Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 27, 1990 TAG: 9003272152
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: BLAND LENGTH: Medium
Bland County Sheriff T.J. Roseberry and Wythe County Sheriff Wayne Pike met recently with Robert L. Wooten, the state's regional corrections officer for adult facilities, on what would be involved in such a venture. It also would cover the counties of Carroll and Pulaski.
Roseberry told the Bland County Board of Supervisors Monday that the talks are in a very preliminary stage. The board approved setting up a four county assessment committee to study the matter and named Roseberry as its representative.
Boards of supervisors in the other three counties are expected to be approached on the idea in April. Grayson County had also been approached but was not interested in a regional venture at this time.
Roseberry said all four existing jails stay overcrowded. "We're housing a third to a half more than we're supposed to," he said.
A regional jail might not be the solution, but the idea keeps coming up and "this is the first formal step into a decision as to whether this area needs a regional jail," he said.
"More than likely, it would be located somewhere in Wythe County," he said, since two interstates cross there and it would be about 20 minutes in travel time from each county involved.
Wooten said that, if construction started tomorrow and everything went smoothly, it would still take 2 1/2 to 3 years before a regional jail could be ready.
Even with a regional jail, he said, the county jail here would probably remain open as a lockup - a facility that can hold prisoners for up to 12 hours.
by CNB