Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Courthouse has a jail, doesnt seem to have effected the property values!!

How many people are jailed there? Do you know?

A lot. I think it's arlington county's jail. I've seen some pretty sketchy looking people waiting for the courthouse metro in the afternoons that look to me like they were just released. Also, that's where arlington county's courthouse is, so you have to figure there will be defendants (those who aren't incarcerated/are out on bail) lurking around. Kind of disturbing when you think about it, but I lived there for 5 years and never had any problems, and it certainly doesn't effect property values there.

I used to live near the Arlington County jail. I remember driving by late one night and watching some just-released guy sit on the curb trying to put the laces back in is shoes as his girlfriend just stood there shouting at him. Other than the period depressing glimpses into human misery, the jail never caused problems for me.

I assume you are, in fact talking about a jail, not a prison. I would think twice about a prison. Jail, no biggie.

Temporary holding facility maybe okay. But prison for inmates with long sentences, no way. But I think the latter type of facility is usually built really far away from most communities.

Well Fairfax County was fine with getting lorton prison land. Most DO NOT want to live near a jail or prison.

Anonymous wrote:I would not like it. Dont want to have to think about what goes on inside.

What goes on inside? Nothing...

Without any specifics, I would say it's a negative but not a deal-breaker.

Anonymous wrote:Courthouse has a jail, doesnt seem to have effected the property values!!

How many people are jailed there? Do you know?

I would not like it. Dont want to have to think about what goes on inside.

Jail is fine. Halfway house down the block? No way!

I live near a jail and police dept. We have never had any issues in our neighborhood. They release the prisoners right there too. Th last thing these guys are thinking about is committing a crime right when they are released, they at least want to go get a beer.

Depends on which one, can you give more specifics

It is great if you get lots of DUI's -- easy walk home when they let you out.

What are the odds of daily escapees and if one escapes, I doubt he/she would stay in the neighborhood.

Courthouse has a jail, doesnt seem to have effected the property values!!

Would you buy a house located within a few blocks of a jail?

I keep wondering about the escape factor but also if we needed to sale eventually, how hard would it be? The plus would be that police are regularly driving thru the neighborhood and it is a somewhat busy area.