ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 13, 1996 TAG: 9602130105
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH
SOURCE: Associated Press
A private company wants to convert an office complex near the city's government center into a pre-release and work-release compound for low-risk state prison inmates.
Twin Star Enterprises Inc. will present plans for the $12.5 million project to the Planning Commission this week. City Council will take up the project next month.
Under a contract with the Virginia Department of Corrections, Twin Star would keep up to 260 low-risk prisoners who have less than a year to serve on nonviolent offenses.
``We won't have the bad ones, if you will,'' said George R. Hale, president of Twin Star and a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Marshal's Service. ``It'll be inmates who are finishing their time and want to go home. They want to get a life.''
Last year, the General Assembly authorized the Corrections Department to contract for up to 3,800 beds of private prison space, 950 of which would be pre-release and work-release beds.
Twin Star would have to modify some of the five office buildings it plans to acquire, including strengthening floors and adding bars and security cameras. But no guard towers, spotlights or fences would be necessary.
The office complex already contains a work-release facility operated by the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Department.
``If they put in small-time criminals, I don't think the public will ever know they're there,'' said Sheriff Frank Drew, whose facility for up to 115 inmates has been open for five years.
However, some nearby residents have expressed concern.
``We've already had problems with prisoners from the jail who come up to us, like when we're washing the car or working outside, and want to know if we have something for them to do,'' said David Vandermel, who lives near the site.
Russell L. Boraas, the state's newly appointed private prison administrator, said such concerns are legitimate.
``I can't say who will be in the program, but I can say who won't,'' Boraas said.
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