Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511170080
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
May-June: A loaded gun was discovered in a death-row inmate's typewriter after he was executed. The Department of Corrections conducted a brief investigation and concluded that the incident may have been a hoax. After criticism of the investigation, Gov. George Allen ordered a state police probe. It was never determined how the gun got into the prison.
August: Reports surfaced that a Southampton Correctional Center inmate had conned prison employees into smuggling him alcohol, Chinese takeout food and a cellular telephone. Corrections Department investigators, hoping to catch the employees, let the inmate open bank accounts, buy two cars and run up a $1,500 phone bill.
October: A preliminary state report showed that the Allen administration apparently used incorrect inmate population estimates to justify the construction of four prisons that may not be needed.
November: The existence of a secret investigation into allegations of improper actions by Parole Board Chairman John Metzger was disclosed Wednesday. Metzger resigned Thursday, and state officials refused to release the investigative report.
by CNB