Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 9, 1994 TAG: 9402090050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KAREN BARNES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
Representatives from Bedford, Campbell and Appomattox counties and Lynchburg met last week with an analyst from the state Department of Criminal Justice.
The analyst, Tony Casale, told the group that state officials are moving toward financing larger, regional jails.
"The regional concept gets 50 percent instead of 25 percent [state reimbursement]," he said. "The commonwealth seems to be heading to funding larger jails and financial disincentives for smaller jails."
Casale envisions 500 beds in the area, based on a 10- to 15-year estimate of need.
Bedford County Administrator Bill Rolfe is skeptical of the proposal, which would expand the former state prison near Moneta, designed to handle 100 inmates.
"What's in it for Bedford County?" he asked. "If there is [a benefit], it's down the road, if the state eliminates funding for smaller jails."
Casale said expanding now will not only cost localities less, but will prepare prisons for a growing inmate population.
"Bedford County might not need it today, but 10 years down the road it might," he said. "They're not using the lion's share of their Moneta facility; Lynchburg is using the lion's share."
Lynchburg pays Bedford County nearly $10 a day for 70 of the 80 inmates now at Camp 24.
Other representatives left the meeting more optimistic than Rolfe. All are considering jail expansions or renovations, but such projects would receive only 25 percent reimbursement from the state.
Lynchburg City Manager Charles Church said 50 percent reimbursement is an important incentive, and a regional jail could help relieve overcrowding.
Lynchburg's jail is under a 1992 court order to improve conditions. Thanks to double bunking, it houses 130 prisoners, Church said.
He asked officials to contact him within 30 days if they intend to participate in the regional jail idea.
Three localities are needed to qualify for increased state aid. So if Bedford County backs out, Campbell and Appomattox counties and Lynchburg could join forces.
But Lynchburg would seek a guarantee to continue shipping prisoners to Camp 24. "With the importance of Moneta, if Bedford chose not to be part of the regional jail negotiations, we'd want a long-term contract for access to that facility," Church said.
Rusty Talbert, Campbell County administrator, said the Board of Supervisors gave him the go-ahead for negotiations.
"We're interested," he said. "We're anxiously pursuing it."
by CNB