ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 26, 1996 TAG: 9604260066
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
George Allen, Virginia's tough-on-crime governor, said Thursday that he thinks putting prisoners on chain gangs would be going too far.
On his monthly radio call-in show, Allen told a caller who suggested the use of chain gangs that inmates already are working outside prisons under the supervision of armed guards.
``I suppose we could look at it,'' Allen said, ``but as far as I'm concerned, the way we're doing it now in Virginia is working just fine, and they're doing a lot of good work.
``While it might make somebody happy that they have to limp along with a ball and chain, it's simply unnecessary to do that.''
Allen said inmates are working in state parks, a recycling center and even at Capitol Square, where they have been painting fences.
Florida, Arizona and Alabama have revived chain gangs. At least one federal lawsuit has been filed over the practice in Arizona, where a prisoner alleges that the chain gang violates his civil rights.
Allen has made cracking down on inmates a priority in his administration. Parole has been abolished, inmates are charged for medical care and have not been allowed to have some personal items, including typewriters, T-shirts and jeweled wedding rings. Electric fans have been banned at one prison.
On another topic, Allen accused Democratic congressmen of playing politics over the federal Goals 2000 education reform program.
Reps. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, and Jim Moran, D-Alexandria, are pushing a bill to allow localities to apply directly for the money, bypassing Allen's veto of the funding for the state as a whole.
``It's a purely political ploy by those who want to thwart the efforts of Virginia,'' Allen said. ``All of this is purely partisan political nonsense. Their mind-set is, `The federal government knows best.'''
Two-thirds of Virginia's 134 school boards passed resolutions urging Allen to apply for the money, which could be used for teacher training and curriculum development. But the Republican governor said he opposes the federal regulations that might come along with the money.
LENGTH: Short : 46 linesby CNB