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NNSO badge Property Services

Personal belongings of people arrested and housed in the City Jail or Annex are inventoried and vacuum-sealed for storage in the property room.  Each inmate has one garment bag for their property (clothing, wallet, jewelry, other items they brought into the jail).

Not all personal belongings are accepted during the booking process. They may be destroyed (such as food or hazardous materials) or be stored at the Newport News Police Department’s Property & Evidence Room.

While incarcerated, everything an inmate will need is either issued to them, available for purchase through the commissary or issued by the medical staff. For security, safety and sanitation reasons, inmates may purchase  items from the jail commissary, such as snacks, hygiene items, additional clothing or writing supplies. For that reason, clothing, books, toiletries, over-the-counter medications and other sundries will not be accepted by the Jail staff.

Approved Property Includes:

  • Prescription medications (prescription container) must be valid and current
  • Prescription eyewear (no  sunglasses)
  • Dentures
  • Hearing Aids & Batteries
  • Contacts and saline solutions (sealed vials/bottles)
  • Medical devices ordered by a physician (for instance, a CPAP machine)

You can mail stationary, books or religious items to an inmate directly from a store or publisher only. Please refer to our Inmate Correspondence page to learn more.

Property Release Information

The City Jail Property Office releases an inmate’s property to a third party as quickly and efficiently as possible. To accomplish this, an inmate must initiate the release or exchange of clothing and/or personal property by submitting a Property Release Form. The receiving person must be at least 18 years old, be named on the release form and show a valid photo ID.

Dropping Off/Picking Up Property for an Inmate

  • Only adults with a valid photo ID may pick up property for an inmate.
  • You must be the person specified by the inmate.
  • Only those items listed as to be released will be released.
  • The receiver must sign the Property Release Form upon receipt of property.
  • There must be approval from medical staff or Services Administrator before delivery of any medical items.

You may drop off approved items or pick up property at the Jail Lobby, located at 224 26th Street, Tuesday through Friday between 8:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.  A valid photo ID is required to authorize the release of property.

Third party property pick up is no longer available on Mondays.

Disposal of Personal Property

When an inmate is transferred to prison or another facility, his property is boxed up and held for 30 days. An inmate may designate a person to collect those belongings from the jail by completing an Inmate Property Release form.
All unclaimed property is disposed of or donated to charitable institutions after 30 days.