|
|
| Richmond sheriff defends statements on new jail |
| By timesdispatch.com - Will Jones |
| Published: 08/22/2011 |
|
Despite a claim to the contrary, Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. maintained last week that he made no false statement to the City Council before last month's vote to approve a contract for the design and construction of a new jail. Woody also lashed back at Councilman E. Martin Jewell, who had accused the sheriff and other project officials of telling "an untruth" after council members questioned whether the city's plan had met state requirements. "I never gave him any statements that were untrue," Woody said. "I think Marty Jewell was trying to confuse the situation and trying to get a new interpretation from me." City officials acknowledged last week that their plan for a new 1,032-bed jail on Fairfield Way must be submitted for review and approval by the state Board of Corrections. That could happen as early as next month. However, the issue of a new state review got only scant attention — and no definitive word from Mayor Dwight C. Jones' administration — in a series of politically charged and at times confusing exchanges that preceded the council's 7-2 vote to approve a $116.5 million contract for the jail. Jewell and Councilman Bruce W. Tyler ultimately opposed the city's contract with the Tompkins/Ballard Joint Venture of Washington. At the July 28 meeting, Jewell brought up a concern that the jail plan might have to be expanded to incorporate enough segregation beds to meet state safety requirements. Jewell attempted to raise the issue with Chief Administrative Officer Byron C. Marshall but received a response from Woody. The sheriff said that 108 special-population beds were already included in the 1,032-bed design. "And the plan has been approved by (the Department of Corrections)," he added, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch review of an audio recording of the meeting. "But that's between you and DOC," Woody said. "I'm not going to touch it." Read More. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think