Volunteer With Us
Volunteers are a vital part of the programs offered at Piedmont Regional Jail. By sharing your time, faith, and expertise, you help expand the services available to incarcerated individuals, connect them with community resources, and support their successful return home. Volunteers supplement, but never replace, the work of jail staff, and our staff will make every effort to help you deliver your services.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers serve in a variety of areas based on their skills, interests, and credentials. Current areas of need include:
Worship Services
Help lead or support weekly worship services alongside the jail chaplain, offering opportunities for worship, spiritual guidance, and reflection.
Bible & Faith Study
Facilitate small-group study, including Christian, Spanish-language, and Islamic study groups.
Alcoholics & Narcotics Anonymous
Bring the message of recovery to individuals working to overcome alcohol and drug addiction through AA and NA meetings.
GED Tutoring
Help participants build academic skills as they work toward earning their GED® credential.
Other Volunteer Services
Have a skill or program to offer? Licensed and credentialed professionals and community groups are encouraged to apply. Contact the Re-entry Counselor to discuss other ways to serve.
Who Can Volunteer
Eligibility
- Any person of good character who is at least 21 years old
- Applicants age 18–20 who hold the licenses, credentials, or certificates to perform professional services
- Former offenders may be accepted with the prior approval of the Superintendent
Not Eligible
- Relatives, partners, or boyfriends/girlfriends of a person housed at the jail
- Anyone on an offender's visitation list
How to Become a Volunteer
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Complete the application packet
Download the Volunteer/Contractor Application and print it. The packet includes your contact information, a volunteer disclaimer and acknowledgment, and the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) acknowledgment. All questions must be completed, and please print clearly. Signing the application authorizes a criminal background check.
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Read the Volunteer Handbook
The application asks you to confirm that you have read and understood the Volunteer Handbook, which explains the rules, expectations, and safety procedures for working inside a correctional facility.
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Submit your application
Return your completed and signed packet to the Re-entry Counselor in person at the jail or by mail to P.O. Drawer 388, Farmville, VA 23901. Because the application includes your Social Security number, please do not send it by email.
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Interview and background check
Applicants are interviewed by jail staff and must pass a criminal background investigation. Bring a valid Virginia driver's license and/or Social Security card, and any professional credentials or certificates.
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Training and orientation
All volunteers must complete the jail's mandatory Volunteer Training and Orientation before providing any services inside the facility. During orientation, you'll share the days and hours you're available, and you'll be scheduled according to the facility's master program schedule.
What to Expect as a Volunteer
The full rules are in the Volunteer Handbook. Here are the essentials:
Entering the Jail
Enter through the main visitor entrance and check in at the front desk. You'll leave your driver's license or photo ID and receive a volunteer badge, which must stay visible at all times. All volunteers walk through a metal detector and may be searched. Any unauthorized items will result in termination of volunteer service and possible criminal charges.
What You Can Bring
Only the books and paperwork needed for that day's service, in a clear bag no larger than 12" × 12". Leave purses, cell phones, cameras, and other personal items locked in your vehicle. Keys are stored in a locker in the front lobby. Photographs and recordings of any kind are prohibited.
Dress Code
Dress neatly and professionally. Not permitted: sheer, tight, sleeveless, or revealing clothing; skirts or dresses more than four inches above the knee; shorts; hats or head gear (except approved religious attire); clothing with offensive messages or that resembles security or offender uniforms. Only clip-on ties are allowed.
Professional Boundaries
Treat staff and offenders with courtesy and respect, and show no favoritism. Volunteers may not give or accept gifts, money, or favors; carry messages or mail for offenders; share personal information; or form personal relationships with anyone in custody. All pamphlets and religious materials must be approved by the Program Director or Chaplain before distribution.
Confidentiality
Information about staff, offenders, and facility operations must be kept confidential. Do not discuss an offender's criminal case, and immediately report any information suggesting a risk of escape, assault, or other danger to the Shift Supervisor. Direct all media questions to the Superintendent.
Commitments & Cancellations
Offenders count on you to be there. If you need to cancel a session, notify the Shift Supervisor at (434) 392-1601 at least two hours in advance. Programs are normally closed on state and federal holidays, and volunteers should not come to the facility during inclement weather.
Safety
Observe all posted signs and report unsafe conditions, fires, or injuries to the Shift Supervisor immediately. In an emergency, remain in your assigned area and follow the instructions of the officers on duty.
Tobacco-Free & Drug-Free Facility
Tobacco products, vapes, e-cigarettes, and lighters are not permitted in the jail or used on jail property. Alcohol, drugs, and controlled substances (other than prescribed medication) are strictly prohibited and will result in dismissal and prosecution.
Parking
Park in any space in front of the jail unless otherwise marked. Close all windows, lock your doors, and never leave your keys in the vehicle or the engine running.
PREA & Zero Tolerance
Piedmont Regional Jail maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward all forms of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct, in accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003. Any sexual behavior or personal relationship between volunteers and individuals in custody is prohibited and may be prosecuted under Virginia law. A person in custody cannot legally consent.
Volunteers have a duty to immediately report any known or suspected sexual abuse, harassment, or unauthorized relationship to any staff member. Reports may also be made by phone, by mail, or through a third party.
PREA Hotline: (434) 392-3819 · Learn more about PREA at Piedmont Regional Jail
Questions? Contact Us
Your primary contact for volunteering is our Re-entry Counselor, Crystal Knight.
Piedmont Regional Jail Authority
801 Industrial Park Road, Farmville, VA 23901
Mailing: P.O. Drawer 388, Farmville, VA 23901
Phone: (434) 392-1601