Hampton Roads Regional Jail

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Hampton Roads Regional Jail

Official page of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail located in Portsmouth, Virginia. Proudly se

The Hampton Roads Regional Jail proudly serves the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Portsmouth, Newport News and Norfolk, Virginia by operating the facility in accordance with the collective best interests of the five participating jurisdictions. The primary function of the facility is to house both male and female inmates from the five participating jurisdictions including: pretrial, sentenced and inmates requiring special management.

03/08/2024

Happy International Women’s Day from HRRJ.

March is the season to champion the power of Women Voices.

02/29/2024

As Black History Month Comes to an end, we at HRRJ, would like to recognize and pay homage to Black leaders who were trailblazers in Virginia. Their sacrifices paved the way for HRRJ’s the majority of today’s Executive Leadership Team, who now exemplify Black leaders in Corrections across the Commonwealth: Deputy Superintendent Lt. Colonel William J. Anderson, Captains K. Finley, W. Bhargirath, T. Nash and K. Mack.

Other Notables who deserve to be recognized are the following;

Ronaldo Myers - Hampton Roads Regional Jail’s first Black Superintendent from October 2016 - March 2017
Sheriff B. J. Roberts – the longest serving Sheriff of Virginia and the first Black President of the National Sheriff’s Association
R.D. Ruffin – First Black Sheriff, 1874
Douglas Wilder - Virginia’s first Black Governor, since Reconstruction
John Mercer Langston – Virginia’s First Black Congressman 1890
Congressman Robert C. (Bobby) Scott – 1993, First Black Congressman since Reconstruction

02/23/2024

Congratulations to Employee of the Month Sgt. L. Smith, an HRRJ Intake Officer since 2022. She says, “I am honored to receive this award, but I felt like all I was doing was my job to the best of my ability. I am honored that people see I take pride in my work.”

Smith, a former Portsmouth City Schools bus driver and daughter of a former Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Deputy, came to HRRJ because she wanted to start a career in Law Enforcement. Her initial assignments were on B Team and Kitchen Officer. Her training and certifications include VCIN and CIT certified, Field Training Officer, General Instructor, EVOC Instructor, Basic Gang Specialist and CPR Instructor.

Smith says positivity, being a hard worker, and helping others when needed are her contributions to the Intake department. She balances work and home by utilizing great scheduling and family support. “My mom, who is my role model, always stayed positive. So, I balance my life with having fun and enjoying every minute, because we are not guaranteed tomorrow.”

02/19/2024

Happy Presidents' Day from HRRJ!

Presidents' Day, celebrated on the third Monday in February, was established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington. The holiday became known as Presidents' Day, after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for workers.

The shift from Washington’s Birthday to Presidents' Day began in the late 1960s. This law sought to shift the celebration of several federal holidays from specific dates to a series of predetermined Mondays. It was believed that ensuring holidays always fell on the same weekday would reduce employee absenteeism.

The Uniform Monday Holiday Act also included a provision to combine the celebration of Washington’s birthday with that of Abraham Lincoln, which fell on February 12. Businesses soon jumped at the opportunity to attract consumers with three-day weekend sales, and “Presidents' Day” bargains were advertised around the country. Like Independence Day, Presidents' Day is traditionally viewed as a time of patriotic celebration and remembrance

02/12/2024

We, at Hampton Roads Regional Jail, recognize the trail blazed by the late Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson, who were pioneers in Aeronautics and broke barriers for women of color in a field traditionally dominated by men. These three Black women became known as “human calculators” at NASA Research Center in Hampton, VA, for their abilities to perform complicated math functions currently executed by artificial intelligence.

Katherine Johnson graduated from West Virginia State College with a degree in Mathematics at age 15. In 1953, she began a career with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), a subsidiary of NASA. Her curiosity for the how’s and why’s of space, and her expertise in geometry, positioned her to be on the team that set the trajectory for space travel. In 1969, she participated in the inaugural launch of the first man on the moon.

Johnson was an innovator in Aeronautics. She received many prestigious awards, with the most notable being the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015 and the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility named in her honor in 2017. Among other awards were the NASA Lunar Orbiter Award, three NASA Special Achievement Awards, and Mathematician of the Year in 1997 by the National Technical Association.

Prior to the movie Hidden Figures, NASA’s pioneer Dorothy Vaughan, who was head of (NACA’s) segregated West Area Computing Unit from 1949 until 1958, was not well known. Yet Vaughan, a respected mathematician and NASA’s first African-American manager, was NACA’s first Black supervisor, and one of a few female managers.

Arriving at Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in 1943, the Section Head title gave Vaughn rare Laboratory-wide visibility. She collaborated with other well know white “human computers” on projects such as compiling a handbook for algebraic methods for calculating machines. Engineers valued her recommendations on employees necessary to work on targeted projects. For challenging assignments, leadership often requested that Vaughn personally handle the work.

Mary Jackson landed at Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory’s segregated west area computing section in 1951, reporting to Dorothy Vaughn, after three career changes. Her Bachelors in Mathematics and Physical Science from Hampton Institute in 1942, catapulted her into a position in the 4X4 foot supersonic pressure tunnel, where she subsequently became NASA’s first Black Engineer in 1958. After concluding that she could not break the glass ceiling to upper management, she took a demotion to become Langley’s Federal Women’s Program Manager, a position where she could impact hiring of the next generation of NASA’s female mathematicians, Engineers and Scientists.

Jackson retired in 1985, after receiving the Apollo Group Achievement Award, and being named Langley’s Volunteer of the Year. She chaired of one of the center’s annual United Way campaigns, was a Girl Scout troop leader for more than three decades, and a member of the National Technical Association (the oldest African American technical organization in the United States).

02/01/2024

HRRJ is celebrating Black History Month!

Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society—from activists and civil rights pioneers to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more.

Since 1976, every American president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme. The Black History Month 2024 theme, “African Americans and the Arts,” explores the key influence African Americans have had in the fields of "visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary and other forms of cultural expression."

01/16/2024

Congratulations to Watch Commander Lieutenant Jones on being honored as Hampton Roads Regional Jail’s (HRRJ) Officer of the Month (OOM) for the fifth time. Captain K. Finley said Lt. Jones was selected because she has “demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism, particularly in intercepting contraband in our facility. Her thoroughness and attentiveness have been instrumental in maintaining the security and integrity of our facility. Her efforts to ensure safety of the facility, inmates and staff is commendable”.

Approximately 19 years ago Jones was seeking a career change, when a friend told her HRRJ was a good place to work. Lt. Jones says she brings positivity to her team and prides herself on being proactive and addressing issues before they arise. Finley said, “Her efforts deserve acknowledgment, and selecting her as OOM, is a fitting way to express our appreciation for her outstanding service.”

Jones’ Training and Certifications include: VCIN Certified, Middle Eastern Intelligence, Crisis Intervention Training, Domestic Terrorism, Leadership Institute, and Field Training Officer. She finds a work/life balance by planning vacations. The best part of her day is when she is relaxing at home and making candles.

01/01/2024

We, at HRRJ, wish you a New Year that brings happiness, good health and prosperity!

#2024

12/29/2023

HRRJ has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 24 consecutive years from the Government Financial Officers Association. In addition to awarding the HRRJ Authority a certificate of achievement, the GFOA also recognized individuals responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive records. Congratulations to everyone who worked behind the scenes to achieve this level of excellence.

12/25/2023

Hampton Roads Regional Jail wishes your family a Christmas holiday filled with cheer, happiness and the best of memories. Enjoy a safe and restful holiday break, so you will feel renewed and be ready for a fresh start in the New Year!

12/06/2023

During the November Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Academy graduation, Hampton Roads Regional Jail gained seven Certified Jail Officers who have now resumed their positions on the teams.

Newport News Deputy Sheriff Lt. Phillips, a leader on the academy’s training team, encouraged the graduates to show up; follow the rules; and have a purpose driven career. He added, “Your goal should be to survive through the end of the day and return home to your families.”

Family members, friends, and supporters attended the event to congratulate and support the strides made by these Officers.

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from our HRRJ family to yours! We hope you celebrate gratitude this holiday weekend with Family, Friends, Food and Fun!! Being grateful opens the fullness of life.

Address

2690 Elmhurst Lane
Portsmouth, VA
23701

Telephone

(757) 488-7500

Website

http://hrrj.org/

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