Sheriff's office offers free safety programs many Alexandria residents may not know about
From home checks for travelers to tracking devices for people who wander, several no-cost services are available to city residents.
After learning about the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office’s Away from Home Check program through a neighborhood listserv on Friday, I reached out to the office to ask what other resources residents might not know about.
The Sheriff’s Office offers several free community safety programs beyond its core duties of operating the jail and providing courthouse security, according to Public Information Officer Amy Bertsch.
“The Sheriff’s Office’s mission is to help and protect people, and Sheriff Casey understands the value of providing such public safety resources to Alexandrians,” Bertsch said.
The programs include a recently utilized tracking system for people at risk of wandering, home checks for residents who are traveling, free safety equipment, assistance with expungement paperwork, and a community education academy.
While the Sheriff’s Office has recently faced scrutiny from the City Council over its alleged cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, these community programs have operated without controversy and provide practical resources to Alexandria residents.
Project Lifesaver
On November 3, the Sheriff’s Office used its Project Lifesaver program to locate a missing Alexandria man with dementia, according to Bertsch. The rescue occurred during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.
Project Lifesaver provides tracking bracelets to residents at risk of wandering due to conditions including Alzheimer’s, autism, and Down syndrome. The wristbands emit a tracking signal that deputies can locate using specialized equipment.
According to the city website, search times using the technology have been reduced to an average of 30 minutes or less. The program has approximately 1,700 participating agencies and has performed more than 4,500 rescues since its founding in 1999.
Alexandria adopted the program in 2008. It currently has 10 participants and is funded by private donations, according to the Sheriff’s Office website.
To be eligible, clients must be Alexandria residents, have a caregiver, and agree to wear the bracelet.
Away from Home Checks
The Sheriff’s Office offers home security checks for residents who are traveling.
Deputies conduct visual surveys of homes and outbuildings, including physical checks of doors and accessible windows where possible. The home's entrance must be directly accessible from street level.
Residents must submit requests at least one week before leaving town through an online form.
Free gun locks and medication lock boxes
The Sheriff’s Office provides free gun locks and medication lock boxes to Alexandria residents.
The items are available 24/7 at the Sheriff’s Office Visitor Center and are also distributed at community events, according to Bertsch.
Free expungement fingerprinting
The Sheriff’s Office offers free fingerprinting services to individuals seeking to expunge court and police records originating in Alexandria.
The service is available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alexandria Courthouse, 520 King Street. It is not available on Thursdays or city and state holidays.
The service is only for expungement petitions filed with the Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court. Additional information about expungement procedures is available from the Clerk’s Office.
Sheriff’s Community Academy
The Sheriff’s Office offers a free four-week Community Academy twice a year on Saturday mornings.
Participants tour the Adult Detention Center and Alexandria Courthouse and learn about jail operations, judicial operations, civil process, and inmate services through presentations and interactive activities.
The Spring 2026 session is scheduled for March 7, 14, 21, and 28. Participants must be at least 21 years old and live or work in Alexandria. Criminal history checks are conducted on all applicants.
Thirteen Alexandria residents completed the Fall 2025 session, according to the city website.
More information
The Alexandria Brief has also reached out to the Alexandria Police Department to inquire about similar programs and resources available to residents.
The Alexandria Brief has also reached out to the Alexandria Police Department to inquire about similar programs and resources available to residents.