Home Electronic Monitoring provides an alternative to incarceration for sentenced non-violent offenders who meet mandated screening requirements. Participants are confined to their residence on a 24-hour per day basis or during specific hours while maintaining employment and family ties.  The program also allows the opportunity to attend rehabilitative programs, pay court fines and costs, pay child support, and make restitution to victims. This program also frees up bed space for offenders who pose a risk to the community.

Contact the Sheriff’s Office H.E.M. Staff at 540-382-6915 ext. 4417.

Screening
The initial screening interview to obtain personal information, including employment, case information, criminal history, substance abuse and treatment history, determines eligibility according to the Code of Virginia 53.1-131.2. If there are no statutory disqualifiers, the staff will conduct a thorough background investigation to determine suitability for the program.

Appointments to screen individuals are made during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. This will be completed after the individual has been sentenced to serve jail time.

Placement
An individual will be placed only after they meet the program requirements and are found suitable during the background investigation.

At the time of placement, the participant will sign a written agreement, including consent to submit to random drug screenings and payment of program fees. All fee payments must be in the form of a money order and made out to the Montgomery County Treasurer.

The individual must provide a schedule of approved times for work and rehabilitative purposes only. A home visit will be needed to install the monitoring equipment.

Other requirements
Participants must report to the jail facility each Monday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to pay the weekly monitoring fees. Other pre-determined fees must also be paid at this time, including child support and drug test fees. Proof showing payments for court ordered restitution as well as court costs and fines will also be provided at this time. In addition, participants must:

• Submit to a weekly drug screening as well as random drug screenings,
• Submit requests for schedule changes in person and in writing during regular business hours and at least 24 hours in advance. H.E.M. staff must approve the request prior to any changes being made, and
• Attend any required substance abuse or other rehabilitative programs.

Jail inmates are allowed to receive mail and should be addressed to:

Name/Inmate Identifier
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131

The mail is then scanned and viewed by the inmate on a tablet at the jail in their housing unit. Money for inmates can still be sent to 16 S. Franklin Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073, ATTENTION RECORDS, and once it is received, it will be deposited in the inmate’s financial account. This money should be in the form of money orders or certified check. No personal checks will be accepted. 

Juvenile must be 15 or older and pre-approved to visit with a guardian. 

Inmates may subscribe to any newspaper or magazine ONLY if it comes directly from the publisher. The following exceptions are not allowed:

• Pornographic material; 
• Publications that violate U.S. Postal regulations; 
• Publications that may affect the jail security; or 
• Publications that could be used to promote illegal activity. 

Inmates are responsible for paying the subscriptions and forwarding them when they leave this institution. There is no limit on the amount of mail that an inmate may receive or send; however, accumulations of mail and/or paperwork will be limited to prevent fire hazards and will be released by the inmate to family or friends.
The mailing address for the Montgomery County Jail is:

[Inmate's full name]
Montgomery County Jail
16 S. Franklin Street
Christiansburg, VA 24073

Inmates may receive the following items from visitors:

• eyeglasses
• contacts
• money
• hearing aids
• prescription medications

All items brought into the facility for the inmate are inspected and signed for by the person bringing them in and the receiving deputy. All items brought to the jail for inmates are given to the inmate as soon as possible. Inmates, once classified, have access to commissary items and may place an order each week.

An inmate may have up to five visitors listed on an approved visitors list at any one time. These five persons must be cleared and approved before they will be allowed to visit. Changes to an inmate’s visitor list will be in writing and at least a week in advance before the desired visit. Frequent or weekly changes to an inmate’s visitor list will not be allowed.

Designated visiting hours are as follows: 

• Protective custody or juveniles: Saturday, 2-3 p.m.
• Females: Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, 6-7 p.m.
• Males: Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, 7-9 p.m.

All inmates are allowed one 15-minute visit per week. Inmates may have visitors on only one of the three days listed above.

Rules for visitors regarding visitation

• Visitors must register. 
• Must have proper identification with picture. 
• Must be cooperative and orderly. 
• Must not litter in the visitation area. 
• Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Proof of guardianship is required. 
• Visitors are subject to search. 
• All visitors will be properly dressed or they will be denied visitation. 
• Any visitor who appears to be under the influence of an intoxicant will be denied visitation and may be arrested. 
• A maximum of 1 visitor will be allowed in the visiting room at a time. A parent or legal guardian must accompany a juvenile. 
• Convicted felons will not be allowed to visit inmates; the Jail Captain must approve any exceptions.

Visitation restrictions
Inmates under disciplinary detention, classification holding or medical isolation will be denied visits from family or friends. This restriction does not apply to attorneys, physicians, bondsmen, or ministers.

Tolerance standard for sexual misconduct and sexual assault
Learn more about PREA on the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission website.

If you were the victim of a sexual assault while in custody or know of an incident of sexual assault of a person at the jail, you are urged to report the incident by filling out the PREA Report Form and email it to Captain Cochran. Your anonymity will be protected. If you file a false report it could result in criminal charges.

Download: PREA Report Form

All reported incidents will be investigated. Any incident/allegation that involves potentially criminal behavior will be referred to the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division. You will be contacted, but you may still remain anonymous.

Victim notification
Register for notification of an inmate's release or you may fill out a Victim Notification Form and send it via email or fax to 540-382-6942.

For inmate information or to contact the jail, call 540-382-6904 or email whittakerkf@montgomerycountyva.gov.

Resources

• PREA Annual Report
• PREA Audit 2024
• PREA Jail Staffing Plan
• PREA Report Form