Nelson County Jail – Lovingston, VA

Nelson County Jail is in Nelson County, VA and is the primary jail for this region. Do you know somebody locked up at Nelson County Jail? This site gives you about anything you might want to know about Nelson County Jail: Find an inmate at Nelson County Jail. Find inmate mugshots. The jail’s address and phone number. Bail and bail bondsmen. Nelson County Jail intake procedures. Court information and records. And much, much more.

The thought of going to jail is a scary and daunting thought, not only for whoever gets locked up, but also that person’s friends and family. The goal of this guide is to give information and tips that you need to make helping someone get out of jail less stressful. If you have a specific question, feel free to ask them, and please leave any feedback or comments that would help others is welcome.

Do you have a family member, loved one, or friend that has gone to jail and need to find them?

Has someone that has been arrested and you don’t know how to find out what jail they’re in?

In order to look up who is in jail at Nelson County Jail you have to visit their link and do an inmate lookup.

The Nelson County Jail Inmate Roster has information on people currently in custody, including custody status, bail amount (if applicable), and times you can visit. Also, you can get information on anybody arrested and processed or discharged within the past 24 hours. Prisoners are listed in alphabetical order by their last name. You can locate the information quicker if you’ve got the arrestee’s full name, birth date, or inmate ID Number.

If your friend or family member is in a different jail you should look here, too: Virginia County Jails Listing

A mugshot, also called a jail processing photograph, is the picture that the police take when you get processed at jail intake. A mugshot is make of one face photo and a side picture. Your name and intake number will be in the photos, and they will be stored.

Mugshots of Nelson County Jail inmates can be viewed on the website, or you can see them at the Nelson County Jail. When viewing online you have to enter their full name, and a booking date, if you have it.

Want to have your mugshot taken off of the Nelson County Jail website? This may not be possible, as the mugshot is a matter of public record. To get your mugshot removed you must file a ‘Petition to Expunge’. What this means is that the record of your arrest will be sealed, and will not be accessible. Depending on your situation, this may be a longshot.

To learn more about getting your mugshot taken down, the various mugshot websites, and the mugshot removal services: Mugshot Removal

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Of course, if you’re locked up, your only thought is when and how to get out. After you’ve gone through the intake process, your bail amount is determined either by bail schedule or magistrate. In cases where no bail is set this can mean that you will either be released, or you must remain in jail until your trial.

If you do bail out of jail you are required to promise to show up for court, and until then you won’t be permitted to travel out of the county.

Typically, a prisoner in the Nelson County Jail will be given an early release in exchange for good behavior when they follow the rules and area a good inmate while incarcerated.

If you prove to be trustworthy, you might be allowed to participate in work release. You will either have to stay the jail each day when you’re finished at your job, or you may have the chance to sleep in a halfway house when you are not working.

Bail is the amount of money that you will be required to pay to be released from jail until your court date. The amount you will have to pay all depends on how serious your crime is. You will have to post 10 percent of the total set so you can get out of jail. If you don’t go to your court appearance, whoever posted your bail will lose that bail money.

To find out how much bail money you will need to bail someone out of jail have to call the Nelson County Jail or the County Courthouse. If you have all the person’s information, such as name, address and date of birth, they’ll let you know what their bail is set at. You can also check their bail amount and status on the jail website.

Having to bail someone out of jail is never fun, but in some cases, it’s very simple to do. To start with, you need to know if their bail is a Cash Only Bond situation. If so, you won’t be able to use a bail bondsman. Take cash only to the jail – they won’t accept a check. When you’ve paid bail, the person will be discharged. If the conditions of bail are not violated, you will get this money back.

If bail is set too high, of if you can’t pay it, you might need to use a bail bondsman. Bail bondsmen generally charge you a fee of 10 to 15 percent of the total amount of bail set, and sometimes charge a minimum of $100. The amount you pay to the bondsman will not be returned to you and must be paid in cash. If the bail is extremely high, the bail bondsman will request to use your personal assets as collateral.

To contact a bail bondsman go to: Find a Bail Bondsman in Nelson County

Have you ever used a bondsman either for yourself, a family member or friend? If so, leave a comment below and tell your story, and let us know how it worked out for you.

Click here to leave a comment

• Get Time Off For Good Behavior
• Work Release Programs
• Time Served
• Pre-Trial Release Programs
• Get Released on House Arrest
• Get Released on Your Own Recognizance

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The intake process is made up of the following steps:

• You will get put in a holding cell. If the jail is really busy, you may not be processed immediately.
• You will have to answer a bunch of questions, like what is your full name, address, birthdate and a contact person.
• You will also be asked about your medical and mental history.
• You’ll be given an inmate ID number.
• You will be fingerprinted.
• They will take your mugshot.
• Any personal property you have will be taken from you and stored until you are discharged.
• You will be allowed to make a telephone call so you can get in touch with a member of your family, friend, or bondsman to arrange bail.
• If you are expected to be released quickly, you might be able to wear your street clothes, otherwise you will be given a jail uniform – the jumpsuit.

Have you been arrested and gone through jail intake? If you have, you should tell us how it happened. How long did it take to get through intake? How did the guards treat you? Can you tell us things that could help others to get through the procedure?

Click here to tell about all about it

Once bail has been posted, you will be discharged from jail. Getting discharged may take between 10 minutes to hours or even all day long. Or, simply, the faster you post bail, the quicker you will get let go. How quickly you get discharged might depend on whether you have a cash bond or if the magistrate has to decide on how much to set your bail at. For minor offenses, you will get booked and get released without having to post bail. If you have served a sentence in jail and have a release date, you should expect to get released anywhere between the hours of 9am and 12pm.

If the police have a, or if you need to report to start a sentence, it is highly advisable that you follow the rules and turn yourself into the authorities. In the case of an outstanding warrant, go down to the jail processing area, and tell someone that think that there is an outstanding warrant for your arrest. They will do a record check, and if there is one, they will take you into custody. If you have a jail sentence to serve, report to the jail at the exact time and date that the sentence order or court paperwork states. Ensure that you get don’t get there late, or they may decide to arrest you. Just bring necessary items when you turn yourself in, for example a driver’s license or even state issued ID, prescription medication, as well as the sentencing order.

Inmates must list each visitor’s name to the jail in advance of the visit. Your visitor’s names will be put in the log for the inmate that requested the visitor. Every visitor must provide a photo ID when visiting. Anyone arriving late or that is not an approved visitor will not be allowed to visit the inmate.
The Nelson County Jail visitation procedures can change, so make sure that you check the jail site before you go.

Phone calls that inmates are allowed to make from jail are collect calls or through a pre-paid phone account. These phone calls are a lot pricier than phone calls made at home. Phone calls are restricted on how often you can use the phone, but you should keep in mind that there are a limited number of phones, so all the inmates must share phone time. If you are disciplined for an infraction, an inmate’s phone privileges might get reduced or totally denied.

Phone Number: 434-263-7050

All inmate mail must be mailed using the US Postal Service. You cannot use any other method of mail or package delivery. You have to print the prisoner’s name, inmate number, and the address of the jail on the letter that you send. Do not send a package, padded envelope, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope with any metal in it. Any mail sent to inmates will be opened and read by the officers at the jail, and will be returned if they decide it is inappropriate.

The address that you should use if you are sending a letter to an inmate at Nelson County Jail is:

Nelson County Jail
84 Court House Square
Lovingston, VA 22949

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Nelson County Jail
84 Court House Square
Lovingston, VA 22949

The Nelson County Jail inmate mail policy changes frequently, so you should double check the site when you send a letter to an inmate.

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When you get arrested, you need to be aware that you still have rights, the first of which is that you have the right to request an attorney. You won’t get many phone calls in jail, so it is a good idea to get a friend or family member to find a lawyer when you call. You might be asking yourself ‘why do I need an attorney?’ You are not required to have an attorney for some criminal charges, a criminal attorney will advise you about your rights, look after your best interests and show you the way through the legal system. The quicker you hire a lawyer to represent you and work on your case, the better.

For more info on how to find an attorney, visit: How to Find an Attorney in Nelson County

If you are in trouble, but can’t afford a lawyer, you will get a public defender. The Public Defender Office has access to private investigators, crime scene and forensics experts as well as social workers. Public Defenders are licensed lawyers, members of the State Bar and are licensed to practice law and represent you in court.

Have you or someone you know had to use a court appointed attorney or Public Defender? Do you think they properly handled your case?

Nelson County court records are public records and are available upon request. They are comprised of a case file containing a docket and every documents filed during your court case. You have the ability to access your court case records using the Nelson County website, or at the Clerk of Court.

The Clerk of Court is an official part of the court that maintains court records and controls access to them. They also administer the oath for any court participant who must be under oath, and also read the verdict when decided by the jury. All court records associated with your court case are available at Clerk of Court.

Court fees are the fees and charges from your court case, which include filing fees, motion and claim fees, and court charges. If you are low income and have a court appointed attorney, you can get a waiver for these fees.

The magistrate acts as the judge that rules on your case. They do many different things, such as setting your bail amount, issuing arrest warrants, and acting as the presiding judge over initial court appearances and detention proceedings.

Your pre-sentencing report is completed with your background information and details of the defendant’s life and history, which the judge will take into consideration when decide your sentence. Information will be collected from the defendant, their family, and in some cases the victim in the crime. Keep in mind that you should ask to receive a copy of this report before sentencing, so you have the opportunity to review it for accuracy and completeness, and correct any mistakes.

If you get convicted of a crime, you will be given a sentence for your crime. The judge will have several different options when sentencing you, including community service, house arrest, and probation, to prison or jail time. Depending on the particulars of your trial, the severity of your crime, and any sentencing guidelines that they judge will use, you could be taken into custody, right there in court, or you could receive a date that you are required to go to jail to serve your jail time according to your sentence.

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Do you want to find out if somebody you know is incarcerated, or has been an inmate in the past?

To find this out you should visit the jail website and do an inmate search, and search using:

• Name.
• Birth date.
• Their booking date.
• and their jail ID.

If you’re not sure if this person is in jail, you can call the jail find out if they’ve been arrested.

If you have a warrant out for your arrest, you can check the court records on the Nelson County jail website or call the court directly. You have to have the person’s first and last name. Or, you can just go the jail in person and ask them. You should be clear that if there is a warrant for your arrest, you will be taken into custody immediately.

If you know the person’s name, and the date of their arrest, contact the jail, by phone, in person, or check online. An arrest is in the public record and these records are available to anyone.

A Civil Process is when you are served with legal papers, which can be , subpoenas, and arrest warrants. You can find these civil process orders by getting in touch with the Sheriff’s office, online or by phone.

All convicted sex offenders are listed and registered on a sex offender database. Those listed on these databases have been tried by jury and convicted in a court of law of a sex or kidnapping crime. You are able to view sex offenders on the internet, but you should know that you will not be able to find the actual address, but only the block they live on.

Court Records are public records and available to anyone. They include a court case file containing a docket sheet and any filings and documents filed in your court case. You can access your court records on the website, or at the Nelson County Clerk of Court in the jurisdiction where the case was filed.

Each and every state keeps a record of their state citizen’s criminal history. These online databases are all connected so you are able to track criminal histories from any other state. You can go to county courthouse and make an inquiry, or check online. It is helpful to know the county, and if the crime was in a completely different state, you may have to pay a fee for a more comprehensive search.

When you look up someone’s criminal record you will get a report detailing any arrests, charges, or convictions that may be on a person’s record for these crimes:

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
• Drug Possession of Drug Trafficking.
• Kidnapping.
• Sexual offenses including rape, assault.
• Violent crimes.
• Property crimes like theft or larceny.

But, when you do a criminal records check, in most cases will not see if that person has had any moving violations, like:

• Speeding.
• Drivers license revoked or suspended.
• Been in a traffic accident.
• Minor infractions or moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To search for this information, you must do a driving records search.

Have you ever searched for criminal records? Was it easy? Was your search online or did you make a phone call to the Nelson County courthouse? Did you get information that was correct? There are many reasons that people search for criminal records, and your story could make it easier for others.

Tell Your Story

Most Wanted

The FBI keeps a list of the Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Nelson County,The Sheriff’s Department has their own list of the most wanted criminals, that you can access online.

FBI Ten Most Wanted List: External Link


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Everyone knows that being incarcerated in the Nelson County jail is no fun, eventually you will get used to the routine that is set for you in jail. You will get an alarm to wake up at about 6am, and then you’ll have roll call. Then you will get breakfast. When you finish breakfast you will be required to work in the program that has been assigned to you. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Nelson County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Nelson County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The procedure to send money to someone in jail might change, so be sure to review the official Nelson County Jail site when you send funds to an inmate.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Nelson County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Nelson County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Nelson County Jail

Requirements:

• You have to be over the age of 21.
• You have to possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You have to be a US Citizen.
• You have to pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You have to pass a drug test.
• You have to have a good level of fitness.
• You have to be in good health.
• You have to have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

Click here to post a comment


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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• You have the right to protection from the accused.
• You have the right to notification.
• You have the right to attend proceedings.
• You have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• You have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• You have the right to restitution.
• You have the right to a speedy trial.
• You have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

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Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever been an inmate in Nelson County Jail? Do you know someone that is an inmate there? Have you ever visited an inmate at this jail?

If your answer is yes, then you should write a review about it. Tell us about your experience so that others will know what to expect.

Things you might want to write in your comment:

• Conditions at the jail.
• Jail, yard and pod facility and layout
• Jail staff and Guards
• Jail food and commissary
• Having Visitors
• Other Inmates.
• Safety
• Gangs
• Inmate programs and activities


Click here to write your review

Tell Your Story

Everbody that’s been incarcerated has some stories about their time ‘inside’. Why’d you get arrested? Did you get fair treatment? What was it like in jail? What about the other inmates? Did going to jail affect your life? How?

Tell your story about when you did time at Nelson County Jail

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Did you make friends in jail? Trying to send a message to a person you met in jail? Send a message to them here.

Say Hello to Nelson County Jail


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