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09-05-1974 MinutesVIRGINIA: A special meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Chesterfield County, held at the Courthouse on September 5, 1974, at 3:00 p.m. Present: 'Mr. Irvin G. Horner, Chairman Mr. Leo Myers, Vice-Chairman Mr. J..Ruffin Apperson Mr. A. J. Krepela Mr. E. Merlin O'Neill Mr. M. W. Burnett, County Admin. Also Present: Mr Mr Mr Mr Mr Mr Mr Mr Jack Davis Lee O. Falwell Herbert Gill Fred Gray George Jones Morris Mason C. G. Manuel Oliver Rudy The meeting is called to order by Mr. Horner. He states the purpose of this meeting, by mutual consent of the Board and Mr. Jack Davis, is to discuss the matter in the press recently on the corrections problems. Mr. Horner introduces Mr. Davis and the Board. Mr. Horner states that the Board has no plans or format and gives Mr. Davis the floor to begin in any manner he thinks proper. · Mr. Davis states that he has no agenda either and he would prefer it to be a very informal meeting. Mr. Jones asks Mr. Davis to comment in reference to the Governor's statement of the previous evening as tO how far this decision has gone. Mr. Davis states that he will work that in. First, he states he would like to give the current and future picture on classification. He says that as of today and the past nine months the State has three calssification units. The Southampton Unit which is for the younger adults, ages 18-24, and for first offenders. He states that this unit is dormitory in style and can handle 40-50 persons at a time. The Penitentiary which handles long-term and/or multi-recidivists, is composed of single-cell units and can take care of 40-50 inmates. The State Farm would handle the remainder. The State Farm has one wing dedicated to receiving and classification. Those in receiving and classification do not mix with the prisoners serving terms. He states that the inmates there for receiving and classification purposes eat and sleep there with make-shift rooms adjacent. He states that this situation is fair but not good. The space for the testing, etc. is also not good. He states that the State does need a decent receiving and classification place. He adds also that the facility proposed for Louisa County will not be built. Since June or July the State has been looking for another site. He states that both money and time are very important. He adds that the proposed facility in Louisa would take three to four years to build and put into operation and the need is yesterday's need. They have looked at a number of places and the need is to be near clinical and professional authorities, so naturally, they had to look to a metropolitan community which is closest to Camp 13. This close proximity to Camp 13 was considered because this Unit has the capacity of holding 200 men in dormitory style, it was built one and one-half years ago and can hold 180-195 at a time. The.proposal being considered at this time is to build an addition to Camp 13 which would be housing individual cells and convert the present building to offices, administrative and testing spaces, etc. The addition would consist of approxi- mately 120 cells. Mr. Rudy inquires if this would be in addition to the present 200? Mr.· Davis states that they would move the present 200 out and make it dormitory in style. He states that they are considering the possibility of moving the Southampton receiving unit here but that it would still only have a maximum capacity of 170. He states that at the present time it is taking four to eight weeks to process a person through the classification program and that this is double what it should take. He states that three to four weeks should be adequate time and this could be done here He states that t-ey are looking to this end and that presently it cannot be accomplished because the proper facilities are not available. He states that there are two gOod reasons why the County should consider this: 1. there will be less inmates, and 2· in effect, this will be a maximum security unit because it will have no outside windows except to the two inside courtyards and it will have all the properties of maximum security according to one of the preliminary sketches. Mr. Burnett inquires as to how many guards are employed. Mr· Davis states that there are approximately 22-25 at this facility. Mr. Krepela inquires as to what Camp 13 is currently classified Mr. Davis states medium. Mr· Krepela inquires if escapes would be increased or decreased in comparison to the present facility. Mr. Davis states that if anything, the amount of escapes would be decreased because'as the facility is now, there are gunmen, trustee and work-release programs and this would not be allowed at the proposed facility because it would be for classification and receiving only, Mr. Krepela inquires how these inmates would be transported. Mr. Davis states in barred buses, Mr. Rudy inquires if the turnover in this facility would be completely every three to four weeks. Mr. Davis s~ates that every three to four weeks an entire new population should be at the facility. Mr. Rudy inquires'what will come after the receiving and classification center. Mr. Davis states that the State has an agreement to lease the land, 100 acres and then 50 acres, and that it is against all penalogical thinking to adjoin an institution to a classification and receiving center. Also, the Governor's plan does not call for additional correctional units in this area. Mr. Rudy inquires how long-term is this plan. Mr. Davis states that it is his feeling that this would commit the State through several administrations. Mr. Burnett inquires how far down the road is that. Mr. Davis states that he feels it would be approximately 20-50 years. Mr. Krepela inquires how long it would take to construct this proposed facility. Mr. Davis states 12 to 18 months. Mr. Krepela inquires why Chesterfield is being considered in lieu of Louisa. Mr. Davis states because of the time element. Mr. Rudy inquires if the pre-release center is involved. Mr. Davis states that the pre-release center is another ball of wax. He states that the pre-release center would probably continue operating as is because it is the headquarters for pre-release in the State. Mr. Homer states that he understands from Mr. Davis that this will bring up the morale of the inmates because the time is shortened and inquires why. Mr. Davis states that there is a big difference~ One thing is that the inmates get bored sitting around and wondering where they are going. They want to get where they are going instead of anticipating the possibilities. Mr. Rudy states that he has a question with regard to pre-release. He wonders why inmates with years of time served behind them still need security. Mr. Davis states that it is strange but they still try to escape. Mr. Rudy inquires as to the possibility of an inmate having years to serve before going to the pre-release center coming to the classification center. Mr. Davis states that the classification center will be for those coming in to serve terms not those being considered for release. Mr. Myers wants to know the difference between pre-release and receiving and classification. Mr. Davis states that receiving and classification are for new inmates being sent to serve time and pre-release is when an inmate is leaving or coming up for parole. Mr. Myers inquires if all prisoners would be picked up and brought to this Classification center. Mr. Davis states that all new prisoners would, but not the recidivists or multi-offenders. Mr. Myers inquires if this would include murderers, second-time losers, etc. Mr. Davis states that murderers would not, they would go directly to the Penitentiary. Mr. Myers asks what the dividing point is. Mr. Davis states that no matter what the crime, a prisoner would go to one of the three classification centers. Prisoners with sentences of 30-40 years, recidivists, etc. would go elsewhere, for example, the Penitentiary, and someone who consistently forged checks would go through the middle classification- center. No hard-core or violent prisoners would come to the proposed Chester- ~ field facility. Mr. O'Neill states that he has not seen too many 30-40 year sentences. Mr. Davis states that Virginia gives longer terms than most states, even if some of the time is suspended. Mr. Myers inquires if there is any possibility of a Federal Judge coming in and telling the State what they were going to do with this facility. Mr. Davis states that there is no guarantee that it could not happen. He states that because of the gang rapes, beatings, etc. he could not see them bringing in all types, as that is the reason they split the classification into three centers. Mr. Myers inquires if the services of this proposed facility in Chesterfield are the same as were proposed for Louisa. Mr. Davis states they are. Mr. Rudy inquires if this facility would be the same size as was proposed for Louisa or larger. Mr. Davis states that because there was not a facility available in Louisa to work around, it would have been constructed to house 320 and would have included all three centers, keeping the three types separate. He adds also that he has asked the Attorney General, if in his opinion, the funds in the current budget could be reappropriated to help with the classification center in Chesterfield or anywhere else and he states that he does not feel they could because the Legislature states it is for Louisa. Mr. Rudy states that in other words the State cannot go ahead until the Legisla- ture is in session. Mr. Davis states that is correct. He states they can make plans but no contracts can be let. 'Mr. Rudy inquires what type of security will be visible for the public to see. Mr. Davis states that there will be a fence 280' x 300', the same also being 12' high with an additional foot of barb wire. Mr. Rndy inquires if there will be any guard stations. Mr. Davis says no. Mr. Rudy inquires if the inmates will be able to walk out to the fence. Mr. Davis states that they will not in the front but will be able to in the back and on the sides. Mr. Rudy states that Mr. Davis mentioned that Chesterfield was one of the sites being considered and inquires where the others are. Mr. Davis states that he is unable to discuss that at this time. Mr. Krepela inquires why the State did not exercise the power of Eminent Domain in Louisa. Mr. Davis states that the State could have been kept in court for five to ten years. Mr. Krepela inquires if the State having the land here already had anything to do with it. Mr. Davis says it did. Mr. Krepela inquires if the County would have no litigation in this case. Mr. Davis states that is his understanding but that he wants to work with everyone and does not want to jam anything down anyone's throan. Mr. Horner states that he understands the basis and genesis of the suit was not the land ownership but the citizens in Louisa. Mr Davis states that they declared a historical landmark there~ Mr Homer asks why that cannot be done here as the entire County is history. Mr Davis does not answer. Mr Burnett inquires why he will not discuss the other possible sites. Mr Davis states there are alot of reasons. Mr Rudy inquires why the Chesterfield site got out and not the others. Mr Davis states that the Crime Commission had stated this was the best site in a report released more than a year ago. Mr. Burnett asks if the report was published. Mr. Davis states it was made public. Mr. Burnett inquires about the traffic situation. Mr. Davis states he thought there would be less traffic because visitors would not be allowed at this facility as it would be only incoming and outgoing prisoners. ' Mr. Burnett states that the personnel would have to travel these roads and it seems more personnel would have to be hired for this facility. Mr. Davis states that there would be more personnel and it would be like an additional industry. Mr. Burnett states that the Board of Supervisors has been turning down zoning in this area because of the road problems. He inquires if the State had or would give the County consideration for this and possibly give the County more primary funds to alleviate the situation. Mr. Davis states that he feels Mr. Fugate would consider this if the need were proven. Mr. Burnett inquires if an Environmental Impact Statement had been done on this facility. He states that this is needed for everything else. Mr. Rudy inquires if this would be a combined effort or would it be from the top down. Mr. Davis states that, hopefully, it would be working together but that the State would be responsible for the operation of this facility. He states they do not want to be dogmatic because you can get in trouble that way, but they are willing to work with the community. Mr. Myers inquires how much land was to be utilized in Louisa. Mr. Davis states 204 acres. Mr. Myers states that the Chesterfield residents do not want this as they did not in Louisa. Mr. Davis states that the people in Louisa were in favor of it except for one group who relied on it as~being a historical landmark. Mr. Myers inquires if the line could have been shifted. Mr. Davis states that it was already close to Charlottesville and it would not have been feasible to have this located too close to where the cause originated. Mr. Apperson states that it is his concern and the people's that at first it was supposed to be a temporary road camp, then it was made into a permanent road camp and pre-release center and now it is going to be a receiving and classifica- tion center. He inquires what will come next. Mr. Davis states that they are planning to take away Camp 13 and add the receiving and classification center. The only addition would be for housing. He states they do not anticipate any escapes because there would not be work-release, road gangs, etc. He adds also that this receiving and classification center would be virtually a maximum security unit. Mr. Burnett inquires As to how many escapes have occurred at the Penitentiary this year. Mr. Davis states he believes only one. Mr. Krepela inquires if any furloughs would be given. Mr. Davis states there would not. He states these prisoners would stay here until reassigned and sent to serve their terms--this would just be a testing- type center. Mr. Rudy inquired if the caliber of personnel would be higher. Mr. Davis states very definitely. He states college graduates would be doing the testing. He adds also that they would not need as many guards but that the plans are still in the proposed state. Mr. Myers inquires why the State is so concerned with the classification of prisoners. Mr. Davis states that is the heart and soul of good phrenology. Mr. Horner inquires what is the Crime Commission's purpose. Mr. Davis states that the Crime Commission keeps an eye on corrections and makes recommendations. Mr. Myers states that everything is getting more high falooting and it seems everything is actually getting worse. He inquires if the State ,and government are on the right road. He states that he thought work was the best thing for inmates. Mr. Davis states that keeping an inmate idle is the worse thing. Mr. Myers inquires to the education and rehabilitation of inmates. Mr. Davis states he believes in rehabilitation. He states that alot of people in these institutions are here because they could not make a living and now they are being taught a trade and can leave an institution being more productive. Mr. Burnett inquires if this is just making a smarter crook. Mr. Davis states that this is a possibility. Mr. Rudy states that since the institutions are teaching these people, why don't they employ them afterwards. Mr. Davis states that this is a good question. Mr. Rudy states that these men cannot be hired by the Highway Department because they have been convicted of a felony. Mr. Davis states that in the Danville-Martinsville area, 70% of those who are on work-release stay on jobs and work in the community and are doing a great job and these people want more of the same kind of help. He states work-release is helping to keep these people off the welfare roles. Mr. Horner inquires what is being built in Mecklenburg? Mr. Davis states that a 360 man maximum security unit for hard-core criminals is what is being planned there and that this will take some of the Penitentiary inmates. Mr. Hornet inquires where the inmates of Camp 13 would go. Mr. Davis states they would be scattered around the State. Mr. Apperson inquires .as to what percentage have been escaping from Camp 13 or or the Pre-release Center. Mr. Rudy states that not all are from Camp 13 but some are from the Pre-release 'Center and he does not know the percentage. He inquires how an inmate with years to serve can be housed in the pre-release center. Mr. Davis states that the. former Governor wanted to see 1,000 men on work-release and that Camp 13 supplied 750. Pre-release is basically work-release and they go out on jobs. Mr. Rudy inquires if measures could be taken at pre-release to see that escapes are cut back. Mr. Davis states that there is a new administrator there now and he feels things are and will be changing for the better as they have already increased the guards. ' Mr. Horner cites the history of Camp 13 and how it progressed from a temporary road camp to what is proposed presently. He states that the road camp situation was supposed to be good for the County and that work would be done on the roads and it has not been much help. Mr. Burnett states that Mr. Kellam sold the Board on this idea. Mr. Davis states that there is a different type of clientele in prisons now. He says they are smarter, better educated, continually plotting and they are willing to take more chances. Mr. O'Neill feels that punishment instead of babying the prisoners is the only answer. Mr. Myers states that at one time you were safe when you were sent to jail and now you are not. He feels we are on the wrong track in handling prisoners. Mr. Burnett inquires if a house full of people are here on the llth of September, would they get proper consideration. Mr. Davis states they will get a certain amount of proportional weight. He states there are so many other factors, for example water and sewer etc. to be considered. ' ' Mr. Burnett inquires if the State Water Control Board approved this area for sewer. He then adds that the County had tried to get water to Camp 13 but the Federal Government would not give the proper easement and presently wells are installed. Mr. Homer states that he appreciates Mr. Davis coming to the meeting and invites him to come on September llth and further states that if he would like to invite the Crime Commission he is welcome to do so. Mr. Davis states that he will think about it. Mr. Rudy inquires if there could be some commitment on the part of the State that this proposed facility would stay as it is. Mr. Burnett states that he did not know if future governors could be bound by such a commitment. Mr. Jones states that it was his understanding that Chesterfield had been picked and that was that. Mr. Davis states that he can safely say that the location of Camp 13 is regarded the best of any location that they have or will consider because of its proximity to Richmond. He states that the geography has a great deal to do with it. Mr. Jones suggests that Mr. Davis drive from Charlottesville to Richmond and then from Camp 13 to Richmond and he could probably make it in less tim~ during peak traffic hours. He states that Mr. Davis said that Mr. Fugate would consider more funds for the area if the need was shown and he feels the need has been shown and nothing has been done about it. Mr. Davis inquires of Mr. Jones where he would put this center. Mr. Jones states on the road to Charlottesville. Mr. Fred Gray comes before the Board and states that he is not a member of the Crime Commission but of a special Advisory Committee and that he did not know and was not notified of the meeting at which this classification center was proposed for Chesterfield. He states that he feels the biggest problem should be ~ the concern for escapes. He states that he feels it is foolish for the State to go into the proposed rehabilitation system when they know nothing about it and if they do, it is very recent that they found out. He states further that he feels we would be better off with this receiving and classification center but also feels that the federal law should provide for immediate punishment for those prisoners who do and/or attempt to escape. Mr. Rudy states that the Commonwealth's Attorneys Association has also endorsed a proposal to change' the federal law along this line. Mr. Gray states that if a man is on work-release and violates this opportunity he should be punished then and not down the road somewhere. He states that as far as a contract with the State regarding the proposed facility and its future, he feels if the State did make a Commitment they would stand by.it. He states that this could be done a few different ways, for example, by joint resolution, by its inclusion in the Constitution, and the Legislature could amend it but that he felt all General Assemblies would honor it. Mr. Apperson inquires how they came to pick Chesterfield if they were going by location. Is it geographical location or population location? Mr. Davis states that Charlottesville is the geographical center for the State but that more people live east of 95. Mr. Horner thanks those present for coming to the meeting. M. W. Burnett, Secretary