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

DATE: SATURDAY, September 17, 1994                   TAG: 9409200031
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

ALLEN SEEKS JAIL MONEY

Gov. George Allen will ask legislators next week to approve a $367 million bond issue to pay one-third of the $1 billion cost of his plan to abolish parole and lengthen sentences for violent criminals.

The remaining two-thirds of the financing will be decided later, administration officials said Friday, with much of it likely coming from another bond issue that would have to be approved by voters.

House Speaker Thomas Moss, D-Norfolk, said lawmakers need to see the entire financing package before deciding whether to approve the biggest overhaul of the state's criminal-justice system in years.

Administration officials emphasized the importance of approving the initial bond issue quickly so prison construction can proceed.

``We believe that it is extremely urgent,'' Finance Secretary Paul Timmreck said. ``It relates to the backlog in local jails.''

If the $367 million Virginia Public Building Authority bond bill is approved in the special General Assembly session that begins Monday, Allen could sign the bill in October and get construction started, Timmreck said.

- Associated Press

by CNB