Alexandria Office of Sheriff Jail Records (MS054)

Access and use

Location of collection:
Alexandria Library
Alexandria Library
Local History/Special Collections
717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Patricia Walker, Branch Manager
Phone: (703) 746-1719
Phone: (703) 838-4577
Fax: (703) 706-3912
Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Fragile handwritten documents. Handle with care.

Copyright has been assigned to the Alexandria Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Alexandria Library. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Alexandria Library as the owner of the physical items and as the owner of copyright in items created by the donor. Although copyright was transferred by the donor, copyright in some items in the collection may still be held by their respective creator(s). For further information contact the Alexandria Library, Local History and Special Collections.

Preferred citation:

[Item identification], Alexandria Office of Sheriff Jail Records, MS054, Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections, Alexandria, Va.

Summary

Extent:
2.27 Cubic Feet 2 legal size, 3 half legal size, 1 oversize
Creator:
Alexandria Sheriff's Department and Ruscak, Richard R.
Abstract:
Late 19th and early 20th century records from the Alexandria Sheriff's Department.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Item identification], Alexandria Office of Sheriff Jail Records, MS054, Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections, Alexandria, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

Jail Registers noting both city and state prisoners showing name of prisoner, race, felony or misdemeanor charged with, sentence, resolution of sentence, fees and fines; Commitments for Examination showing name of prisoner, felony or misdemeanor charged with, sentence, date of sentence; Court Orders showing date, name of prisoner, race, age, felony or misdemeanor charged with, sentence; Jail Service Certificates showing name of prisoner, date released, sentence time served; Police Court Commitments showing date, name of prisoner, sentence, felony or misdemeanor charged with.

Biographical / historical:

After 1752, the Fairfax County Court appointed a sheriff to Alexandria, and around the same time the first jail in the city was located on Market Square near the courthouse. The jail was later moved to the foot of Wolfe Street before moving again to a new building constructed around 1825 on the northeast corner of Princess and North St. Asaph Streets. The St. Asaph Street building served as the city jail for over 150 years. Deteriorating conditions led to several lawsuits, and eventually to the renovation of the old jail in 1979 and the construction of the new Alexandria Detention Center (completed in 1987).

Acquisition information:
This collection was donated to Local History/Special Collections, Alexandria Library by Mr. Richard R. Ruscak, Undersherrif, City of Alexandria on March 22, 2002.
Arrangement:

Chronological order.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard