As a diverse, professional law enforcement agency, we will serve and protect every person within the City of Roanoke through quality law enforcement, court, correctional, civil process, and customer-focused services.

Quick Links

New Inmate Artwork 7.2022

07-26-23 01:51pm

Please take a moment to view our inmate art as our inmates continue to showcase their talents and creativity. We will continue to update our blog with art each month. As time goes on, we hope to create a permanent gallery of inmate art.


New Inmate Artwork 4.2022

04-06-22 12:16pm

As previously noted, our inmates continue to showcase their talents and create art. Please take a look at the creativity recently submitted. We will continue to update some of their art each month. As time goes on, we hope to create a permanent gallery of inmate art.


Update: Fingerprinting

03-17-22 02:24pm

Effective 2/8/2022, fingerprinting for the Sex Offender Registry is available Monday - Thursday 9:00AM-12:00PM.

Public Fingerprinting for employment purposes is available Monday - Thursday 1:00PM-4:00PM. ** Please note: two cards are required and each card is $5.00 each.

Fingerprinting is done on the 2nd floor of the Administrative offices located at 340 Campbell Ave SW.


New Inmate Artwork 3.2022

03-17-22 01:55pm

Our inmates continue to showcase their talents and create art. We will continue to display some of their work each month. As time goes on, we hope to create a permanent gallery of inmate art.


Inmate Artwork

01-31-22 03:26pm

Prior to Covid restrictions being placed in our facility, inmates were given the opportunity to attend art classes taught by our talented teacher, Jennifer Hollingsworth-Austin. This was a very popular class and we are looking forward to being able to offer it again in the future. In the meantime, art has been created by inmates on their own time and we will be displaying some of their work each month. As time goes on, we hope to create a permanent gallery of inmate art.


Roanoke Sheriff’s Office awarded Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF)

12-21-21 11:14am

The Roanoke Sheriff’s Office was awarded a $50,000 grant (CESF) funded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. These funds will support a broad range of activities to prepare, prevent and respond because to of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sheriff Bell appreciates the staff for preparing for this grant and the support of City Manager, Bob Cowell in this process.


Jail Library Needs Donations

11-29-21 10:07am

Many people are surprised to hear the jail has a library, but it is one of the most popular and important services offered to the inmates. Everything from science and math, to James Patterson and Bible study guides, are requested each day from the library. Reading not only helps inmates pass the time, it also helps them learn new concepts and ideas in order to better themselves while incarcerated.

Unfortunately, there is currently no budget for buying new reading materials for the library so we rely on donations. If you have books and magazines at home that you no longer want, we would love to have them. We cannot accept hardcover items, but any paperback books or magazines are welcome.

Most requested items include:

Celebrity, sports, fashion, and car magazines
Spanish language materials
Bibles and other religious texts (Qurans, Buddhist texts, etc.)
Popular fiction: James Patterson, Stuart Woods, David Baldacci, etc.
Teen fantasy: Harry Potter, Rick Riordan, etc.
Adult science fiction and fantasy

Any paperback books and magazines are always welcome though!

If you are interested in donating items, please call the jail librarian Jennifer Kolesar at 540 853-5850 or email her at Jennifer.kolesar@roanokeva.gov for further information.


New Department Website

11-09-21 02:00pm

The Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce an updated and easy to navigate website for the City of Roanoke residents. This new website gives insight to the community about the operations of the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office. Information found on the website includes command staff, the different divisions, blogs, links to social media as well as recruitment and hiring, among many other things. The Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office strives to have improved online community engagement, while allowing the chance to show how hard our department works for the City of Roanoke. Many resources will be available such as hiring deputies for off duty, requesting deputies for community events as well as writing in requests for a variety of needs.

The Planning and Research team continues to develop new resources for its website under the Direction of Sheriff Antonio Hash with primary development by Dylan Jones.



Our Facebook page