Security Level 2 (men) · State Prison · VADOC

St. Brides Correctional Center

Chesapeake, Chesapeake County, Virginia

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (757) 421-6600 Info last verified: June 2026

A Level 2 men's reentry and vocational prison in Chesapeake, with one of VADOC's largest trade-school programs.

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

St. Brides Correctional Center, in Chesapeake, is a medium-security prison for men (Security Level 2) that serves as a major reentry and vocational facility. It first opened in 1973 and was rebuilt in 2007, and has a capacity of about 1,214. St. Brides operates one of VADOC’s largest trade schools — with programs in auto body, automotive technology, and commercial foods, plus college courses — alongside reentry programming.

St. Brides is on Sanderson Road in southern Chesapeake. A separate facility, Indian Creek Correctional Center, is also on Sanderson Road in Chesapeake; confirm which one holds the person.

What Makes St. Brides Different

A reentry and vocational mission. The facility focuses on reentry preparation and trade training.
A large trade school. Programs include auto body, automotive technology, and commercial foods, plus college courses.
Two prisons on the same road. St. Brides and Indian Creek Correctional Center are both in Chesapeake on Sanderson Road, with different addresses and phone numbers; confirm which facility applies.

Visiting

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

The full approval process is in Visiting in Virginia.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Sanderson Road in southern Chesapeake, in the Hampton Roads / Tidewater metro.

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

Nearby Services

Chesapeake is part of the Hampton Roads / Tidewater metro, with gas, food, and lodging throughout the area and in nearby Norfolk. The nearest 24/7 emergency room is the Emergency Department at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center in Chesapeake.

Mail

Personal letters go to the facility at P.O. Box 16482, Chesapeake, VA 23322, 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 tablets
Sending Money — depositing through JPay
Medical & Mental Health — health care, the grievance process, and the Corrections Ombudsman
Transfers & Finding Someone — intake, the one-year line, 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.