Sheriff Joe Baron and his staff’s top concerns are safety and security for inmates. The Norfolk City Jail consistently passes and exceeds inspections and standards. Sheriff Baron actively pursues, implements and supports initiatives to improve jail conditions and provide rehabilitation services, including:

• Improving medical care
• Implementing a Community Corrections program that allows inmates to work off fines
• Developing programs, such as electronic surveillance and work release, to alleviate overcrowding
• Creating an Education Department to help inmates earn their General Education Diplomas
• Installing a video visitation system for more timely, private visits between inmates and their loved ones
• If you would like to tour our jail, you can make an appointment.

The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office is proud to be the first in South Hampton Roads to win accreditation.

Meeting the high standards of The Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission is the best measure of a law enforcement agency’s compliance with professional law enforcement standards. It’s a reflection of the effectiveness and efficiency of the jail, as well as the quality of the deputies. Please take time to learn more about all of the programs and services available to the inmates.

The Code of Virginia 53.1-131.3 authorizes localities to charge inmates a reasonable fee, not to exceed $3.00 per day, to defray the cost associated with the prisoner’s keep. Such funds shall be retained in the locality where the funds were collected and shall be used for general jail purposes. Currently, the City of Norfolk has approved charging $2.00 per day.

• Inmate Health

  The Norfolk City Jail has a contract with Mediko to provide medical care. Mediko is one of the nation’s premier correctional healthcare companies, with all medical services meeting national NCCHC standards.

  Medical staff are present in the facility 24 hours/day 365/year.

  A doctor, dentist, psychiatrist, and nurse practitioner are available to inmates Monday-Friday. Additionally, a doctor, psychiatrist, and dentist are 'on call' 24/7.

  No one is denied medical care due to inability to pay a co-payment.

  For more information, visit Mediko's website by clicking HERE, or contact the NSO OIC of Medical at 757-664-4958

   

• Corresponding with Inmates

  Legal Mail - i.e. correspondences between the inmate and lawyer or court - should be addressed to 811 E. City Hall Ave. Norfolk, VA 23510 so that they may be delivered directly to the inmate.

  Correspondence between inmates and their friends and relatives are desirable, constructive, and highly encouraged. In 2021 the Norfolk City Jail moved to an electronic mail delivery system. All mail will be sent to a facility in Maryland to be scanned, and then will be delivered to the recipient via tablet. The mailing address is:

  Norfolk City Jail
  Inmate Name, Inmate Booking # (which you can find using our “Inmate Lookup” )
  P.O. Box 247
  Phoenix, MD   21131
  

  Subscriptions for inmates should be addressed to 811 E. City Hall Ave. Norfolk, VA 23510.

  • Inmates may have in their possession a total of five pieces of reading material only (i.e. book, magazines, crossword puzzle books, bibles, dictionaries, pamphlets). 

  Inmate Mail Guidelines:

  Outgoing mail from inmates:

  • • There is no limit to the number of letters inmates may send at their own expense.
    • Inmates are prohibited from corresponding with another inmate incarcerated at the Norfolk City Jail, or other local, state, or federal institutions, unless it is otherwise determined that such correspondence is in the best interest of both the inmates and the institutions. Only immediate family requests are considered, and these requests are forwarded to the Officer in Charge of Corrections for consideration and approval. If the correspondence involves two institutions, both must approve.

  All incoming mail regardless of what address is used is opened and examined for contraband.

  • • The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office does not accept packages or large envelopes through the mail or over the counter, and only flat mail is accepted. All other mail is returned
    • Any correspondence items in question require delivery approval from the Officer in Charge of Corrections
    • Unacceptable items are returned at the expense of the inmate or sender.
    • If the cost of returning the unacceptable items is not paid by either the inmate or the sender, the contraband will be contributed to a non-profit organization or destroyed.
• Premium Fresh Meals

  811 Marketplace

  The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office opened the 811 Marketplace to serve your loved ones fresh food in jail.  This program offers you the opportunity to provide a meal to a loved one during their stay.  It also gives a select few people the opportunity to work in the kitchen preparing meals and gaining skills that they can take with them when they are finished with their stay. Our cooks prepare the hot meals in-house, and we hand-deliver orders every day.

  We are excited about this program and look forward to providing your loved ones with a gift from you.

  (Click HERE for to get started!)

• In an emergency...

  If you are the relative of an inmate, and your family is experiencing an emergency or a death in the family, please fill out this form in its entirety. Please note, our staff chaplain will reach back out to you within 48 hours. Two attempts will be made to reach you. So please ensure your contact information is accurate. This is the only way to ensure notification will be made. Please do not call the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office or Norfolk City Jail as you will still be directed to fill out this online form.

   

  Inmate's Name *

  Type of emergency *

  Death in the family

  Other family emergency

  Please provide the name of the person who is deceased and their relationship to the inmate:

  Please describe the nature of the emergency

  Contact Person's Name *

  Contact's Relationship to Inmate *

  Contact's Phone Number *

  Best time to call *

  Morning

  Afternoon

  Evening

  Anytime

  Contact's Email Address *

  Submit

  Email
• Visitation

  Visitation

  The Norfolk City Jail utilizes a video visitation system which allows the public to have more timely visits with inmates. Our Inmate Video Visitation System streamlines the inmate/civilian visitation process and eliminates many of the common problems associated with visitations. This state-of-the art communications technology has not only decreased the wait time significantly, it’s also increased privacy and security.

  Video visits are video chat conversations available at your facility lobby, from your personal computer and Visit Now mobile device app. With video visits, our state-of-the-art system allows inmates, friends, family and loved ones to enjoy more personal, longer and more frequent visits. Our three video visit options offer onsite visits, and remote visits through your personal computer or mobile device.

  (NOTE: Beginning September 1, 2022, on-site video visits will now be held on Tuesday and Thursday from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. and from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.)

   

  Schedule a Visit or Learn More

  ---

• Inmate Lookup

  Click HERE to access the inmate lookup tool

• Priority Automotive Inmate Training Program

  In 2018, Priority Automotive joined Tidewater Community College and the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office to put the brakes on crime and give non-violent offenders a new lease on life through a program called the Priority Automotive Inmate Training Program. 

  “Teaching non-violent offenders to make a good, honest living and put their past in the rearview mirror is good for our communities, good for our law enforcement agencies, and good for Priority,” Priority CEO and President Dennis Ellmer said. “This may seem like an unlikely partnership, but it just makes perfect sense.”

  Ellmer said he got the idea during a trip to Fiji, where he met a tour guide who earned a tourism degree while incarcerated in a local jail. “I thought, ‘Wow, we have to do something like this back home,’” Ellmer said.

  So he did. Not long after his return, Ellmer shared his idea with former TCC President Edna Baehre-Kolovani, who loved the idea. The pair approached the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, where Col. Mike O’Toole helped bring the concept to life. “We have people coming out of our jail with few opportunities for worthwhile employment because of their past,” O’Toole said. “And with no way to find a decent job and make an honest living, they sometimes resort to old habits and wind up right back here in jail. There’s both a social and financial cost to that for taxpayers. It can be a revolving door that just keeps spinning. This program is designed to put an end to that.”

  After the idea of the program came into vision, Priority Automotive spent more than $1.7 million to build the Priority Automotive Training Center. The training facility is a state-of-the-art automotive center located just behind the Priority Infiniti dealership in Chesapeake.  The Center includes 12 repair bays where offenders work side-by-side with mechanics and instructors to diagnose problems and repair vehicles according to manufacturer standards.  The offenders are trained for a career in automotive repair through a 2-year certified program. 

  The Norfolk Sheriff's Office has been instrumental in the implementation of the program by evaluating and selecting participants, providing transportation to and from class and work, and providing tools and facilities for inmates to study and complete homework assignments. The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office has had a work release program in place for more than 30 years, with inmates working at businesses in the community. “This is a logical next step,” Sheriff Baron said. “Combining our work release program with an educational vocational program is a natural next step in promoting rehabilitation and saving tax dollars by reducing the number of people who return to jail.”

  "It costs Norfolk taxpayers an average of $26,000 to house a single offender for one year," said Norfolk Sheriff Joe Baron. “We know over 96% of our offenders are coming back to our community,” Baron said. “We also know former offenders are less likely to return to jail if they have gainful employment at the time of their release. By funding the cost to build the center and pay the trainees’ tuition, what Priority is doing here is nothing short of life changing for these inmates. And great for the community.”

  While the program began as a 2-year certified program with Tidewater Community College,  in 2021 the program switched to Tidewater Tech.  Classes start in September and end in May. Trainees attend class full time two days a week and work at Priority dealerships three days a week. After completing their second semester, trainees will be offered full-time jobs at one of 14 Priority dealerships across Hampton Roads. They will also have the opportunity to continue their education, earn new certifications and even earn an associate’s degree from Tidewater Tech.

  “This is not just about saving taxpayers money or filling jobs at my dealerships,” Ellmer said. “This is about giving these people a sense of worth, a second chance, and an opportunity to live the right way and do the right thing,” Ellmer said. “And we think that’s good for everyone.”
  

• Canteen Packages

  This is the order form for the packages and items available to inmates from our canteen. To place an order click HERE

  (Click HERE for a  mobile-friendly version of this app)

• "Pathway" - An Educational Journey

  Inmate Educational Pathway is defined as the chosen route, taken by a learner through a range of classes and activities, which allows them to build knowledge progressively. It can be likened to an “educational journey” through classes and content, and eventually reaching their goal or Career Path. All inmates in the Program block will be assigned a Pathway Counselor, advising their inmates throughout the Pathway process, from intake, to class assignments, to graduation and finally release back to the community. Need more information? Call 664-4191.

  
  Inmate Educational Pathway Programs Offered
  (please note: This is subject to change)

  Instructional Phase 1:

  • Adult Basic Literacy (led by NSO GED teacher and Humanities Behind Bars volunteers)
  • GED (taught by Norfolk Public Schools special education instructors)
  • Humanities Behind Bars (5 classes offered ranging from The Politics of US History to 20^th Century African American Music); taught by local professors and educational volunteers 
  • Seven Cities Writers Project (creative writing class taught by local educator)
  • Other Educational Class Instructions

  Instructional Phase 2: "Evidence Based”

  • Alcohol / Chemical Dependency Treatment
  • Anger Management
  • Domestic Violence
  • Balancing Your Life
  • Before and After
  • Choices
  • Fatherhood
  • Motherhood
  • Renewal
  • Thinking for Change
  • 3 Principles
  • Other classes to address Risk Factors

  Instructional Phase 3:

  • Barber Training
  • Cosmetology Training
  • Food Handlers (3 years) or Serve Safe (5 years)
  • Fork Lift Certificate / OSHA (3 days x 5 Hrs)
  • Landscape Design Course (8 Weeks)
  • Money/Financial Management
  • Religious Studies
  • Retail Customer Service
  • Small Business Operations
  • Other Vocational Classes as approved

  Community Partners Identified Phase 4 (Released to Community)

  • Church Groups
  • Non- Profit Org.
  • Others

  See Lifestyles for a description of each course

• Canteen Services

  The Norfolk City Jail provides canteen services which allow family and friends of inmates to provide them with goods to make their stay at the jail a bit more comfortable. These include fresh premium meals (which you must order yourself), as well as snacks and some items of personal clothing, which inmates can purchase themselves using their (outside-funded) canteen account, or which family and friends can purchase directly and have provided to their inmate.
  
  In order to ensure that your loved one receives canteen during their stay at the Norfolk City Jail, please follow these directions.

  To deposit money to an inmate’s canteen account, please mail postal money orders with the inmate’s name and ‘TRN’ clearly printed to:

  Resident Canteen
  (Inmate Name and TRN Number)
  P. O. Box 3908
  Norfolk, VA 23514
  
  The inmate’s name and ‘TRN’ number must be included on the money order and ‘payable to’ the inmate.

  Please send only Postal Money Orders.

  Other ways to credit Canteen accounts:

  • Pay by phone: 1-866-345-1884
  • Online: www.accesscorrections.com
  • Use the kiosk machine in the main lobby of the Public Safety Building, 811 E. City Hall Ave.

  
  Keefe Commissary Network runs the commissary and canteen, but the Sheriff’s Office oversees the program.

• Benefits of Hiring Inmates

  Business owners can hire Norfolk City Jail inmates as part of our Work Release program. Your business can help inmates rise above, and become productive members of our community. Inmates are currently working in several local businesses where they learn trades and valuable skills to help become and remain productive members of society. Sheriff Baron’s program has been a great success for more than 20 years and he’s always looking to create new partnerships.

  Businesses can receive a $2,400 to $9,000 tax break for keeping an inmate employed full time for two years.

  • The offenders assigned to our Work Release Program are all low level custody inmates. This means they require minimal security and staff supervision.
  • About 20+ inmates work for local businesses daily.
  • Inmates choose to participate in the program because of the opportunity for a second chance.
  • Business owners can select their inmates. If you are not satisfied with their work, we can select another inmate.
  • Deputies nominate inmates based on their good work ethic in our Work Force program (i.e. shoveling snow for the City or cleaning Scope).
  • Inmates will not be late because we provide their transportation: dropping them off at work and picking them up to return to the jail at night.

  *You must have a business license, and your business must be within our travel area.

  For more information, contact our Community Corrections Officer in Charge Captain Edwards at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Educational Programs

  HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND GED PROGRAM

  The GED Program’s curriculum is designed to enhance the basic skill level of offenders who need more instruction in order to pass the General Educational Development (GED) test.   This program is taught by NSO staff using GED Academy, an online mobile-friendly course that teaches students exactly what they need to know to pass the GED test. Using built-in practice tests, the adaptive learning system creates a personalized learning plan for each student, bypassing skills they have already mastered. Calvary Revival Church and House of Esther committed to this partnership via donations of tools, services and equipment in order to increase opportunities for a diverse adult student population.

  In partnership with the Norfolk Public Schools and in accordance with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), educational services are provided to inmates under the age of 22 with a history of special education. The program provides services in the areas of GED skills, basic academics, remedial reading, and social skills. A variety of teaching techniques and expertise are implemented to ensure the learning of inmates who exhibit a variety of disabilities and learning modules are met, using GED Academy.

  
  Tidewater Community College

  The Jobs Skills Training Program (JSTP) has developed a comprehensive approach to job skills training and job placement for individuals with barriers to employment. The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office is in partnership with TCC to provide case management, job internships, workforce readiness training, and job follow-up. These 8-12 week programs are offered at no cost for the student. Specialized programs offer customized training for individuals who are incarcerated ranging from welding to certified food manager. JSTP Workforce Solutions offers re-entry programming for returning citizens upon completion of their certification. To qualify, participants must be a parent (between the ages of 18-30 with children 5-18 years old and qualify for RSVP funding).

  
  Department of Justice (DOJ) Adult Reentry Education

  In partnership with Norfolk Public Schools, this program seeks to expand and improve the academic and educational programs available to students to pursue obtaining their GED through competency-based learning and instruction.  Participants are low, medium and high risk for recidivism and low to medium risk for violent tendencies, with some high risk individuals included based on their incarcerated behavior record.  Students will be divided into two groups – Adult Basic Literacy and Adult Secondary Education.  Placement is based on testing results on the test of adult basic education (T.A.B.E.).  By partnering with our jurisdiction school system, we can provide seamless continuation for educational development for participants.  The primary goal of the program will be to expand and improve our educational offerings with support from instructors and facilitate successful completion with the aim of reducing recidivism and increasing participation in targeted groups.  By providing opportunities for education and the skills to succeed after leaving custody, we strive to build a stronger, better community one student at a time.

• Lifestyle

  Alcohol & Chemical Treatment

  A 90-day session, taught by members of the Norfolk Apostolic Church, is a series offering class topics ranging from the effects of drugs, to attitudes, and character building. The curriculum is secular in nature designed to help educate returning citizens.

  
  RENEWAL

  The renewal program is religious based and ensures the constitutional religious rights of inmates protected under the First Amendment. This 90-day program focuses on assisting individuals to improve themselves and their relationships through spiritual growth, acknowledging and confronting sinful natures, improving personal attitudes and reducing antisocial behaviors.   Female students are also provided class instruction on “Women in Crisis”.

  
  CHOICES

  Students participate in a 90-day program offering successful strategies to prepare them for re-entry into the community. As part of the re-entry series, community partners are offered the chance to virtually meet with our students to discuss programming and available resources when they are released.   Sessions range from meetings with employees and volunteers from non-profits, government agencies, private programs, and mental health providers to obtain group or individualized treatment services upon re-entry. Staff members offer an individualized re-entry plan for each student.

  
  FATHERHOOD

  Fatherhood is a nine-week program, held in 90-minute sessions, that inspires and counsels incarcerated fathers in the skills they need to generally repair, strengthen and/or enhance their relationships with their children, thus improving the quality of life for both father and child. Taught in partnership with Tidewater Community College, the curriculum is designed to create an urgency in participants to play an active role in their children’s lives despite their incarceration.   This program illustrates how that can be accomplished, as well as assists with repairing damaged relationships and enlightens them on how their own children can be the final, enduring motivation to break their cycle of incarceration.

  Loving Steps for Dads Program “A Father’s Footprint”

  This Eastern Virginia Medical School program supports building strong families one man at a time. Through free workshops, case management and mentoring services, men can become the dads they always knew they could be. Volunteer instructors offer education, resources and re-entry programs. Healthy fathers create healthy families and foster healthy communities. Instructors also offer an evidence-based parenting education curriculum, “Fathering in 15” through The National Fatherhood Initiative.

  
  THINKING FOR A CHANGE

  This is an evidence-based program that encourages cognitive self-change, social skills, and problem solving. Participants learn processes for self-reflection aimed at uncovering antisocial thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs. It prepares them to engage in pro-social interactions based on self-understanding and consideration of their impact of their actions on others. 

  
  AA & NA CORRECTIONS PROGRAM

  Trained volunteers from Tidewater Intergroup Council of AA Corrections Committee coordinate sessions, in a group setting, with both female and male AA members interested in carrying their message of recovery to alcoholics through virtual meetings and correspondence. Tidewater Intergroup of AA is a fellowship of people in Tidewater, VA who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover for alcoholism.   AA has a pen pal program to support incarcerated alcoholics.

  Volunteers from Narcotics Anonymous offer regularly scheduled meetings for people who want to quit using substances. NA members share their drug-related experiences and provide one another with support, encouragement, and guidance.

  
  Humanities Behind BARS

  HBB is a grassroots network of prison education programs committed to building inside/outside alliances.   This organization not only offers education programming at the jail, but they also facilitate a reading and film series, an inside-outside study group, a pen-pal program, and organize a local mutual aid network fund. This is all done by the collaborative effort of teachers, students, activists and artists. In the group-based studies, they work with formerly and currently imprisoned people and their loved ones.   HBB volunteers offer tutoring services to eligible students. In addition, these courses are offered: (please note: topics are subject to change)

  • Public Speaking and Communication: A student driven course that identifies different types of public speaking and pursues strategies to engage in weekly composition and practice.
  • 20^th Century African American Music: Students conduct historic and critical analysis of African American music covering the 20^th
  • Music and Writing: Students write and record songs in diverse musical genres. Lyrics and melodies are collaboratively written, while students gain hands-on experience with the engineering process necessary to produce full-length musical recordings.
  • Introduction to Philosophy: This class is intended to give students an overview of the discipline of philosophy, and to introduce them to a few key figures in the tradition.  

  
  Seven Cities Writers Project

  This was founded in 2014 to bring cost-free creative writing and literacy support programs to underserved communities. Workshops encourage participants to express themselves in a safe and supportive   environment while homing their writing skills.  

  Courses offered by volunteer instructors:

  • 3 Principles: The empowerment class teaches individuals how to access and sustain inner health and resilience. He class provides support for those who are impacted by addiction, mental health issues and offending behavior.
  • Creative Writing & Poetry:   Workshops offered involve students enrolled in instruction where they write in response to visual and reading prompts, crafting short pieces that share stores from their lives – both challenging and inspiring.

  
  Anger Management

  Anger counseling is designed to help individuals gain a better understanding of acceptable ways to express anger and eliminate aggressive and self-destructive behaviors. Students enrolled in anger management classes learn to recognize and identify the role of individual responsibility in changing their maladaptive behaviors. Anger counseling or anger seminars offers skills for managing anger, and provides assistance in increasing self-esteem and overcoming insecurity especially in provocative situations. Students learn effective coping behaviors in order to halt escalation and to resolve conflicts; process anger and manage it constructively by understanding its psycho-dynamic; learn to express their emotions and needs; become assertive (not aggressive nor passive); maintain self-control and focus on healthy and productive behavior; and develop effective communication skills. Upon graduating this 90-day program, they become eligible for Anger Manager II classes.

  
  Landscape Design:  

  During this 8-week class, students will learn the 12-step process of designing a functional landscape plan. The process includes site evaluation, setting priorities, maintenance requirements, and setting budget. Students will also learn how to organize the landscape space, create a “plan view” scale drawing, and select plant material. In addition, students will have an overview of turf grass and management for the Hampton Roads region. 

  
  Small Business Operations: 

  Training provided to inform, empower and bring awareness of the pitfalls and obstacles many face with startup business.   The programs also bring awareness and recognition to all the resource and support available to begin a business upon their release. 

  
  Barber Training

  Barber training and license course is a 6-month skill based professional barbering program offering classroom instruction and hands-on training. The instructor is a licensed professional barber instructor. Students taking this class should expect to learn study skills, the history of barbering, professional image and human relations, science, infection control, human anatomy, chemistry, professional barbering procedures and the business of barbering. Upon completion of this course, students qualify to test for a Professional Barber License in the State of Virginia.  
  

  
  Motherhood

  The Motherhood Program provides education, information and support for incarcerated mothers and that allows them to better understand the impact of their incarceration on their children and improve the quality of their relationships with their children and caregivers.  

  Motherhood assists offenders in learning to parent from jail. Communication during the incarceration between parents and their children through letters, phone calls and virtual visits is fundamental to keeping relationships stable and consistent as well as increasing the bond between parent and child.

  Staff work with inmates to match formerly incarcerated individuals with volunteers in the community to provide the social support. This is done by our staff through the re-entry plan prior to the inmate’s release. In addition to communicating via virtual platform and written letters, 2 creative activities will be delivered via US mail to families such as holiday cards, celebrations for mother’s day, father’s day, etc.   Vision boards focusing on future parenting concepts will be designed as part of classroom activities.

  Additionally, in partnership with EVMS and the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Healthy Start Initiative “Loving Steps” program provides free services to help moms and their children re-connect. Healthy Start is a national project created to improve the health of mothers and their children. “Loving Steps,” offers intensive case management services and care coordination by a multidisciplinary team.

  
  Second Chances

  Second Chances is a 12-week program that consist of parenting, reentry, cognitive behavior therapy, and a letter campaign. Programmatic topics include co-parenting, effective communication skills, impact on the family, and effective listening to name a few. In essence, the program is designed to gradually reintroduce the fathers/mothers back in the lives of the children and provide educational sessions to both parents/caregivers to assist with the reintegration of the father/mother. Throughout the program, the fathers/mothers are encouraged to write letters to their children to assist with opening up the lines of communication. The father/mother has an opportunity to have a face-to-face visit with their child or children. 

  
  Mindfulness and Mental Health: Let’s Talk About It

  Under the guidance of Kylee Park, PhD. LPC, the “Mindfulness and Mental Health: Let’s Talk About It” program offers a select groups of male and female residents the chance to participate in this project. The program aims to improve mental health literacy and mental well-being of groups via psychoeducational classes on topics such as grief, anger management, mental health, substance use, suicide prevention, communication skills and trauma.

  This project is a part of the HOPES Free Clinic Community-Engaged Learning initiative and also aims to establish a warm hand-off between the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office and the HOPES Free Clinic. Participants will be provided with information regarding the HOPES Free Clinic and their partners if they are eligible and choose to seek medical care through HOPES upon their release.

   
  RSAT

  Residential Substance Abuse Program is a 12-week intensive program that meets 3 days a week for a total of 6 hours weekly. The program courses and groups consist of cognitive behavior therapy, trauma, grief and loss, and re-entry counseling. The program is designed to educate clients on how one’s thinking influences behavior and to help the client identify and change faulty thinking patterns and self-sabotaging behaviors. Other aspects of the course include being educated on understanding emotions, relapse prevention, and effective coping skills. The client has the option of receiving individual counseling as needed. The client will also participate in transitional planning, be educated on community resources, and will be linked to services to promote success as they re-enter society. The program also has a medication-assisted component in which clients (depending on substance use and recommendations by the psychiatrist) will receive medication assistance to reduce and eliminate drug and alcohol cravings. The client will receive the medication treatment at least 2 weeks upon release to assist in transitioning, and will be linked to a community provider to continue treatment after release.

  
  CBT Program

  An evidence-based program and a form of psychotherapy that teaches offenders specific cognitive and behavior skills to help them manage depression, mood swings, anxiety and stress.   The client is offered counseling sessions upon their release as part of the CBT reentry plan.

  
  Addiction Recovery

  The Addiction Recovery Program provides participants who have co-occurring substance abuse and mental health issues a treatment program offering cognitive behavior treatment therapy with group and individual counseling from licensed clinical therapists, reentry classes and services, and trauma informed care classes. Begun in 2017, over 270 inmates have participated in the program and program graduates have shown to have a reduction in recidivism of over 50%. This program is funded through a grant provided by the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

  
  Call 757-664-4191 for information!

• Personal Property

  New Admits to the NCJ cannot bring any personal items with them when booked into the facility.  Any items found on your person will be vouchered and stored for pickup upon release. 

  However, certain approved items listed below can be either purchased or requested via an indigent application. These items must be kept inside the issued personal property container which can be searched without notice for the safety and security of the facility.

  • Personal hygiene items
  • Canteen items
  • 5 books, magazines,
  • 3 personal legal pads (soft back)
  • Religious materials
  • All personal undergarments
  • Legal materials
  • Personal ID
  • Cup and spoon
  • Authorized medications
  • Prescription eyeglasses
  • Newspapers (less than 3 days old)
• Addiction Help

  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program

  A court ordered, 90 day Individual and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Program for individuals with co-occurring disorders (one or more substance abuse disorders and one or more psychiatric disorders at the same time). Funding for this program will serve 15 offender groups each week for three years and excludes state inmates.

  CBT is a form of psychotherapy that teaches offenders specific cognitive and behavior skills to help them manage depression, mood swings, anxiety, stress, etc.

  Addiction is a disease. Focus is to learn about addiction process and how alcohol/drugs have affected the offender’s body and life.

  Group sessions focus on the desire to use, recent relapses, struggles with potent emotions, and/or conflicts with other group members or family members.

  One treatment plan addresses both substance abuse and mental health needs. Integrated services are important because people with co-occurring disorders have a better chance of recovery from both when they receive combined or integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment from the same clinician or treatment team. 

  ADDICTION RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM

  The Addiction Recovery Program aims to help our inmates with substance abuse and other mental health issues address their illnesses and prepare for a better life upon their release from incarceration. It is designed to provide co-occurring substance abuse and mental health inmates a treatment program offering cognitive behavior treatment therapy with group and individual counseling from licensed clinical therapists, reentry classes and services, and trauma informed care classes. 

  The goals of this program are to decrease recidivism, enhance public safety, and close gaps in the existing continuum of care to the city’s vulnerable populations. This provides programming and release plans for mental health inmates with an in-custody program prior to their release from custody. We are the first Sheriff’s Office to offer this kind of treatment in Virginia. It was funded by a $48,000 grant from the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

  NA/AA

  Each Thursday, eligible inmates participate in weekly NA/AA group alcohol and drug treatment. Classes for men and women are on Thursday nights. The Tidewater AA Council provides the group counseling service.
  
  

  For more information, call us at 664-4191.

• Contraband

  The following items are considered to be contraband by the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office as it applies to the residents and staff:

  • Any articles of clothing found to be altered for another purpose. 
  • Any flammable device 
  • Provocative Drawings or Pictures
  • Photographs
  • Money 
  • Jewelry 
  • Excessive amounts of authorized items 
  • Items which are illegal to posses by law 
  • Electronic Devices (Unless Medical Related) 

  And any other items deemed to be contraband by the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office.

• Inmate Property Retrieval

  Property being held by the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office can be recovered at the property window located at the back of the jail.

  Property Window hours of operation are:

  • Monday to Friday, 7:00am – 4:00pm
  • Closed on weekends and holidays

  
  Directions: Take Union Street past City Hall and proceed to the intersection with East Street. Cross the intersection and the window will be on your left.

  An inmate must take his/her property with them immediately upon release from the jail.

  If an inmate is transferred to another lockup or to the state (corrections), he/she (or family member) has 30 days to retrieve his/her property.

  Bring the receipt you received during intake and a photo I.D. To claim the property of an inmate at the Norfolk City Jail the inmate is required to complete a property release form. To receive the property you must have the property release form and show proper identification at the time of pick-up.

• CONTRABAND

  Drugs/Chemical compounds

  Bodily fluid, waste

  All Photos/Pictures

  All tobacco products or incendiary items or devices i.e. matches, lighters, etc.

  Any packages

  Any envelopes over 6×9 inches

  Money orders/cash/checks/credit, debit, and phone cards

  Lottery tickets

  Blank stationary, blank paper, stamps and/or envelopes

  Mail sprayed with perfume/cologne, any unknown substance or lipstick

  Musical cards, cards with ribbons, stickers, velvet, glitter, plastic or other attachments, newspaper clippings, pages torn from magazines or books or pop-up cards

  Letters with crayon/letters with color pencil markings

  Unauthorized correspondence from other facilities, jails, etc.

  Magazines and books not sent directly from the publisher

  Magazines and/or books containing sexually explicit material, information about the fabrication of weapons or explosive devices, any gang related material, literature advocating overthrow of government, whether sent from publisher or citizen

  No return address

  Gang related material/coded letters

  Printed internet pages

  Copies of pages from books (copyright material)

  Lyrics or sheet music

  Calendars/Maps

  Envelopes with bubble/insulated wrap

  Tattoo stencils/paraphernalia

  Jewelry

  Other

• Norfolk Circuit Court Reentry Docket (NCCRD)

  The Norfolk Circuit Court Reentry Docket (NCCRD) is a coordinated effort of Norfolk Circuit Court, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, Norfolk Probation and Parole, Norfolk Public Defender’s Office, and City of Norfolk.

  NCCRD is intended to develop and promote an effective and efficient system of substance abuse treatment, accountability, and successful reintegration into the community for its participants.

  NCCRD will provide coordinated and comprehensive reentry planning, supervision, substance abuse treatment, case management, and judicial oversight with the goals of reducing recidivism, increasing public safety, and increasing participation in targeted services to meet offender needs.

  NCCRD is a Second Chance Act federally funded program. It is the first of its kind in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

  RE-ENTRY DOCKET PHASES

  Pre-Release Phase: Norfolk City Jail Programming

  6 months prior to release date

  Screened for need/eligibility of the following: Life skills and cognitive thinking, employment skills, anger management, money management, domestic violence education, substance abuse treatment, GED preparation/exam, work release or GPS monitoring, and housing services.

  The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office offers a wide range of opportunities to help inmates successfully reenter society.

• Jail Issued Property

  Residents of the Norfolk City Jail are issued the following items upon intake.

  • 1 Norfolk City Jail Jumpsuit
  • 1 Blue Property Container
  • 1 Pair of shower shoes
  • 1 Personal Hygiene kit
  • 1 Mattress with pillow attached
  • 1 Blanket
  • 2 Sheets
  • 1 Spoon
  • 1 Cup

  If an item is damaged missing or destroyed the inmate is charged the price of that item to replace it.