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

DATE: SATURDAY, January 8, 1994                   TAG: 9401080165
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Paul Dellinger
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short

STATE TO HELP PAY FOR JAIL PERSONNEL

A state Compensation Board official told a regional jail committee Friday that the state would cover salaries for a maximum of one correctional officer for three inmates.

The regional jail is being planned for 360 prisoners, from the city of Radford and counties of Carroll, Grayson, Pulaski, Giles and Floyd. Wythe County had been in on the planning for the project but dropped out.

James Matthews, assistant executive secretary for the Compensation Board, said that would mean a maximum of 120 correctional officers - or fewer if the jail is not immediately filled.

The jail study committee wants to make sure there are jobs available at the regional facility for the 75 officers now working at the six local jails. Matthews said the jail's governing authority, when it is set up, will have to decide such matters as how to handle accumulated leave time for people transferring from local jail positions.

Localities still will have to maintain lockups as short-term holding facilities, and Matthews said the localities will have to pay to staff those.

The committee is working to complete its plan by March to qualify for 50 percent state funding on construction, which no longer will be available after this year.

Virginia now has nine regional jails, with three more coming on line during the 1994-96 biennium, Matthews said.

The Compensation Board supports regional jails as being cost-efficient, Matthews said.

by CNB