bond. Some entries show the next court date. Records of inmate care are kept under Va. Code § 53.1-126, which deals with the sheriff's duty to provide for prisoners.
The Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority tracks each inmate from booking through release. If an inmate is moved to a state prison, the record passes to the Virginia Department of Corrections at vadoc.virginia.gov. The DOC offender locator is the next stop after a state sentence.
Lee County Jail Roster Visitation
The Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority sets visit rules for Lee County inmates. Most regional jails use video visits. Some allow in-person visits by appointment. You must register first. A photo ID is required. Children under 18 need a parent or guardian. The full visit policy is on the jail website.
Visit hours and rules can shift due to staffing or lockdowns. Always check with the sheriff's office or the regional jail before you go. The right to visit is set by Va. Code § 53.1-30, which gives wardens and sheriffs the power to make rules about visitors.
Inmate Mail and Phone
You can send mail to a Lee County inmate at the regional jail address. Use the inmate's full name and booking number. All mail goes through staff review. Cash, contraband, and most photos are not allowed. Many jails now use a mail scanning service. In that case you mail to a third-party processor and they scan the letter to the inmate's tablet.
Phone calls from jail are collect or pre-paid. The inmate calls out using the jail phone system. You cannot call in. Set up an account through the jail's phone vendor to receive calls. Calls are recorded except for legal calls with an attorney. The Virginia State Police at vsp.virginia.gov also keeps statewide arrest data that can help track an inmate.
Bail and Bond in Lee County
After booking, a magistrate sets bond. Some charges allow release on a personal recognizance bond. Others need a cash or surety bond. A bail bondsman can post the bond for a fee. The Lee County jail roster shows the bond amount for most inmates. Bond hearings are held by the General District Court.
Bail rules in Virginia are in Va. Code § 19.2-120. The court looks at flight risk and danger to the public. If denied bond, the inmate can ask for a new hearing. The Compensation Board at scb.virginia.gov oversees jail funding for sheriffs.
Court Records and Cases
Court records and the Lee County jail roster work together. The roster shows custody status. The court file shows the full case. Use the Virginia Judicial System site at vacourts.gov to find a case. You can search by name in the General District Court and Circuit Court systems. Each result links to charges, hearings, and outcomes.
Case files at the courthouse may have police reports, motions, and orders. Some items are sealed. The clerk of court can help you find what is open to the public. The Department of Criminal Justice Services also keeps statewide criminal record info.
Public Records and FOIA
The Lee County jail roster is a public record under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Anyone can look it up. You do not have to give a reason. The sheriff must respond to FOIA requests within five working days. Some records can be withheld, like active investigation files. The full law is at Va. Code § 2.2-3700 et seq..
To file a FOIA request, send a written note to the sheriff's office. List the records you want. Be clear about names and dates. Fees may apply if the request takes a long time. The Virginia FOIA Council can help if you need more info on your rights.
Note: The Lee County Sheriff's Office must reply to a FOIA request within five working days, though some replies may ask for a short extension.
Legal Help and Resources
If you or a loved one is in the Lee County jail roster, legal help is out there. The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission gives free lawyers to people who cannot afford one. Public defenders cover most criminal cases. You can also find help through Virginia Legal Aid at valegalaid.org, which lists local programs that take family, housing, and benefits matters.
The Virginia State Bar at vsb.org runs a lawyer referral service. You can find a private attorney in the Lee County area. Many take cases on a flat fee or hourly basis. For info on inmates moved to a state prison, check the Virginia Department of Corrections at vadoc.virginia.gov.
Reentry help is also worth knowing about. The Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority runs programs for inmates getting out. These cover job training, GED, and substance use treatment. Inmate rights and care standards come from Va. Code § 53.1-32, which sets the rules for inmate treatment in local jails.
Nearby Counties
If your search is not in Lee County, try one of the nearby county jail roster pages below.