THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410140588
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
Gov. George F. Allen signed his bill to abolish parole Thursday and said he has not decided on details of a financing plan for the $2.2 billion initiative.
The General Assembly approved the bill during a special session last month but decided not to tackle the funding issue until the regular session next year.
Allen has proposed paying for 27 new prisons by selling surplus state property and issuing two types of bonds, one of which requires voter approval. He also favors privatization of some prisons.
But the Republican governor, who built his campaign last year on a promise to abolish parole, said he has not figured out how much money should come from each source. He said he will have a recommendation before the Democrat-controlled Assembly convenes in January.
Allen signed the no-parole bill during a state Capitol ceremony attended by about 200 people.
The bill abolishes parole for crimes committed on or after Jan. 1. It recommends that judges increase the time served by repeat violent criminals by up to 500 percent and at least double terms for violent, first-time offenders.
Also, time off for good behavior will be sharply reduced. by CNB