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

DATE: TUESDAY, June 27, 1995                   TAG: 9506270081
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BEDFORD COUNTY DROPS JAIL AUTHORITY

With just days until their commitment became final, the Bedford County Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 Monday night to back out of its agreement to join the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority.

That means the fate of the regional jail - which needs three members - could be in question. Lynchburg, and Bedford, Campbell and Appomattox counties voted to form the authority last year, but Appomattox reneged last month. Each of the governments had until July 1 to back out.

Halifax County has said it might step in to take Bedford County's place, but if a third member can't be found, the regional jail could founder.

Joining the regional jail would have cost Bedford and Bedford County about $3 million over the next 20 years.

In Lynchburg, where the city was faced with a federal court order to reduce its inmate population, the authority proposed building a $20 million, 456-bed regional jail to house Lynchburg prisoners and sentenced felons from other localities.

Unlike other regional jail authorities, the Blue Ridge authority would still operate local jails, hoping to cut down on the costs of transporting inmates awaiting trial.

by CNB