Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 30, 1992 TAG: 9201300178
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
REGIONAL JAIL A STEP CLOSER
Representatives of Wythe, Pulaski and Floyd counties and Radford took the first step toward a regional jail Wednesday, but they hope to add other Southwest Virginia localities to the venture.They will be meeting with governing bodies in Bland, Carroll and Giles counties, and possibly Grayson County and the city of Galax, to see if they want to participate.
The first step was to authorize a needs assessment, which will be carried out by the New River Valley Planning District Commission. Governing bodies in Radford and Pulaski County have approved their shares of its $24,000 cost, and Floyd County approved most of its part.
The cost breakdown was based on participation by at least two more localities, Wythe and Bland counties. "The more we have in this boat, guys, the less it's going to cost each of us individually," said Floyd County Administrator Randy Arno.
The breakdown, based on the prisoners and cells of each locality, is $8,935 from Pulaski County; $4,114, Radford; $3,042, Floyd County; $4,971, Wythe County, and $2,935, Bland County.
The assessment will pull together data to show whether such a regional jail is needed and how large it should be. The next step would be a study of existing facilities, also funded by the participants.
Localities would then have to fund construction of the jail and, if the state approves the way it is built, would be eligible for state reimbursement. But the reimbursement, even if approved by the Department of Corrections, depends on the General Assembly appropriating money for it.
Radford Assistant City Manager Roy I. Lloyd Jr., committee chairman, said there is no guarantee of state reimbursement but corrections officials are likely to be "on our side. . . . If we can solve our jail problems, we're going to solve a lot of problems for the Department of Corrections."
He said bills going before the 1992 legislature include provisions for localities funding education for prisoners and other requirements that could cost the city as much as $500,000 a year. It is getting to the point where it is cost-prohibitive for localities to build their own jails, he said.
Wythe County Sheriff Wayne Pike said such a facility, built large enough, could take federal prisoners and receive federal reimbursements for the housing. He said location is a key factor in what jails get prisoners left from overcrowded federal facilities and that this region, with two interstate highways, is an ideal position.
"I think the jail can pay for itself quickly, and I think it can make a lot of revenue," he said. "The biggest hurdle is the red tape in getting to the building. You know, we've been discussing this thing for 10 years."
"Perhaps its time has come," said Lloyd. "We need to move on with it. We're getting a little pushed for time."
The assessment must be complete by June 1 if the project is to avoid waiting two more years for another biennium. Dave Rundgren, executive director of the planning district commission, said complications have already come up.
Each jail has regularly submitted statistics to the state on its number of prisoners and the number it had to house elsewhere due to lack of space. Rundgren said he had counted on pulling those figures for the study. But the state has had trouble getting them into its computer for the last few years, and he will have to consult each sheriff individually to pull the data from jail logs and other records.
The committee voted to proceed with the study, even though not all the localities have signed onto funding it yet, because of the time pressure.
At least three localities must participate to qualify for a regional jail. But the unanimous feeling at Wednesday's meeting was the more, the merrier.