Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
Independent records-search resource. This website is not a government agency, police department, sheriff's office, jail, prison or courthouse. Search coverage varies by source and jurisdiction. Some links may lead to third-party services, and compensation may be received when a partner service is used.
Find the Right Roanoke Jail Inmate Record
The first step in a Roanoke jail inmate search is choosing the correct jurisdiction. Roanoke City and Roanoke County are separate Virginia localities and they use different jail-search systems. Roanoke City operates the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center, while Roanoke County uses the Roanoke County/Salem Jail in Salem and may also use the Western Virginia Regional Jail.
If you searched for a “Roanoke City jail inmate search” but the arrest actually happened in Roanoke County, Salem, or another nearby jurisdiction, searching only the City resident database can produce no result even when the person is still incarcerated.
Information reviewed: October 18, 2026. Custody, bond, visitation and vendor information can change, so use the linked official system for the final live check.
Roanoke City Jail vs. Roanoke County Jail
This distinction matters more than the wording of the Google search. Roanoke became an independent city in 1884, so a Roanoke City arrest is not the same jurisdiction as Roanoke County. Salem is also an independent city, although the local facility is commonly called the Roanoke County/Salem Jail.
| Situation | Facility/system to check | Official search |
|---|---|---|
| Person is held by Roanoke City | Roanoke City Adult Detention Center (RCDC) | Resident Search |
| Person is held in the Roanoke County/Salem local jail | Roanoke County/Salem Jail, 401 E Main Street, Salem | Inmate Inquiry |
| Person may have been moved to the regional jail | Western Virginia Regional Jail, 5885 W River Road, Salem | WVRJ Inmate Lookup |
| Person has transferred into Virginia state custody | Virginia Department of Corrections | VADOC Locator |
How to Search the Roanoke City Jail Roster
The Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office calls incarcerated people residents, so its official tool is labeled “Resident Search” rather than “Inmate Search.” It is the correct starting point for someone believed to be housed at the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center.
- Open the official Roanoke City Resident Search.
- Enter the resident’s first name and last name.
- Select the matching result carefully. Common names should be checked against every available identifying detail.
- Open the resident record. The public interface includes sections for resident details, bond details and charge details.
- Use the charge information as a jail record, not as the final court disposition. For an amended charge, hearing or case status, check the Virginia court system.
How to Search Roanoke County/Salem Jail
Roanoke County provides a more detailed public inmate inquiry. The search screen accepts several identifiers, which is useful when two people have similar names.
- Open the Roanoke County Inmate Inquiry.
- Search by name, subject number or booking number.
- If needed, use the In Custody filter to narrow the results.
- You can also use booking-from and booking-to dates or the housing-facility filter when you know approximately when the person was booked.
- Open the correct record and compare the available identifying and booking information before acting on bond, mail or visitation details.
What to Do if the Inmate Does Not Appear
A blank result does not automatically mean the person was never arrested or has been released. Work through the likely custody path before relying on a third-party people-search site.
| Possible reason | What to do |
|---|---|
| The arrest just happened | Booking may still be processing. Check the same official system again and contact the jail if the information is urgent. |
| You searched Roanoke City instead of County | Run the name through the Roanoke County Inmate Inquiry. |
| You searched County instead of City | Run the name through Roanoke City’s Resident Search. |
| The person was moved to a regional jail | Search Western Virginia Regional Jail. It serves Roanoke County, Franklin County, Montgomery County and the City of Salem. |
| The person received a state sentence or transfer | Use the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate & Supervisee Locator. |
| The person was released | Current-custody searches may no longer display the person. Use the appropriate Virginia court record to follow the criminal case. |
| Name spelling is wrong | Try the legal surname, middle name or initial, suffix and any known alternate legal spelling. |
When to check Western Virginia Regional Jail
The Western Virginia Regional Jail is located at 5885 West River Road in Salem and primarily serves Roanoke County, Montgomery County, Franklin County and the City of Salem. Its public inmate lookup is separate from the Roanoke City Resident Search.
This is particularly important for a Roanoke County search because someone can be in the broader local correctional system without appearing where you first expected.
Booking, Bond, Charges and Release Information
Users often search “Roanoke jail roster” because they need more than confirmation of custody. The practical questions are usually: what are the charges, is bond available, which facility is holding the person, and what should the family do next?
The public resident interface includes resident details and separate bond and charge sections. Charge records can include an offense date, code and charge description.
The Inmate Inquiry can be searched by name, subject number, booking number, custody status, booking dates and housing facility.
A bond amount shown in a jail system does not guarantee immediate release. Another hold, court order, warrant, processing requirement or change in bond status can affect release. Confirm a time-sensitive bond question with the jail, court or magistrate before making a payment.
A booking record also does not establish guilt. Charges may be changed, dismissed or resolved later by the court.
How to Verify Court Dates and Updated Charges
Once you identify the correct person in a jail roster, use the Virginia Court System case-information page when you need the court side of the case. General District Court records can be searched by locality and may be searched by name, case number or hearing date.
Roanoke, VA 24016-5007
Traffic/Criminal: 540-853-2767 or 540-853-2361
Clerk hours: 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Salem, VA 24153-0997
Phone: 540-387-6168
Clerk hours: 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Use the jail roster to answer “Where is the person now?” and the court system to answer questions such as “What is the current case status, hearing date or amended charge?”
Visiting a Roanoke Jail Resident or Inmate
Roanoke City Adult Detention Center
The Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office provides both video visitation and in-person visitation information. Its currently published in-person schedule lists:
- Adult visitation: Tuesday, 7:30 PM-9:30 PM.
- Children’s visitation: Saturday, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM.
- Video visitation: provided through ViaPath; verify the available session schedule before booking.
Use the official RCDC detention-center page immediately before planning a visit because schedules can change for security, court, housing or operational reasons.
Roanoke County/Salem Jail
Roanoke County links its video-visitation scheduling to IC Solutions. The county’s published visitor rules include the following:
- Bring proper identification.
- Visitors must remain cooperative and orderly.
- Food and drinks are not allowed in the lobby or visitation area.
- Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Visitors may be subject to search.
- Improper dress can result in denial of the visit.
- A visitor who appears intoxicated will be denied visitation.
Check the official visitation schedule and visitor guidelines before traveling.
Depositing Money and Ordering Commissary
Roanoke City
The Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office identifies JailATM as its convenient method for depositing money for a resident. The detention-center page also links to its approved online commissary ordering service.
- First locate the resident and confirm the correct name or ID.
- Open the Sheriff’s Office official deposit-money page.
- Follow the official JailATM link from that page.
- Select the correct facility and resident.
- Review the recipient, amount and vendor fee before completing payment.
Roanoke County/Salem Jail
Roanoke County states that a secured ATM is available in the main jail lobby for cash or credit-card deposits. The county says checks are not accepted for that method. Online deposits can also be made through JailATM.
Phone Calls, Messages and Inmate Mail
Roanoke City phone service
Roanoke City currently uses GTL ConnectNetwork for resident communication. The Sheriff’s Office directs friends and family to create a ConnectNetwork account or contact the provider at 877-650-4249.
The Sheriff’s Office specifically warns that attempting call forwarding or three-way calling can result in the number being blocked or removed from the resident’s account.
Official Roanoke City phone-system information
Roanoke County phone service
Roanoke County states that inmates cannot receive incoming calls. Inmates can make outgoing collect calls during permitted hours, and the county notes that text communication may also be available through a jail-issued tablet.
Roanoke County inmate mail
The Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office currently publishes this address for inmate correspondence:
Inmate Name, Inmate Number
P.O. Box 16120
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Always include the correct inmate name and number. Because correctional mail-processing addresses can change, confirm the address on the Sheriff’s official page immediately before mailing.
Roanoke City resident mail
The Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office maintains a dedicated Resident Mail page with its current personal-mail documents and communication instructions.
For legal correspondence, the Sheriff’s Office currently publishes:
RESIDENT NAME – ID NUMBER
340 Campbell Avenue SW
Roanoke, VA 24016-3625
Do not assume the legal-mail address and personal-mail processing address are interchangeable. Check the current Resident Mail instructions before sending personal correspondence, photos, books or other items.
Roanoke Jail Addresses and Contact Numbers
| Office/facility | Address | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office | 340 Campbell Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 24016 | 540-853-2941 Office: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM |
| Roanoke City Adult Detention Center operations | 324 Campbell Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 24016 | Daytime information: 540-853-1925 After hours: 540-853-6777 |
| Roanoke County/Salem Jail | 401 E Main Street, Salem, VA 24153 | Jail Division: 540-283-3145 |
| Roanoke County Inmate Records | Jail Division, Salem | 540-283-3130 |
| Roanoke County inmate-search assistance | Roanoke County/Salem Jail | County FAQ lists 540-283-3162 |
| Roanoke County Jail Docket Booking Desk | Jail Division, Salem | Current staff directory lists 540-283-3146 |
| Western Virginia Regional Jail | 5885 W River Road, Salem, VA 24153 | 540-378-3700 |
Best Order to Search Without Wasting Time
- Know where the arrest happened. Roanoke City and Roanoke County are different jurisdictions.
- Search the City or County official roster first.
- If the person is not there, check Western Virginia Regional Jail.
- If the person was sentenced and transferred, search VADOC.
- Use Virginia court records for updated charges and hearings.
- Only after confirming custody should you send money, mail or schedule a visit.
This order prevents one of the most common mistakes in a Roanoke inmate search: finding information for a person with a similar name or searching the correct name in the wrong correctional system.
Roanoke City and County Jail Inmate Search FAQs
1. What is the official Roanoke City jail inmate search?
The official Roanoke City lookup is the Roanoke Resident Search at residentsearch.roanokeva.gov. Enter the person’s first and last name to search the resident database.
2. Are Roanoke City Jail and Roanoke County Jail the same facility?
No. Roanoke City uses the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center, while Roanoke County uses the Roanoke County/Salem Jail and may also use the Western Virginia Regional Jail.
3. How do I search the Roanoke County jail roster?
Use the official Roanoke County Inmate Inquiry. You can search by name, subject number or booking number and can filter by custody status, booking dates and housing facility.
4. Why can I not find someone in the Roanoke jail search?
The booking may still be processing, the name may be entered differently, you may be searching the wrong Roanoke jurisdiction, or the person may have been released or transferred to a regional or state facility.
5. Where should I search if a Roanoke County inmate was transferred?
Check the Western Virginia Regional Jail inmate lookup first. The regional jail serves Roanoke County along with Franklin County, Montgomery County and the City of Salem.
6. Does the Roanoke inmate roster show bond and charges?
Roanoke City resident records include bond and charge sections, while Roanoke County’s inmate inquiry provides booking-related information. Always use the Virginia court system when you need an updated court charge or disposition.
7. How do I find a Roanoke inmate’s court date?
After identifying the correct person and jurisdiction, search Virginia’s official court case-information system or contact the appropriate Roanoke City or Roanoke County court clerk.
8. How can I send money to a Roanoke jail inmate?
Roanoke City directs resident deposits through JailATM. Roanoke County provides a secured lobby ATM for cash or credit-card deposits and also directs online deposits through JailATM.
9. How do I visit someone in a Roanoke jail?
Roanoke City provides video visitation and currently lists adult in-person visitation on Tuesday evenings and children’s visitation on Saturday afternoons. Roanoke County uses video visitation and publishes identification, dress and visitor-conduct rules.
10. Where do I search after a Roanoke inmate is transferred to state prison?
Use the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate and Supervisee Locator. It is separate from the Roanoke City, Roanoke County and Western Virginia Regional Jail custody searches.