
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 16, 1994                   TAG: 9409160038
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

2 SHIPYARDS PLAN BARGES AS FLOATING JAILS

Two Virginia shipyards are joining forces to build and sell barges that would be used as jails, and some of their customers may come from within the state.

The Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp. and Colonna's Shipyard Inc. plan to design, build and market ``floating detention centers,'' said Doug Forrest, Colonna's vice president and a spokesman for the project.

The sheriff in the hometown of the two shipyards already has expressed interest.

``We have an overcrowded jail, at times close to 1,400 inmates,'' said George Schaefer, a spokesman for Norfolk Sheriff Robert McCabe. ``We're in a situation ... where we've been ordered to ease our overcrowding. This may be a cost-effective way of doing it.''

Such business also could help the shipyards offset the slow demand for more traditional ship repair work. Although the jail barge project is still in the development stage, Forrest said the yards have talked to potential customers, including Boston and the state of Virginia.

It would take about two years after getting the first order to produce a finished jail barge. After that, one could be finished every three months, Forrest said.

``We expect to get a contract within six months with someone for this,'' he said.

Gov. George Allen's proposal to abolish parole is expected to require additional prison space if it is adopted.

by CNB