Central Virginia Correctional Unit
The Central Virginia Correctional Unit is a field unit for female inmates that is located in Chesterfield, Virginia. This is a minimum/medium-custody facility that can house approximately 268 offenders.
All inmates housed at this facility must be free of disciplinary issues for at least two years and have zero escape attempts. Inmates convicted of murder, kidnapping/abduction, and sexual offenses are not eligible to be housed at Central Virginia Correctional Unit.
Prison Insights
Central Virginia Correctional Unit
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Visiting Hours and Rules
Visiting hours at Central Virginia Correctional Unit are on Saturdays and Sundays and the schedule rotates based on the first letter of the inmate's last name. For the current schedule, call the Central Virginia Correctional Unit directly.
Applying for Visitation
You must submit an application and get approval from the Virginia Department of Corrections before visiting an inmate at Central Virginia Correctional Unit. You can submit a visitation application online.
Minors visitors must have their application attached to an adult application. Complete the online visitation application and then follow the prompts to add a minor. If needed, you can add more than one minor to your application.
If you are not the minor's parent or legal guardian, permission must be documented on a Notarized Statement – Minor Visitor form.
You will receive an email letting you know if you are approved to visit or explaining the reason(s) for disapproval.
What to Bring to a Visit
One valid photo ID that matches the information on your application is required to enter the visiting room (acceptable forms of ID include Driver’s License, Passport, Military ID, or Other official picture ID issued by a federal or state agency).
The only other items allowed in the visiting room are:
- Visitor's pass
- A maximum of $20.00 in coins (no paper money) per adult visitor
- Personal vehicle key only (“keyless” keys are not authorized)
- DOC locker key (if applicable)
- Essential items for infant feeding to include one nursing cover for breastfeeding
All other property should be locked in your vehicle.
Visitors are not allowed to bring property, packages, food, cash money, checks, money orders, lottery tickets, negotiable items, or any other item into the visiting room. If you attempt to give such items to offenders, you will have your visit terminated and you may lose your visiting privileges.
All visitors are subject to search by electronic scanning and detection devices, pat-down frisk searches, and contraband detection canines.
Dress Code
Everyone, including children, must follow the dress code when visiting an inmate at Central Virginia Correctional Unit.
- Clothing must cover from the neck to the kneecaps.
- All visitors must wear underwear and foot wear. No bare feet are allowed.
- Watches and all wearable technology devices (i.e. google glasses) are prohibited.
- Clothing that resembles offender clothing other than denim is prohibited.
- The following types of clothing are not allowed to be worn:
- Tube tops, tank tops, or halter tops
- Clothes that expose a person’s midriff, side, or back
- Mini-skirts, mini-dresses, shorts, skorts, or culottes (at or above the kneecap)
- Form-fitting clothes such as leotards, spandex, leggings, and jeggings (Form-fitting clothes worn under clothing that covers from the neck to the kneecaps and otherwise meets the visitor attire requirements is permitted).
- See-through clothing (Clothing that exposes the visitor’s undergarments, torso, and/ or skin above the knee caps is prohibited)
- Tops or dresses that have revealing necklines and/or excessive splits
- Clothing that contains symbols or signs with inappropriate language or graphics, including gang symbols, racist comments, inflammatory communications, etc.
- Coats, jackets, shawls, and scarves will be placed in an appropriate area designated by the facility
Video Visitation
The Virginia DOC offers video visitation in partnership with Assisting Families of Inmates (AFOI). To begin the video visitation application process, submit the' standard visitation application and get approval. Then, mail a completed video visitation application with the fee to the appropriate AFOI video visitation center. You can find more information on video visitation fees on the AFOI website.
AFOI visitation centers usually host video visits on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hours do vary. You can see the current list of AFOI visitation centers on the organization's website.
Physical Address
Central Virginia Correctional Unit
6900 Courthouse Road
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/HW7gZN4ud16eZcMr8
General Phone Number
(804)-796-4277
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate name and DOC number
Central Virginia Correctional Unit
6900 Courthouse Road
Chesterfield, VA 23832
The Virginia DOC photocopies all incoming inmate mail. Only the photocopies are given to the inmates. Staff will shred the original envelope and enclosed contents, including personal photos after they are photocopied. Watch this video to see how the Virginia DOC distributes mail.
A maximum of three 8.5”X 11” photocopied black and white pages, front and back, are allowed per mailing. The copy of the envelope is included as one of the three front and back photocopied pages.
Accepted Mail:
- Letters
- Greeting cards
- Postcards
- Appropriate photos (no pornographic, obscene, or offensive imagery)
Rejected Mail:
- Money orders, cash, checks, or other items of monetary value (send money to an offender with JPay)
- Postage stamps
- Prepaid postage envelopes or postcards
- Nude or semi-nude images of anyone
- Contraband or other items not in compliance with Operating Procedure 802.1
How to Call an Inmate
You can't call an inmate at Central Virginia Correctional Unit, but they do have access to phones during certain hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Virginia, please click here.
How to Send Money
There are a variety of ways to send money to your inmate at Central Virginia Correctional Unit. Please do not mail money – including checks and cash – to your inmate because it will be rejected.
Online or Mobile App:
The fastest way to send money with a credit or debit card is an online payment through JPay. To send money directly from a mobile device, download the JPay mobile app (Android, Apple iOS).
Phone:
Call JPay at 1 (800) 574-5729 to make payments over the phone any time 24/7.
Cash:
Make a cash deposit at any MoneyGram agent location (including Walmart and CVS Pharmacy). View the list of nearby MoneyGram locations.
Money Order:
Send all money orders with a deposit slip to:
JPay
P.O. Box 278170
Miramar, FL 33027
Programs For Inmates
Adult Basic Education: Inmates receive instruction in literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills. ABE leads to adult secondary studies in preparation for High School Equivalency (HSE).
Aggression Alternative Skills: Inmates learn how to effectively deal with feelings of anger and how to apply cognitive self-change and aggression replacement skills to their identified problem situations.
Business Software Applications: This program helps students gain a mastery of business software applications and personal computer operations. It emphasizes proficiency with the Microsoft Office application suite. Students study basic computer network concepts and software installation, configuration, and keyboarding skills.
Cognitive Behavior Intervention with Substance Abusers: A substance abuse program designed specifically for prison inmates. It places heavy emphasis on skill-building activities to assist with cognitive, social, emotional, and coping skill development.
Cognitive Therapeutic Community: This program is for offenders with medium to high substance abuse treatment needs combined with medium to high cognitive behavioral treatment needs. This program lasts a minimum of 24 months.
Commercial Foods: Students learn to prepare foods for restaurants, cafeterias, and other eating establishments. They also learn how to prepare foods using the different methods, proper use and care of commercial food service equipment, and food service health and sanitation rules.
Computer Literacy: Students learn basic computer skills with emphasis on word processing, spreadsheets, and basic use of the internet.
Decision Points: A cognitive-behavioral curriculum designed to teach inmates alternative ways to examine their thinking and the actions that lead them into trouble.
High School Equivalency: Adult secondary level instruction ends when offenders pass the GED HSE exam approved by the Virginia Department of Education.
Intro to Computers: This program teaches basic personal computer operations. Students learn keyboarding and numeric data entry, file management, and navigation techniques of a Windows-based operating system, as well as oral and written business communication skills.
Parenting: Inmates learn basic parenting skills. They include: how to communicate more effectively, realistic expectations of children, appropriate anger, and stress management, alternative discipline methods, work toward a healthy self-esteem, and how to build their child’s self- esteem.
Preventing Relapse by Educating for Parole Success (PREPS): This program helps inmates address physical, emotional, psychological, and physiological issues that can affect their successful adaptation to society after release.
Re-entry Money Smart – Making Cents out of your Finances: Participants view short video segments, including: Understanding Your Paycheck, Planning for Rainy Days and Your Future, Managing Your Expenses Online, Borrowing and Paying Your Debts, and Living Within Your Means and Sharing With Others.
Resources for Successful Living: This program helps inmates find resources for successful re-entry to society. Seminars cover topics like managing new relationships, maintaining health, and using resources like the Virginia Department of Social Services, and the Virginia Department of Veteran Services.
Road to Success: Provides re-entry and transitional services and programming to inmates at work centers and field units across Virginia.
Special Education – Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that meet the needs of individuals who qualify for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).
Substance Abuse 12-step (AA and NA) – These twelve-step programs are a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems.
Thinking for a Change – This program teaches inmates appropriate social skills, helps them develop their problem-solving strategies, and teaches them appropriate cognitive restructuring techniques.
Pictures of Central Virginia Correctional Unit
Careers at Central Virginia Correctional Unit
If you are interested in a career with the Virginia Department of Corrections and would like more information about job listings at the Central Virginia Correctional Unit, click here.