Richmond City Jail

Richmond must submit new jail plan to state

Richmond will have to submit its plan for a new jail to the state for approval, but Virginia officials say that doesn't mean the city would have to enlarge the project to account for special beds or risk state financial support.

Staff for the Virginia Department of Corrections said Friday that the city plan approved by the Board of Corrections almost two years ago will have to be revised and resubmitted because it involves building a new facility, instead of renovating the existing Richmond City Jail .

However, Richmond won't have to return to the state to prove again that the facility is needed.

"None of us has ever had a question about the need — they need it," said Brooks Ballard, project coordinator in the Corrections Department's architectural and engineering division.

City Hall officials said they have a different understanding of what the board approved in October 2009, and whether a new planning study is required for the $116.5 million project approved Thursday night by Richmond City Council.

"We have a high sense of urgency to meet privately with the Department of Corrections so we can get a clear understanding of what was approved so we can move forward with the construction of the jail," said Christopher L. Beschler, deputy chief administrative officer for operations in the administration of Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

Beschler said he spoke Friday with state corrections staff about assertions made by Councilman E. Martin Jewell, an opponent of the mayor's proposal, that the city would have to increase the size of the jail to comply with state standards for new or expanded correctional facilities.

Beschler said "the city's understanding of what is approved is different from the position of the Department of Corrections" regarding the rated capacity of the proposed new jail.

Jewell said Thursday that the city has "screwed up" by including special-purpose beds for temporary segregation of inmates in the total capacity of the 1,032-bed facility proposed next to the current jail in the East End.

He said the mistake could cost Richmond as much as 25 percent of the project's expense if it fails to meet state standards.

Corrections officials said Friday that while the project must meet state standards, that doesn't mean Richmond has to revise its plan to reflect a larger number of beds.

"I did not say they have to build additional beds," said Bill Wilson, local facilities supervisor, who said he had met with Jewell.

Richmond City Jail Accomodates Residents During Ramadan | KissRichmond

The Richmond City Jail Ramadan Program coordinates the jail’s dining hall schedule to make the necessary allowances for the fasting requirements of our Muslim population. It allows them to fast during daylight hours and eat after sundown and before sunrise, even if all others on their tier are on a “regular” schedule. Both Nation of Islam and Sunni Muslim residents participate.

How it works: Shift deputies pull the participants from the jail’s general population and escort them to the Dining Hall to eat before sun comes up every morning during the month. Similar accommodations are made every evening after the sun goes down.

In the high custody end of the jail, food is delivered to those residents before sunrise, and again after the sunset. 

In total, right now, there are less than 100 participants in this program. However, that number can rise or fall based on the number of new commitments to the jail, transfers to and from other jurisdictions, transfers to DOC, and served sentence releases.

The RCJ Ramadan program begins on Monday, August 1, 2011 and will continue for 30 days.

Major Jerry Baldwin, Richmond Sheriff’s Office

Jerry.Baldwin@richmondgov.

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