Medium security (men) · State Prison · VADOC

Lawrenceville Correctional Center

Lawrenceville, Brunswick County, Virginia

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (434) 848-9349 Info last verified: June 2026

A medium-security men's prison in Brunswick County that was Virginia's only privately run prison until VADOC took over its operation in 2024 — now state-operated, and a pilot site for new tablets.

Statewide rules that apply at every Virginia state prison

These rules are set by VADOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Virginia.

Dress code

Clothing must cover from the neck to the kneecaps. Underwear is required, and footwear is required — bare feet are not allowed.
No form-fitting clothing — leggings, spandex, jeggings, or leotards — unless worn under clothing that meets the code; no tube, tank, or halter tops unless covered.
Nothing that exposes the midriff, side, back, or cleavage, nothing see-through, and no mini-skirts, dresses, shorts, skorts, or culottes at or above the kneecap.
Nothing resembling what incarcerated people wear, and nothing with gang, racist, or inappropriate symbols. No watches or wearable technology; umbrellas stay in the vehicle.

ID: Every approved adult visitor shows a valid government-issued photo ID, held until the visit ends, with the name matching the application. A minor is vouched for by the approved adult they come with (plus a notarized parental statement if that adult is not the parent or guardian).
What to bring: No food, drinks, or vending money — visitors bring little beyond ID, and coats and bags go in a storage area. Medication a visitor must keep on them needs a doctor's note and approval at least a week ahead. What else may be brought in varies by facility.
Scheduling: Every visitor applies online and clears a background check through the Central Visitation Unit (the incarcerated person no longer keeps a list); approval lasts three years. Visits are booked through the online scheduler up to 14 days ahead — one visit per weekend — and a newly arrived person cannot have visits for their first 60 days.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Virginia

Overview

Lawrenceville Correctional Center, in Brunswick County, is a medium-security prison for men. Opened in 1998, it was Virginia’s only privately operated state prison — run by a private company, GEO Group, from 2003 — until VADOC assumed operation of it on August 1, 2024. It is now a state-run facility following standard VADOC procedures, and it was chosen as one of the first pilot sites for VADOC’s new ViaPath tablet system in 2026.

What Makes Lawrenceville Different

It recently changed hands. Families who knew the prison under its private operator should expect VADOC’s procedures now — the centralized online visitor application and scheduler, VADOC mail handling, and VADOC’s phone and tablet systems.
A tablet pilot site. Lawrenceville was among the first facilities to receive VADOC’s new ViaPath tablets, which changed how calls and messaging work — see the phone and video guide.
South-central Virginia location. It is off I-85 in Brunswick County, roughly an hour and a half from Richmond.

Visiting

The statewide VADOC rules above — the online application and background check, the dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at Lawrenceville. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Virginia.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Planters Road in Lawrenceville, off the I-85 corridor in Brunswick County.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Lawrenceville is a small town; the nearest larger clusters of gas, food, and lodging are in South Hill (about 25 minutes west) and Emporia (about 30 minutes east, at I-95). The nearest 24/7 emergency room is VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill, about 18 miles away.

Mail

Personal letters go to the facility at 1607 Planters Road, Lawrenceville, VA 23868, with the person’s name and seven-digit DOC number — where they are photocopied and the copies delivered. Books, photos, and legal mail go instead to the Central Mail Distribution Center in State Farm. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Virginia state prison:

Visiting in Virginia — the online application, dress code, and search rules
Mail & Packages — the two mailing addresses and what can be sent
Phone & Video Calls — the phone system, video visits, and the new tablets
Sending Money — depositing through JPay
Medical & Mental Health — health care, the grievance process, and the Corrections Ombudsman
Transfers & Finding Someone — the one-year line, jails, and the locator

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.