Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Home

Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Home

Physical Address

9600 Krause Rd.
Chesterfield, VA 23832

Jail Phone Number

804-748-1460
Chesterfield County inmate search

Chesterfield County Inmate Search: Where Someone Is Held and What to Do Next

Officers who arrest someone here drive them to the Chesterfield County Jail, 6900 Mimms Drive, Chesterfield, VA 23832. Part of the jail population lives at Riverside Regional Jail, 500 Folar Trail in North Prince George, VA 23860, which the county shares with six other localities. Read on for photos, bail, attorneys, visits, deposits, letters and hearing dates.

Open the jail search and enter a last name. Check the results for a date or time stamp so you know how recent they are. A booking from this morning could still be loading. Riverside has its own locator, and jail staff can tell you which building holds your person.

Start by dialing 804-748-1476. Before you dial, jot the legal name and birth date. Your questions: where is the person held, which charges apply and what bail is set? Release steps live on the bail page, while hearing details live on the court page.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Chesterfield County

Read inmate search answers

1. Where do I begin on the Chesterfield County inmate list?

Follow these steps:

  1. Open the jail search.
  2. Start with the surname alone. Bring in the given name only when too many people come up.
  3. Look for a date or time beside the results. It shows how recent the data is.
  4. Still blank? Test a nickname, a variant spelling or a name used before marriage.
  5. Copy any booking or ID number. Staff use it to pull up a record quickly.

Someone who may be at Riverside can be looked up on Riverside's inmate locator. Still no luck? Phone the jail at 804-748-1476.

↑ Back to the question list

2. Why does the list show nothing for their name?

Blank results happen a lot during the first day. Likely causes:

  • Booking is not done. Paperwork takes hours, and the list can lag behind.
  • Already out. They may have received a summons, signed a written promise to return, or had a bond posted.
  • A police station holds them. A holding cell at a police station may be the first stop.
  • Another jail has them. That could be Riverside, or a jail where the arrest took place.
  • The state has them. The Department of Corrections runs the prisons.
  • Minor. Young people go to a youth facility instead.

Jail staff can settle it fast. Call 804-748-1476 with the spelling of the name and the date of birth.

↑ Back to the question list

3. Which jails take Chesterfield County arrests?

Two adult facilities serve this area:

  • County jail, run by the Sheriff's Office, 6900 Mimms Drive, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1476. New arrests are brought here. It also keeps some sentenced inmates who take part in its work and recovery programs.
  • Riverside Regional Jail, 500 Folar Trail in North Prince George, VA 23860, 804-524-6600. Besides Chesterfield, its owners are Charles City, Prince George and Surry counties plus Hopewell, Petersburg and Colonial Heights. Its buildings include a main jail, a Pre-Release Center and a work release program. Ask which one holds your person.

North Prince George sits in Prince George County, south of the Chesterfield line. A person picked up in Colonial Heights, Hopewell or Petersburg may be at Riverside from the start. If the arrest happened in some other place, phone the jail there.

↑ Back to the question list

4. Are there mugshots for Chesterfield County arrests?

Virginia's open records act makes police and sheriffs share an adult's booking photo taken at intake. A felony case is the exception when sharing could damage an ongoing investigation (Va. Code 2.2-3706). Youth photos are not public.

Ask for mugshots from the agency that made the arrest:

  • County Police Department, 10001 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1251
  • Sheriff's Office, 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1261

Photos held by ICE come through a records request to that agency. Nobody outside the government gets federal arrest photos, though the U.S. Marshals Service can choose to release one, for instance when someone is a fugitive.

↑ Back to the question list

5. How do VINE alerts help after a release or move?

You can sign up for VINE, a free service. It tells you when someone walks out, changes jails or heads to prison. That includes county lockups, regional jails and the state prison system. You search a name to see custody details, and you pick how to be notified.

  • Go to VINELink, search the name and register by text, call or email.
  • Or phone 800-467-4943, which is staffed day and night.

A phone alert needs a PIN of your own, so write it down. Alerts are a good safety net. A call to the jail still gives the freshest news.

↑ Back to the question list

6. Bail after an arrest here: what happens first?

A magistrate sets bail soon after booking. The Magistrate's Office is at 6900 Mimms Drive, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1410, and it never closes. The magistrate may pick:

  • A written promise to return to court, with no payment.
  • An unsecured bond. The person pays nothing unless they skip court.
  • A secured bond, backed by cash, property equity or a bondsman.

If the person stays locked up, a judge reviews bail when the court next sits. A judge hears a bail motion within three business days. Friends, relatives or a bonding company may post the bond. The jail lobby takes bond questions on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 804-748-1476. By law a bondsman's fee falls between 10 and 15 percent of the bond. The company keeps that fee. The bail page lays out every step, and our Virginia bail laws page gives the rules.

↑ Back to the question list

7. Which charges were filed against the person?

The jail can give the charges over the phone. When a case reaches court, the file lists each count. Virginia's Online Case Information System covers criminal and traffic cases from General District Court, adult criminal cases from family court, and Circuit Court. Youth cases are left out.

You may also phone the court offices with a name and birthday:

  • General District Court clerk, 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1231
  • Circuit Court clerk, 9500 Courthouse Road, 1st Floor, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1241
  • Commonwealth's Attorney (the prosecutor), 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1221
↑ Back to the question list

8. How is a court-appointed attorney requested?

Yes, when money is the problem. The request goes to the magistrate or, on the first court date, to the judge. The court hands over a sworn financial form, and the judge decides who qualifies. Help is given when the charge could mean time behind bars.

The Office of the Public Defender covers this area from 5601 Ironbridge Parkway, Suite 200, Chester, VA 23831, 804-662-7171. If a conflict keeps that office from the case, a private lawyer is chosen by the judge from the court's list. A family is also free to hire its own lawyer.

↑ Back to the question list

9. Video visits at the Chesterfield County jail: how do they work?

The jail runs its visits by video. Keep these points in mind:

  • Four people at most may be on a visit, the registered visitor included.
  • The registered visitor is 18 or older, or arrives with an adult.
  • Photo ID is shown at check-in.
  • Most inmates earn one 25-minute video visit per week.
  • You book through gettingout.com, the video service named by the jail.

Phone 804-748-1476 to check the current days. A person at Riverside has visits arranged on that jail's website, and Riverside's office answers at 804-524-6600. Our visiting guide adds more advice.

↑ Back to the question list

10. How do I fund the person's jail account?

A deposit pays for commissary food, hygiene items and calls. At the county jail you can:

  • Use the lobby kiosk with cash or a Visa or Mastercard. The kiosk adds a fee.
  • Send funds online through Access Corrections, which works with Keefe Commissary.

Cashier's checks and money orders are turned away. Riverside also takes deposits through Access Corrections. Keep the person's name and ID number nearby. Deposit methods are compared in the money guide. For snack and soap choices, open the commissary guide.

↑ Back to the question list

11. Phone, video or text: what can the family use?

The jail's phone company is Global Tel Link (GTL). Each new arrival gets a free call of up to 3 minutes at intake. Later, calls arrive collect and may last as long as 30 minutes. For account help, reach GTL at 877-650-4249.

Anyone could be listening, so discuss the case just with your lawyer. To ask about messages or tablets, phone the jail at 804-748-1476. More on phones is in our phone guide, and messaging options appear in our email and text guide.

↑ Back to the question list

12. Letters and cards: what goes on the envelope?

Write the envelope like this:

Inmate name and inmate number
Chesterfield County Jail
P. O. Box 758
Chesterfield, VA 23832

Add your return address. Phone 804-748-1476 to ask what you may include, like pictures or paperbacks. Never tuck cash inside. Mail for Riverside follows its own format, so call 804-524-6600 first. See our mail guide as well.

↑ Back to the question list

13. Can I leave clothes or pick up belongings?

The lobby at 6900 Mimms Drive, Chesterfield, VA 23832, accepts court clothing, prescriptions, glasses and some publications. Drop them off Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. After a sentence, court clothing has to be picked up within 15 days.

The property line is 804-318-8422. Items taken at booking are handled at release, so phone the jail at 804-748-1476 before you drive over.

↑ Back to the question list

14. Who should I tell when the person inside is unwell?

Phone the jail now at 804-748-1476 and ask to speak with health staff. Tell them the legal name, name every medicine and the dose, and add the doctor's phone. Inside, the person can fill out a sick-call slip too.

Dial 911 for a true emergency. Say clearly if someone seems close to harming themselves. A person at Riverside should be reported to 804-524-6600.

↑ Back to the question list

15. Could a Chesterfield County warrant be waiting for someone?

Both the Sheriff's Office, 804-748-1261, and the county police, 804-748-1251, serve warrants. Read the police active warrants page, or phone one of them and ask. To check on a case, phone the General District Court clerk at 804-748-1231 or try the online case system. Clearing one starts with a lawyer. Next, call the court that sent out the warrant, or go in person to the jail, 6900 Mimms Drive, Chesterfield, VA 23832. The clerk's office is at 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832.

↑ Back to the question list

16. Where are court dates found?

The court that holds the case is the one that knows its hearing dates. Clerks answer weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • General District Court (lesser charges, traffic and early felony hearings), 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1231
  • Circuit Court (felony trials and appeals), 9500 Courthouse Road, 1st Floor, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1241; criminal division 804-717-6980
  • Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, 7000 Lucy Corr Boulevard, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1379

Our court page describes every stage of a case.

↑ Back to the question list

17. Whose court handles a federal charge here?

Our county sits in the Richmond Division, part of Virginia's Eastern District for federal courts. That courthouse is at 701 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219, and the clerk's criminal line is 804-916-2230.

  1. At the first appearance or soon after, a judge rules on holding the person or sending them home until trial (18 U.S.C. 3142).
  2. Until trial, the U.S. Marshals Service is in charge, often placing people in a local jail. Its Richmond office, 701 East Broad Street, Suite 2800, Richmond, VA 23219, 804-545-8501, can tell you where.
  3. After sentencing, use the BOP inmate locator.
↑ Back to the question list

18. What if immigration officers are involved?

Expect the process below if ICE wants the person:

  1. ICE sends a hold request to the jail. The paper is named Form I-247A, or a detainer.
  2. Deputies are asked to keep the person up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
  3. ICE agents then collect the person and transport them to a facility of their choice.
  4. Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator by name plus country of birth, or call the Washington Field Office, 14797 Murdock Street, Chantilly, VA 20151, 703-633-2100.

A February 2026 directive from Virginia's governor told state agencies to cancel their 287(g) partnerships with ICE. It applies to state agencies only. An attorney can explain how it fits your case.

↑ Back to the question list

19. Which prison holds a person sentenced to state time?

A person given prison time enters the Virginia Department of Corrections system, is evaluated at a reception site, then moves to a prison that suits them. While they wait for a bed, they might remain at the county or regional jail.

↑ Back to the question list

20. Where is a person younger than 18 held?

Anyone younger than 18 is kept apart from adult inmates. A magistrate, judge or intake officer is the one who orders detention. The family court for youth cases is the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, 7000 Lucy Corr Boulevard, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1379.

The Court Service Unit does intake in the same building, 804-748-1372. A held youth may be at the Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Home, 9600 Krause Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1460. Youth records and photos stay out of public view.

↑ Back to the question list

21. Which agency picked them up in Chesterfield County?

Look at the arrest report to see which one acted. Agencies in the county:

  • County Police Department, 10001 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, non-emergency 804-748-1251. Does most patrol and detective work. No towns are incorporated here, so these officers also cover Chester, Midlothian and Bon Air.
  • Sheriff's Office, 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-748-1261. Operates the jail, secures the courthouse and serves warrants and papers.
  • Virginia State Police, Division One, 2434 Pine Forest Drive, Colonial Heights, VA 23834, 804-609-5500. Troopers work the interstates and Route 288.

If the arrest was on a college campus or similar site, call the county police first and ask who handled it.

↑ Back to the question list

Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Home Resident Visitation

Parental Visitation

  • Parental visitation is limited to parents, stepparents, and legal guardians.
  • No other family members are permitted to visit without prior administrative approval.
  • Picture identification is required for entry.

Visitation Hours
The hours for visitation are:

  • Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. for pre-dispositional residents
  • Sundays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. for residents in treatment programs
  • Alternate visiting times require prior administrative approval.

Items Not Permitted
Cameras
Cell phones
Food and beverages
Keys
Lighters
Mail (can only be distributed through the U.S. Postal Service)
Purses
Tobacco products
Weapons

Items Allowed
Medication - with approval from Staff
Money - You may leave money for the residents to purchase soft drinks and items from the snack machine on weekends

For more information, call 804-748-1460 and ask to speak with a supervisor or administrator on duty.


 

Virginia • Chesterfield County • Criminal court help

Chesterfield County Courts for Criminal Cases and the Jail Behind Them

Chesterfield County sends criminal cases to one of three courts: the Circuit Court, the General District Court, or the Juvenile and Domestic Relations court. The courthouse sits at 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832. People kept in custody are held at the Chesterfield County Jail, 6900 Mimms Drive, Chesterfield, VA 23832. Read on to see which court takes which kind of case.

Not sure where your loved one is? Type their name into the jail search. Our Jail Roster lists people in custody with their charges, warrants and mugshots.

To learn the next hearing, phone the Circuit Court clerk at 804-748-1241 or the General District Court clerk at 804-748-1231. Hoping to bring them home sooner? Read our bail page next.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Chesterfield County

1. Courts in Chesterfield County (circuit, general district, and juvenile and domestic relations courts)

Chesterfield County, the large suburban county south of Richmond, has its government and courts at the Chesterfield Courthouse complex on Courthouse Road (Iron Bridge Road area) in the community of Chesterfield, which serves as the county seat. Criminal charges from the county are heard by the Chesterfield General District Court, the Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court and the Chesterfield Circuit Court; the circuit court is part of Virginia's 12th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with the City of Colonial Heights, although Colonial Heights keeps separate district courts and its own prosecutor. The elected Chesterfield County Commonwealth's Attorney prosecutes county cases, and a state public defender office in Chester represents people who cannot afford a lawyer. Adults who are not released after arrest are held by the Sheriff at the Chesterfield County Jail beside the courthouse, and the county also places inmates at the Riverside Regional Jail, which it co-owns with six neighboring localities.

  • Chesterfield Circuit Court and Circuit Court Clerk, Courts Building, 9500 Courthouse Road, 1st Floor (P.O. Box 125), Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1241; Criminal Division (804) 717-6980
  • Chesterfield General District Court (criminal and traffic), 9500 Courthouse Road (P.O. Box 144), Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1231
  • Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, 7000 Lucy Corr Boulevard, Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1379
  • 12th District Magistrate's Office (open 24 hours), 6900 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1410
  • 12th District Court Service Unit (juvenile intake), 7000 Lucy Corr Boulevard, Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1372
  • Chesterfield County Commonwealth's Attorney, 9500 Courthouse Road (P.O. Box 25), Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1221; Victim/Witness Assistance Program (804) 796-7087
  • Office of the Public Defender, Chesterfield (Virginia Indigent Defense Commission), 5601 Ironbridge Parkway, Suite 200, Chester, VA 23831, (804) 662-7171
  • Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office, 9500 Courthouse Road (P.O. Box 940), Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1261
  • Chesterfield County Jail, 6900 Mimms Drive, Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1476; bond and release line (804) 318-8026
  • Riverside Regional Jail, 500 Folar Trail, North Prince George, VA 23860, (804) 524-6600
  • Chesterfield County Police Department, 10001 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1251
  • Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Community Corrections Services (pretrial services and local probation), 10111 Krause Road, Suite 202, Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 318-8220

Which court hears your case. A misdemeanor or traffic charge from Chesterfield County, such as shoplifting, reckless driving or a first DUI, is tried by a judge alone in the Chesterfield General District Court; there is no jury at that level, and a defendant who loses can appeal within 10 days to the Chesterfield Circuit Court, which hears the case over again and allows a jury. When the person accused is under 18, or when the alleged victim of an assault or other offense is a family or household member, the case belongs instead to the Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court on Lucy Corr Boulevard. Felonies start with a preliminary hearing in the General District Court (in the JDR court if a family member is the alleged victim), and after a grand jury returns an indictment, they are tried in the Chesterfield Circuit Court.

Where pretrial inmates are held. The Chesterfield County Sheriff runs the county's own local jail on Mimms Drive, a short walk from the courts, and most people booked on Chesterfield charges are held there while their cases are pending. Chesterfield is also a member of the Riverside Regional Jail Authority, together with Charles City, Prince George and Surry counties and the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Petersburg, so some Chesterfield prisoners, especially people serving sentences or awaiting transfer to state prison, are housed at the regional jail in North Prince George. If you are trying to locate someone, start with the Chesterfield jail's main number, (804) 748-1476; the Riverside Regional Jail can be reached at (804) 524-6600.

No municipal, town or mayor's court exists anywhere in Virginia, so every local criminal charge goes to a state court. Chesterfield County has no incorporated towns at all: places such as Chester, Midlothian, Bon Air, Ettrick, Matoaca and Enon are unincorporated communities, and charges written in any of them are filed in the Chesterfield General District Court, the Chesterfield JDR court or the Chesterfield Circuit Court.

Courts and clerks

  • Chesterfield General District Court (12th Judicial District; misdemeanors, traffic, felony preliminary hearings, bond hearings), 9500 Courthouse Road (P.O. Box 144), Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1231. Its clerks work from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and one main number serves the criminal, traffic and civil divisions.
  • Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (12th Judicial District; juvenile delinquency, family-member assaults, protective orders), 7000 Lucy Corr Boulevard, Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1379; the JDR clerks keep the same weekday hours.
  • Chesterfield Circuit Court (12th Judicial Circuit; felony trials, grand jury, misdemeanor appeals), 9500 Courthouse Road, 1st Floor (P.O. Box 125), Chesterfield, VA 23832. Circuit Court Clerk (804) 748-1241, Criminal Division (804) 717-6980; clerk's hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Magistrate, juvenile intake and prosecution

  • 12th District Magistrate's Office, Chesterfield (warrants and bail decisions around the clock, every day of the year), 6900 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1410
  • 12th District Court Service Unit (intake and juvenile probation for Chesterfield County and Colonial Heights), 7000 Lucy Corr Boulevard, Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1372
  • Chesterfield County Commonwealth's Attorney, 9500 Courthouse Road (P.O. Box 25), Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1221; Victim/Witness Assistance (804) 796-7087
  • Office of the Public Defender, Chesterfield, 5601 Ironbridge Parkway, Suite 200, Chester, VA 23831, (804) 662-7171

Law enforcement and custody

  • Chesterfield County Police Department (the county's primary patrol and investigating agency), 10001 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1251
  • Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office (jail, courthouse security, warrant and civil process service), 9500 Courthouse Road (P.O. Box 940), Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1261
  • Chesterfield County Jail, 6900 Mimms Drive, Chesterfield, VA 23832, (804) 748-1476

Because the Chesterfield County Police Department, not the Sheriff, handles most patrol work, the officer who makes an arrest is usually a county police officer, while the Sheriff's deputies take over once the person is brought to the jail. Virginia State Police troopers also make arrests on Interstate 95, Interstate 295 and Route 288, and those cases go to the same Chesterfield courts. Anyone who cannot afford a lawyer can ask the magistrate or the judge to appoint the public defender, and questions about bail after the magistrate's decision go to the General District Court clerk.

↑ Back to the question list

2. The Chesterfield Courthouse complex and the 12th Judicial Circuit

Nearly every step of a Chesterfield criminal case happens on one government campus near the intersection of Iron Bridge Road and Courthouse Road. The Courts Building at 9500 Courthouse Road holds the Circuit Court and its clerk's office on the first floor and the General District Court, and the Commonwealth's Attorney and the Sheriff list the same street address. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court has its own building nearby on Lucy Corr Boulevard, which also houses the Court Service Unit. The magistrate's office and the jail are on the Mimms Loop and Mimms Drive side of the complex.

How the courts divide the work

  • General District Court. The 12th District's general district judges keep separate criminal and traffic dockets every weekday. Criminal and traffic cases begin calling at 8:30 a.m., with additional sessions in the morning and afternoon Monday through Thursday. Arraignments are held each weekday morning, with a 10:30 a.m. session for people who are out on bail and an 11:00 a.m. session for people still in custody, who usually appear from the jail.
  • JDR court. Juvenile delinquency petitions, adult charges involving family or household members, and protective orders are heard on Lucy Corr Boulevard.
  • Circuit Court. Six circuit judges sit in the 12th Circuit, and they hear felony arraignments, motions, jury and bench trials, sentencings and misdemeanor appeals for Chesterfield County. The same circuit also hears Colonial Heights felony cases, but those come up through the Colonial Heights district courts.
↑ Back to the question list

3. What happens after an arrest in Chesterfield County (magistrate, bail and pretrial services)

Most people arrested in the county are driven to the Chesterfield Courthouse complex, where the arresting officer brings them before a magistrate in the 12th District office on Mimms Loop. After hearing the officer describe what happened, the magistrate rules on probable cause and, if it exists, issues the warrant or summons that serves as the formal charge. The same magistrate then decides whether the person can be released and on what terms.

Release decisions

Virginia magistrates weigh two questions: whether the person is likely to come back to court, and whether release would put the public or an alleged victim at risk. The possible outcomes are:

  • release on a recognizance, a written promise to appear with no money involved;
  • an unsecured bond, which sets a dollar amount that is owed only if the person fails to appear;
  • a secured bond, which must be posted in cash or property or through a licensed bail bondsman, who generally charges a nonrefundable fee and must hold a license from the state Department of Criminal Justice Services;
  • being held without bail when no conditions would be enough.

Release can come with conditions such as no contact with the complaining witness, staying away from a home, no alcohol, or supervision by pretrial services.

Pretrial services

Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Community Corrections Services, on Krause Road, runs the local pretrial program. Its staff interview newly arrested people, check employment, family and criminal history, and give the judge a recommendation for the first court appearance. When a judge orders pretrial supervision, the agency monitors the person through check-ins, drug and alcohol testing, alcohol monitoring or GPS. Its main number is (804) 318-8220.

The first court appearance

A person who stays in custody is usually brought to the General District Court's in-custody arraignment (or to the JDR court in family and juvenile cases) on the next day the court sits. The judge explains the charge, asks whether the defendant will hire a lawyer or needs one appointed, and sets the next date. Someone who cannot meet the magistrate's terms can ask the judge for a bond hearing; the General District Court clerk explains how to schedule one, and a decision there can be appealed to the Circuit Court. For information on whether a bond has been posted, the jail's release line is (804) 318-8026.

↑ Back to the question list

4. The Chesterfield County Jail and the regional jail

The Chesterfield County Jail is a local jail operated by the elected Sheriff at 6900 Mimms Drive, inside the courthouse complex. Booking, fingerprinting and photographs happen there after the magistrate's decision, and people who are not released stay there for court dates in the adjoining buildings. The jail lobby is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Useful jail numbers

Riverside Regional Jail

Chesterfield is one of seven members of the regional jail authority that owns the Riverside Regional Jail, and the Sheriff sits on the authority's board. The facility at 500 Folar Trail in North Prince George, (804) 524-6600, has at times held several hundred Chesterfield inmates. In 2021 the Sheriff began moving many Chesterfield inmates out of Riverside, and the number housed there has changed over time. Someone serving a sentence, or a person with a pending state-prison transfer, is more likely to be at Riverside than someone recently arrested. When in doubt, call the Chesterfield jail first; staff can say whether a person has been moved.

↑ Back to the question list

5. Public defender and court-appointed lawyers in Chesterfield County

Chesterfield County has its own office of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. The Office of the Public Defender, Chesterfield, at 5601 Ironbridge Parkway, Suite 200, in Chester, (804) 662-7171, represents eligible adults and juveniles in the county's district and circuit courts.

How to get a lawyer appointed

  1. Tell the magistrate after arrest, or the judge at the arraignment, that you cannot afford to hire an attorney.
  2. Fill out the sworn financial statement the court provides; the clerk of the General District Court, (804) 748-1231, or the JDR court, (804) 748-1379, has the form.
  3. The judge reviews income, assets and household size and, if you qualify, appoints the public defender.
  4. If the public defender has a conflict (for example, it already represents a co-defendant), the judge appoints a private lawyer from the court's list of qualified attorneys instead.

A lawyer is appointed only when jail time is possible. A person who is convicted may later be charged the court-appointed attorney fee as part of court costs.

↑ Back to the question list

6. The Commonwealth's Attorney and diversion in Chesterfield County

The Chesterfield County Commonwealth's Attorney is elected countywide and prosecutes felonies, many misdemeanors and juvenile cases in the Chesterfield courts. The office is at 9500 Courthouse Road, (804) 748-1221.

Victims and witnesses

Under Virginia's Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act, victims can ask to be told about court dates, plea agreements and release decisions, and they may give a victim impact statement before sentencing. The Victim/Witness Assistance Program, (804) 796-7087, explains the process, helps with protective orders and restitution, and accompanies victims to court.

Outcomes short of a conviction

  • First-offender deferred dispositions. Virginia law lets a judge defer and later dismiss certain first-time charges, such as simple drug possession and family assault and battery, if the defendant completes conditions like probation, classes and good behavior.
  • Deferred findings by agreement. In some misdemeanor cases, the prosecutor and the defense agree that the judge will hold off on a finding and dismiss the charge after community service, restitution or a class.
  • Treatment courts. For people whose charges are tied to addiction, or who are veterans, the treatment dockets described in the next section can lead to a reduced or dismissed charge. The page on treatment courts tells defendants to contact the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to ask for an evaluation.

Community Corrections Services also runs the Center of Risk Reduction, a court-ordered program for medium- and high-risk offenders, as well as local probation for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies.

↑ Back to the question list

7. Specialty dockets: Recovery Court and the Veteran Treatment Docket

Chesterfield's treatment courts are run from the Courts Building at 9500 Courthouse Road, and both can be reached at (804) 748-1734, weekdays by appointment.

  • Recovery Court (the county's adult drug treatment court) is meant for adults with a substance use disorder who face a nonviolent felony. The charge itself does not have to be a drug offense, but people with a prior violent conviction or a drug distribution conviction are excluded. Participants are supervised closely for many months, with frequent court appearances, drug testing and treatment.
  • Veteran Treatment Docket, which began as a pilot in December 2023, serves defendants who served in the military and received a discharge that was not punitive. It pairs court supervision with veterans' services and mentoring.

A person with a pending Chesterfield charge who wants to be considered for either program should raise it with a defense attorney and ask the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for a screening; Community Corrections Services does the eligibility review. Participation is voluntary, usually requires a guilty plea or an agreed set of facts, and can last a year or more. Failing the program can lead to sentencing on the original charge.

↑ Back to the question list

8. Misdemeanor (for example, petit larceny, a first DUI, assault and battery, trespassing)

Shoplifting at the county's large retail corridors along Midlothian Turnpike and Hull Street Road, DUI stops on Route 288 and the interstates, and domestic calls make up much of the Chesterfield misdemeanor caseload.

From arrest to the first hearing

After an arrest, the magistrate sets release terms, which for most misdemeanors means recognizance or an unsecured bond. A person who cannot be released goes to the Chesterfield County Jail and is arraigned the next court day. At arraignment the judge asks about counsel; a defendant facing possible jail who cannot afford a lawyer can ask for the public defender, (804) 662-7171.

Trial in General District Court

Misdemeanor trials in the General District Court are bench trials: a judge hears the officer, any witnesses and the defendant and decides the case the same day. Family assault cases follow the same pattern in the JDR court. Many cases resolve before trial through a plea, a reduction to a lesser charge, or a deferred disposition. A defendant who is convicted can note an appeal within 10 days and get a new trial in the Circuit Court, with the option of a jury.

Penalties for the listed charges

  • Petit larceny (theft of goods valued under $1,000): Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
  • First DUI: Class 1 misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum $250 fine; a mandatory 5 days in jail if the blood alcohol content was 0.15 to 0.20, and 10 days if it was above 0.20; a one-year license revocation, with a restricted license and ignition interlock possible; enrollment in VASAP; and a 7-day administrative suspension of the license at the time of arrest.
  • Assault and battery: Class 1 misdemeanor. Against a family or household member it is heard in the JDR court, a first offender may qualify for a deferred disposition, and a third family-assault conviction can be charged as a felony.
  • Trespassing: Class 1 misdemeanor.

Lower classes carry less: a Class 2 misdemeanor up to 6 months and $1,000, a Class 3 a fine up to $500, and a Class 4 a fine up to $250. Typical outcomes are dismissal, a deferred disposition, a fine, a suspended sentence with local probation through Community Corrections, or jail time. Most Chesterfield misdemeanors are finished within one to three months, longer if the case is appealed. Down the road, some Chesterfield charges and convictions may qualify for sealing under Virginia's newer record-sealing statute.

↑ Back to the question list

9. Felony (for example, burglary, grand larceny, drug possession or distribution, malicious wounding)

Chesterfield felony cases are investigated mainly by the county police and prosecuted by the Commonwealth's Attorney in the 12th Judicial Circuit. Car break-ins and larcenies from retail stores, opioid and fentanyl cases, and residential burglaries are among the most common charges.

The path through the courts

  1. Magistrate and bail. The magistrate issues the felony warrant and sets release terms; a person who is not released is booked into the Chesterfield County Jail. A judge can review the decision at a bond hearing, and that ruling can be appealed to the Circuit Court.
  2. Arraignment and counsel. At the first General District Court appearance (JDR court if the alleged victim is a family member), the judge appoints the public defender or confirms that private counsel has been hired.
  3. Preliminary hearing. The district court judge decides whether there is probable cause. When the judge finds probable cause, the charge is "certified" for the grand jury to consider; without that finding, the charge is dismissed, though the prosecutor may still seek an indictment. Prosecutors sometimes skip this hearing by going directly to the grand jury.
  4. Grand jury and Circuit Court. After indictment the case moves to the Chesterfield Circuit Court for arraignment, motions and a trial date.
  5. Plea or trial. Most felonies end in a plea agreement. At trial, a 12-person jury must reach a unanimous verdict, or the defendant can choose a judge trial. Since July 2021 the judge imposes the sentence unless the defendant asks for the jury to do so, and the judge considers Virginia's voluntary sentencing guidelines and a presentence report.

Ranges of punishment

  • Grand larceny (stolen property worth at least $1,000): a prison term of 1 to 20 years, or a jail sentence of 12 months or less.
  • Burglary: breaking into a dwelling at night is a Class 3 felony (5 to 20 years), and a Class 2 felony if the person was armed; most other forms of statutory burglary are punishable by as much as 20 years.
  • Possession of a Schedule I or II drug (fentanyl, heroin and cocaine all fall in these schedules): a Class 5 felony, punishable by one to ten years in prison or by a jail term of up to a year; a first offender may qualify for a deferred disposition.
  • Distribution or possession with intent to distribute: the range for a first offense runs from 5 to 40 years, and dealing in large quantities brings mandatory minimum sentences. Adults 21 and over may legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana, but selling it is still a crime.
  • Malicious wounding: Class 3 felony (5 to 20 years); unlawful wounding, which requires no proof of malice, is a Class 6 felony with a range of one to five years or a jail term of up to a year.

Virginia's speedy-trial statute requires trial within 5 months of the probable-cause finding for a defendant held in custody, and within 9 months for one who is released, with exceptions for continuances. Felonies committed after January 1, 1995 carry no parole, though earned sentence credits can shorten time served. Sentences of more than 12 months are served in the Virginia Department of Corrections. A typical Chesterfield felony takes four months to a year from arrest to sentencing.

↑ Back to the question list

10. Violent felony (for example, murder, rape, robbery)

In a homicide, sexual assault or armed robbery case, the Chesterfield County Police Department's detectives usually make the arrest, and the Commonwealth's Attorney assigns an experienced prosecutor early. Magistrates and judges look closely at danger to the community in these cases, and a defendant is often held without bail or under a high secured bond at the Chesterfield County Jail while the case is pending. The 2021 change in Virginia law removed the old presumption against release for certain charges, but the seriousness of the accusation still weighs heavily.

Possible penalties

  • Aggravated murder (Virginia's name, since 2021, for what used to be capital murder): Class 1 felony, life imprisonment. Virginia abolished the death penalty in 2021.
  • First-degree murder: the Chesterfield Circuit Court sentences this Class 2 felony at 20 years to life. Second-degree murder: 5 to 40 years.
  • Rape: 5 years to life; a conviction also requires registering as a sex offender.
  • Robbery: 5 years to life, with added mandatory time when a firearm is used.
  • Aggravated malicious wounding: also Class 2, so a Chesterfield conviction carries no less than 20 years and up to life.

What to expect

These cases usually take one to two years. Lab work, expert witnesses and mental-health evaluations add months, and defendants often waive the speedy-trial deadline. The public defender's office handles many serious felonies; for the most serious charges the court may appoint a lawyer who is specially qualified. Victims receive notice and support through the Commonwealth's Attorney's Victim/Witness Assistance Program, and they may address the court at sentencing.

↑ Back to the question list

11. Juveniles (under 18) arrested in Chesterfield County

Young people accused of crimes in Chesterfield County go to the Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court at 7000 Lucy Corr Boulevard, (804) 748-1379. The 12th District Court Service Unit, in the same building, (804) 748-1372, provides intake and juvenile probation for Chesterfield and Colonial Heights.

Intake

When police bring a complaint against a child, a Court Service Unit intake officer reviews it and makes the first decision: file a formal petition, divert the case informally (for example, with an apology, restitution, counseling or community service), or, for serious charges or a risk of flight or harm, authorize detention. The Commonwealth's Attorney prosecutes petitions that go forward, and the public defender's office or an appointed lawyer represents the child.

Detention

A youth who is detained is taken to the Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Center, a secure facility at 9600 Krause Road, (804) 748-1460. A detention hearing before a JDR judge must be held within 72 hours, or on the next day the court sits if that period ends on a weekend or holiday; the judge decides whether the child can go home, possibly with electronic monitoring or other conditions.

Possible outcomes

  • dismissal, informal diversion, or a deferred finding;
  • probation supervised by the Court Service Unit, with conditions such as school attendance, curfews, counseling and restitution;
  • local community programs, or a short post-dispositional stay in detention;
  • commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice, which may mean the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center, located in the Bon Air area of Chesterfield County, or a community placement.

Trial as an adult

A child 14 or older who is charged with certain serious felonies can be transferred to the Chesterfield Circuit Court after a transfer hearing in the JDR court. For the most serious charges, such as murder or aggravated malicious wounding, the Commonwealth's Attorney may be able to certify a 16- or 17-year-old for adult trial after a preliminary hearing. Juvenile court records are confidential in most cases, and families should ask the public defender or a private lawyer about how a record can be limited later.

↑ Back to the question list

12. Federal cases (U.S. District Court) from Chesterfield County

For federal purposes, Chesterfield County belongs to the Richmond Division of the Eastern District of Virginia's U.S. District Court. A federal charge from the county is handled in downtown Richmond, roughly 15 miles north of the Chesterfield Courthouse, in the Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr., Federal Courthouse.

  • U.S. District Court Clerk, Richmond Division, 701 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 916-2220
  • U.S. Attorney's Office, Richmond, 919 East Main Street, Suite 1900, Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 819-5400
  • Office of the Federal Public Defender (Eastern District of Virginia), Richmond, 701 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219; private lawyers on the Criminal Justice Act panel take cases the office cannot
  • U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, Richmond, 701 East Broad Street, Suite 1150, Richmond, VA 23219

When a Chesterfield case becomes federal

Federal prosecutors in Richmond often take cases that begin with Chesterfield police or regional task forces: drug trafficking along Interstate 95, possession of firearms by convicted felons, bank and commercial robberies, fraud and identity theft, and online child exploitation. Federal land also matters here. The Defense Supply Center Richmond sits in the county's northern end, a unit of Richmond National Battlefield Park is at Drewry's Bluff, and Fort Lee is just to the southeast in Prince George County; offenses on federal property can go to the federal court, and minor ones are heard on the Richmond Division's petty-offense docket before a magistrate judge.

How the federal process works

Someone arrested on a federal charge from Chesterfield first sees a U.S. magistrate judge in Richmond, who explains the charge and appoints counsel when the person cannot pay for one. Prosecutors who want the defendant held must ask for a detention hearing, which normally takes place within three court days. Federal court does not use money bail or commercial bondsmen the way state court does; under the Bail Reform Act the judge either releases the person on conditions supervised by Pretrial Services or orders detention. A case started by complaint must be indicted by a grand jury within 30 days, and the Speedy Trial Act generally requires trial within 70 days. The Eastern District is nicknamed the "rocket docket" for moving cases quickly, so defendants and families should expect a fast schedule.

Most defendants plead guilty. Those who go to trial face a 12-person jury that must agree unanimously. Before sentencing, a probation officer prepares a presentence report, and the judge considers the advisory federal Sentencing Guidelines along with any mandatory minimum. Federal parole was abolished, so prisoners generally serve about 85 percent of the sentence in the Bureau of Prisons, then a term of supervised release. Appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which also sits in Richmond.

Looking up someone in federal custody

Families can check the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator, which accepts either a name or a register number. Because the Marshals Service contracts with some local and regional jails, a federal defendant awaiting trial may also turn up on the roster of the jail holding them. Federal charges against juveniles are rare, and nearly all Chesterfield youth cases stay in the JDR court.

↑ Back to the question list

This page offers general information about criminal cases in Chesterfield County, Virginia, and is not legal advice; court schedules, programs and jail arrangements change. Anyone charged with a crime should speak with a Virginia criminal defense lawyer. To ask about a court-appointed attorney, contact the Office of the Public Defender, Chesterfield, at (804) 662-7171 or the General District Court clerk at (804) 748-1231; for custody questions, call the Sheriff's Office at (804) 748-1261.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Chesterfield County

Arrested in Virginia: criminal court process

NCIC Prepaid Phone Calling Accounts

Provider: NCIC Inmate Communications

NCIC Inmate Communications provides telecommunications services that allow incarcerated individuals to place outbound voice calls from dayroom telephones to family and friends. Because correctional facilities do not permit incoming phone calls, establishing an NCIC prepaid calling account connects calls directly to your cell phone or landline without being blocked by wireless carriers.

Important: Mobile Phones Automatically Block Inmate Calls

Cellular phone carriers automatically reject standard collect calls originating from jail phone systems. While some residential landlines might permit direct monthly billing, mobile devices and internet-based telephone lines require an active prepaid calling balance, which you can verify by checking with your provider. If you do not register online and fund an NCIC account right away, your loved one will receive an automated disconnect announcement when attempting to call your number.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Register and Fund an Account

  • Visit account.ncic.com or call NCIC customer care at 1-800-943-2189.
  • Click Create Account and register using the primary 10-digit telephone number where you want to receive calls.
  • Select the state and correctional facility where your loved one is currently detained.
  • Search for and add the inmate using their full legal name or booking ID number.
  • Select your deposit dollar amount and enter your debit or credit card billing details.
  • Submit payment and ensure your mobile phone settings allow calls from automated or unfamiliar correctional numbers.

What the Inmate Needs to Do

The inmate dials your 10-digit number from any dayroom telephone and keys in their assigned PIN. The automated system verifies that your phone number has an active prepaid balance and prompts you to press a digit to accept the call. All personal telephone conversations are recorded and monitored by facility staff.

Official Provider: NCIC Official Website

Customer Service Telephone: 1-800-943-2189

Support Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

Supported Languages: English and Spanish

Other Services Provided by NCIC Inmate Communications

In addition to Prepaid Phone Calling, NCIC provides several other digital communication and visitation services at participating facilities:

  • Remote Video Visitation: Schedule and join live face-to-face video visits from home using your computer or smartphone.
    • Learn more on our website: Video Visitation Guide  |  • Visit official vendor page: NCIC Video Visits
  • Inmate Messaging Services: Send electronic messages and photos directly to an inmate's housing unit terminal.
    • Learn more on our website: Inmate Messaging Guide  |  • Visit official vendor page: NCIC Messaging

Chesterfield County County Jails

Chesterfield County (this county)Colonial Heights (no jails listed)HopewellGoochland CountyPowhatan CountyAmelia CountyDinwiddie CountyPrince George CountyPetersburgHenrico CountyCharles City CountyRichmond
Chesterfield County Jails listed No jails listed

The Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Home serves the following cities and towns of Chesterfield County: Chester, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Ettrick, Matoaca, Midlothian and Petersburg. At times this facility may also house inmates arrested in the following counties: Colonial Heights City.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Chesterfield County