The free app, available for both Android and Apple devices, is mostly a hub of information and links to outside resources.
For instance, the app allows users to search for inmates and see information on charges, court dates, bond status and mug shots. That search is done through a third-party site called Zuercher, which is a lot less mobile friendly than the sheriff's new app.
The app includes a sentence or two about various programs available to inmates on the inside, volunteer opportunities for community members, visiting hours, a directory for the office and info on job openings.
There's also a citizen feedback form, in case you want to give kudos to a helpful deputy or file a complaint.
One quality-of-life feature that's missing is the ability to deposit funds into an inmate's account directly from the app.
The tab marked "Inmate Canteen" includes instructions on half a dozen ways to get money to inmates, from mailing money orders to showing up with a credit card. There are phone and online options, but they're handled by third parties and not administered directly by the Hampton Sheriff's Office through the app.
The online option takes you to another mobile-unfriendly website, AccessCorrections.com, to load funds into an inmate's account.
The new app apparently also includes push notifications to give users information and a heads up about events.
The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at Hampton's fire station on Big Bethel Road will no longer be staffed seven days a week and will be open on slightly reduced hours starting on Thursday.
FEMA's four centers around the region will now be closed on Sundays. Three of them, including Hampton, will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The Virginia Beach center will open between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.
That center and several others were set up two weeks ago to provide assistance to those who suffered property damage or injury during Hurricane Matthew in October.
So far, 153 Hampton residents have registered for aid grants, to the tune of more than $196,000.
The hurricane did $1.86 million in property damage in Hampton. According to city officials, 28 single-family homes, 18 apartment buildings, two mobile homes and a nonprofit were damaged.
Across the region, more than 4,500 people have sought assistance. Virginia Beach was particularly hard hit by Matthew, with 2,471 Virginia Beach residents registering for more than $5 million in aid.
©2016 the Daily Press (Newport News, Va.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
