The Fairfax County jail houses male and female inmates. Both male and female deputy sheriffs manage the inmate population, which averages about 1,300 daily. Juvenile offenders are managed separately from the adult inmate population and have a separate court system as well. The Adult Detention Center (ADC) is unique in the nation because it provides four forms of jail housing: single cell, linear, podular and direct.
Single Cell Supervision
Single cell supervision is the most restrictive and intensive type of inmate supervision. It provides maximum safety and security for both inmates and staff by housing the inmates individually in cells. Deputies monitor inmates by “patrolling” corridors, which are arranged in a similar fashion to linear supervision. Single cell supervision assists deputies in working with the specific special needs of inmates.
Linear Supervision
Linear supervision consists of deputies monitoring their floor by "patrolling" down a corridor. Each floor has numerous cell blocks which can house up to 10 inmates each. This type of supervision replicates a prison setting where inmates are separated from deputies.
Podular Remote Supervision
Inmates' cells are arranged around a common area, usually called a dayroom. The deputy is separated from the inmates in a secure control booth.
Direct Supervision
Deputies work inside the cell block with the inmates 24 hours a day, without any separation from them. This concept provides for active and continuous supervision of the inmates to better manage those inmates who have less serious offenses.
Modern
touch screens allow deputies to control all aspects of the jail, from
doors and elevators to lights and inmate televisions.
Instead of fingerprinting with paper and ink, the Sheriff's Office uses Livescan fingerprinting. LiveScan is inkless and enables the electronic transfer of fingerprint image data.