Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 3, 1990 TAG: 9005020270
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: NEAL THOMPSON NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Blacksburg police arrest two people on charges of, say, drinking in public. They take them to the Blacksburg Police Department where the suspects appear before a magistrate who is in Christiansburg.
Huh?
Well, Blacksburg doesn't have its own magistrate. That means those arrested there must be taken to Christiansburg's district magistrate, who issues arrest warrants.
The addition to the Blacksburg Police Department, which is to be completed next year, will change that because it will contain its own new magistrate's office.
The only twist is that the magistrate won't actually be there. The magistrate will remain in Christiansburg.
Still don't get it?
Blacksburg Police Chief Don Carey explains: "It'll be like a mini TV station."
Because the state denied a request for a magistrate to work in Blacksburg, the town and Montgomery County are cooperating to set up an audio-visual link.
And if the state approves the plan, as is expected, it would be one of two such "electronic magistrate" setups in the state. The other is a pilot project in Chesapeake scheduled this summer.
Carey, Sheriff Louis Barber and Chief Magistrate Iris Tucker met last month with the Committee on District Courts and Magistrates. And last week, they learned that the committee would not support a new magistrate but would support the backup electronic magistrate plan.
"They won't staff it with a magistrate but they were quite interested in the audio-visual approach," Barber said.
Barber and Carey agreed this will still achieve the original goal of a magistrate's office in Blacksburg - to save money.
Currently, when Blacksburg officers arrest someone in town, they must drive to the magistrate's office in Christiansburg, where the suspect is processed and, if necessary, locked up. Police have said the trip averages 1 1/2 hours per arrest.
With the TV approach, a suspect stands before a video camera and is asked questions by the Christiansburg magistrate, who also is looking into a camera. "They see the magistrate and the magistrate sees them," Barber said.
Also, any documents involved in the arrest, such as warrants, will be faxed between the offices, Barber said. "So, it'll eliminate 1 1/2 hours per arrest."
"We won't have to take a trip to Christiansburg every time we arrest somebody," Carey said. "We'll save time and money."
The addition to the Blacksburg department also will contain four holding cells, one for women. Blacksburg doesn't have cells now, and suspects who need to be held overnight or for a few days must be taken to Christiansburg, which costs time and money, Carey said.
Carey said they will begin researching the audio-visual link and will then find someone to design it. After that, they will seek final approval and money from the state.
The cells and magistrate's office will be staffed by a sheriff's deputy. Since they will benefit both the sheriff's department and Blacksburg police, the county and the town will contribute money.
"In other words, they'll build the walls and we'll put the doors and bars on," Barber said.
Furthermore, the new facilities will serve as a sort of substation for the sheriff's department. People in the western half of the county who need to pick up subpoenas or warrants can get them in Blacksburg instead of traveling to Christiansburg as they now must do.
Deputies also can deliver things out of the Blacksburg facility and local lawyers can drop off and pick up documents there, again saving a trip to Christiansburg.
Blacksburg Council has approved plans for the addition and will consider a bond issue to finance the expected $470,000 cost of the project. The addition also will contain new offices and much-needed evidence storage.
by CNB