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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 1, 1995                   TAG: 9502010057
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

STATE SUED OVER JAILS

The Virginia Department of Corrections is violating state law by forcing local jails to house felons who have been sentenced to serve three years or longer, three sheriffs said in a lawsuit.

A sharp increase in the number of felons kept indefinitely in Virginia's jails is contributing to overcrowding and could spur ``violent and dangerous incidents,'' said the lawsuit filed by the sheriffs of Richmond, Arlington and Alexandria.

The lawsuit filed Monday in Richmond Circuit Court asks that nearly 400 such prisoners be moved from jails in the three jurisdictions to prisons and that newly sentenced felons be kept out of the jails.

Similar lawsuits have been filed by other jurisdictions.

by CNB