VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office held its bi-annual jail-wide search Saturday at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center.
The Virginia Beach Correctional Center is the largest city jail in the state. It holds more than 1,000 inmates.
On Saturday morning, 154 people from the Sheriff’s Office went into the correctional center to look for any contraband.
“We’re looking for any type of weapon first of all, any type of drugs that have been smuggled into the facility,” said Sheriff Rocky Holcomb.
Five K-9 units used their noses to sniff and search cell blocks and beds.
“We’re also looking for anything that’s fashioned into contraband that the inmate wasn’t issued, that they can use for something else. So, for example, a tattoo kit is a popular item they try to make inside the facility,” said Sheriff Holcomb.
Sheriff Holcomb emphasized the importance of the searches as there are many ways items can get in the correctional center. The Sheriff’s Office holds this search twice a year to keep the inmate’s cells clean and the staff safe, which consists of more than 500 people.
“There are folks that go out that may hide it somewhere on the body where we can’t find it to get drugs in,” said Holcomb.
Each inmate was escorted out of their cell block to then be patted down.
“Sometimes they are secreted inside somebody’s body and moved inside the facility,” said Holcomb.
Lieutenants, sergeants, deputies and more double-checked each room. They search for possible items and get rid of any trash. If anything dangerous is obtained, the inmate could be charged.
“If you come in here and you try to have drugs or a weapon, we will charge you criminally. You can get more charges added to your time because if you engage in that activity, we’ll charge you criminally,” said Holcomb.
The Sheriff’s Office holds a jail search in the fall and spring. If it hears a tip about a weapon in the facility, it does an immediate search. Routine searches are also done every day.
