STATE BILL COULD STOP PROGRESS ON PROPOSAL FOR A REGIONAL JAIL

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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 27, 1992                   TAG: 9202270204
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium
STATE BILL COULD STOP PROGRESS ON PROPOSAL FOR A REGIONAL JAIL
The General Assembly may be about to throw a roadblock in the path of a regional jail, just when the momentum for one was building in the New River Valley.
Budget bills in both the state Senate and House of Delegates contain a moratorium on state funding for regional jails until July 1, 1994.
"We can't wait four years, or even two years, to begin this," Radford Assistant City Manager Roy Lloyd told representatives of localities studying the idea Wednesday.
"It's costing us about twice as much to keep a prisoner in jail for one day as it does to educate a child for one day. We see a critical need for a new facility."
Radford had been joined by the counties of Pulaski, Floyd, Bland and Wythe in discussing the jail proposal.
The first step required by the state is a needs-assessment study, which already has been started by the New River Valley Planning District Commission. So far, all the localities except Bland have agreed to help pay for the study.
Giles County Sheriff Larry Falls also attended Wednesday's meeting. The regional committee had considered approaching Giles and Carroll counties to see if they would be interested.
"We think that they have the same needs as we have," Lloyd said. "The more people that we get into this, up to a point, the cheaper it's going to be."
He suggested contacting Del. Tommy Baker, R-Radford, who could set up a meeting with legislators representing the other localities about either exempting the New River Valley from the moratorium or introducing special legislation next year to fund its regional jail.
"We could meet with them in the morning, day or night or whatever time they choose. How would you like to proceed on it?" Lloyd asked.
"Go," replied Wythe County Supervisor Jack Crosswell.
The localities also will ask their circuit judges to contact the legislators about the need for state funding and the need for speed on a regional jail.
Jails in the region are overcrowded, face increasing state regulations and, in many cases, are simply too old.
"Mine was built in '33 and I guess, at the time, it looked pretty good. But times change and needs change," said Falls. "Sooner or later, they're going to have to do something."
One concern is that, at any time, a locality could find itself cited by state jail inspectors or circuit judges and have to finance a new or improved jail by themselves. Cost estimates for that are much higher than for sharing a regional jail.
"There is about a $12 million swing between the maximum and the minimum that the localities would have to put out," Lloyd said. "And that's just construction. It has nothing to do with operation . . . and it's a little scarey."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB