Virginia Bail Agents Fighting With Jail Over Inmate Information

Virginia bail agents are facing frustrating circumstances when they try to bail someone out of jails run by the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority.  As of four months ago, the Southwest Virigina Regional Jail Authority has enacted a strict no-release policy that includes the name of the prisoner, his or her charges, and the bond amount.  These three pieces of information in particular are vital to bail agents trying to bail a defendant out of jail.  Instead, the bail agent has to wait until the county clerk can be contacted to get this important information.

While the jail authority says they are in accord with Virigina public records laws, many public records experts in Virginia disagree with this assessment.  Other jail authorities in Virginia do not have similar policies.