The essentials: Portsmouth City Jail is located at 711 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704 — jail phone (757) 393-8536. It serves Portsmouth, VA. We post bonds here immediately; the jail's own release processing typically takes 2–5 hours after that. For 24/7 bail help at this facility, call (757) 751-0964 or see our Portsmouth City Jail bail bonds page.
About Portsmouth City Jail
Portsmouth City Jail on Crawford Street is in the heart of Olde Towne Portsmouth, steps from the city’s courthouses. Most people arrested in Portsmouth are booked here and see a magistrate within hours.
How to find out if someone is being held here
- Call the jail: (757) 393-8536 — have the person's full name and date of birth ready. Staff will confirm custody but won't discuss case details by phone.
- Search VINELink: Virginia's official custody database at vinelink.com shows whether someone is in custody and where. New bookings can take a few hours to appear.
- Let us look: call (757) 751-0964 and we'll locate them, check the charges, and find out whether bail has been set — free.
More lookup tools: how to find out if someone is in jail in Hampton Roads.
What happens after an arrest
- Booking (1–3 hours): the person is arrested by Portsmouth Police Department and processed — fingerprints, photos, records check, medical screening.
- Magistrate hearing: a magistrate reviews the charges and sets bail, usually within hours — Virginia magistrates work around the clock, including weekends.
- Posting bail: the family posts the full amount in cash, or pays a licensed bondsman a premium — a fraction of the bail, quoted up front — to post the bond. (Which is right for you?)
- Release: after the bond is posted, the jail verifies paperwork, processes property, and releases — typically 2–5 hours on the jail's end.
Court dates connected to this jail
Cases from Portsmouth City Jail are typically heard at Portsmouth General District Court and Circuit Court on Crawford Street. Appearing at every date is what keeps the bond in good standing — see what happens after posting bail.
Getting someone out of Portsmouth City Jail
Portsmouth’s jail and courts share the same block, which can make releases fast when the bond is posted promptly. We move the moment you call.
One call to (757) 751-0964 starts everything: we confirm the bail amount, complete e-signature paperwork from your phone, and post the bond — with your fee quoted up front and payment plans available.