THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 15, 1996 TAG: 9603130157
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Sheriff Gary Waters and City Hall staff have proposed a 64-bed dormitory complex for work-release inmates from the City Jail.
The facility would be built within the city's public-works compound near the Frederick Boulevard exit of westbound Interstate 264. Many work-release prisoners already are assigned tasks within the compound, said Deputy City Manager Luke McCoy, who explained the request to the City Council Monday.
All the work-release prisoners were convicted of nonviolent crimes such as trespassing, shoplifting and forging checks, Waters said.
The proposed facility would cost about $330,000 to build, the money coming from jail improvement funds already authorized but never appropriated in previous capital budgets, McCoy said.
The council is scheduled to vote on the request March 26. If approved, the facility would be completed within 120 days, City Manager Ronald W. Massie said.
The jail would then close its 38-bed work-release dorm, a trailer at the old Coast Guard base near the downtown waterfront. That would free the site for development, Waters said.
Besides housing beds for the work-release inmates, the new complex also would contain a laundry for the City Jail. Moving the laundry to the new facility would free space in the jail for expanding the cramped kitchen, Waters said.
The new work-release facility also could ease crowding in the City Jail, where the population rose to 626 this month, McCoy said. ``It would give the sheriff some room until the regional jail is built.''
McCoy also said the new work-release complex could be converted to offices or other city use some day, unlike the trailer now being used and in declining condition.
Mayor Gloria O. Webb, Vice Mayor Johnny M. Clemons and Council member Cameron Pitts praised the proposed work-release complex. by CNB