Sheriff Dana Lawhorne

A Message from the Sheriff

Dear Neighbors and Friends,

Thank you for visiting our website.  It is my pleasure to present to you the 216 men and women that make our agency a great organization, and of course, to showcase the fine work that the Alexandria Sheriff's Office accomplishes every day.  It is my hope that through our web pages, you will discover the dedication and commitment to excellence displayed by each Sheriff's Office staff member.  It is also our goal to provide to you timely and relevant information about who we are and what we do.

As we begin a new year, I want to express my thanks for your continued support.  In 2008, our Office implemented a new Community Liaison Program.  Through that vehicle, we have worked more closely with Alexandria's civic and community organizations, and have had the benefit of meeting many of the wonderful people that make Alexandria a great place to live, work and play.  We  look forward in 2009 to continuing what we began, with one goal in mind-- to provide the best in service to Alexandria and her citizens.

With Warmest Regards,

The Alexandria Sheriff's Office  is responsible for the operation of the Detention Center, courthouse and courtroom security,service of all court legal documents, execution of court orders, transportation of prisoners, execution of arrest warrants, and general public safety and law enforcement. All powers, responsibilities and duties of the Alexandria Sheriff's Office derive from common law, the Virginia Constitution, the Code of Virginia and the Alexandria Charter.

The Alexandria Sheriff's Office is a highly professional organization with 211 Deputy Sheriffs and civilian personnel. The Office is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Commission on Accreditation for Corrections, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. The Office has been honored by the National Sheriff's Association with the prestigious "Triple Crown Award" for achieving these national accreditations. The Office is Virginia state certified by the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Department of Corrections; and most recently by the Community Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities.

To learn more about the Office, please review the FY 2008 Annual Report.