Security Level 2 (women) · State Prison · VADOC

Virginia Correctional Center for Women

Goochland, Goochland County, Virginia

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (804) 556-7500 Info last verified: June 2026

Virginia's oldest women's prison, in Goochland about 30 miles west of Richmond — a lower-custody women's facility and, with Fluvanna, one of the state's two main women's prisons.

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

The Virginia Correctional Center for Women, in Goochland about 30 miles west of Richmond, is Virginia’s oldest women’s prison — in operation since the early 1930s. It is a lower-custody (Security Level 2) women’s facility and, with the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, one of the state’s two main women’s prisons; Virginia administers its women’s facilities together. Programming includes education and GED, substance-use treatment, and cognitive and vocational programs.

VADOC announced plans in 2019 for a prison nursery at the center, for mothers expected to be released while their child is young. It is not confirmed to be operating, so a family should not assume a nursery is available and should confirm current programs with the facility.

What Makes the Center Different

It is the oldest women’s prison in the state, and a lower-custody facility.
One of two main women’s prisons. Women in Virginia are held here or at Fluvanna; the two are administered together.
It is relatively close to Richmond — about 30 miles — making it more accessible than the state’s far-flung prisons.

Visiting

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

The full approval process is in Visiting in Virginia.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on River Road West in Goochland County, west of Richmond.

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

Nearby Services

The nearest concentration of gas, food, and lodging is in the Short Pump area of western Henrico County (about 15 to 20 miles east) and in Richmond. The nearest 24/7 emergency rooms are in Richmond’s West End, about 30 miles east, such as Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.

Mail

Personal letters go to the facility at P.O. Box 1, Goochland, VA 23063, 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, MAT, and raising a concern
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.

VADOC Facility Page
Virginia 211 — Virginia Correctional Center for Women
VADOC — Inmate Visitor Information Brochure (effective June 5, 2025)
VADOC — Gender Responsivity Plan press release (September 2019)
Virginia Correctional Center for Women — Wikipedia (history)
HCA Virginia — Henrico Doctors' Hospital Emergency Care
VADOC Inmate & Supervisee Locator