Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 1, 1990 TAG: 9007010059
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-15 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: BLAND LENGTH: Medium
Dorton is editor of the center's newspaper, published in small-magazine format. He also is its photographer, typist and reporter and handles the layout and design.
The publication first saw life as a mimeographed publication called the Bland County Times. When Dorton became its editor 5 1/2 years ago, he changed its format and rechristened it Inside/Insight Journal.
Another writer and typist is Eddie Sizemore, who also is litigation affairs reporter. Donald Dove reports on sports and does some artwork. Larry Brown is a volunteer editorial assistant, and Al Scrivener, a staff writer and proofreader.
Scrivener has a commentary in the current issue taking issue with the view that more people in Virginia prisons means more crimes are occurring. He argues, using findings from a 1989 study group appointed by then-Gov. Gerald Baliles, that the causes are longer sentences, a failure to use more alternatives to prison, low parole and probation rates and "the extraordinary length of time actually being served by Virginia's inmates."
Other features include case law reports by a Prisoners' Rights Project attorney in New York, condensations of newspaper articles involving Virginia corrections and safety officials, a status report on new prisons being built in Buchanan and Greensville, General Assembly action this year on criminal justice matters, information briefs on activities and organizations within the center, poetry and a multiple-choice column to increase word power, among other things.
Dorton said the publication had been sidelined for about a year because the second-hand typewriter, its major production tool, finally broke down. Now it has been replaced by an electronic typewriter, and the publication is back in business.
by CNB