"A deal recently inked by the state could leave a backlog of state inmates in regional jails, local jailers fear.

That could cost the jails money and cause problems with crowding and even discipline, the local officials warn.

Glenn Aylor, superintendent of the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange, said he supports a lawsuit filed by Virginia Beach’s sheriff against the director of the Virginia Department of Corrections. The sheriff, Paul Lanteigne, filed suit June 2 to get inmates that should be in state facilities moved from the Virginia Beach Correctional Center.

“It’s not fair, it’s not right to look at the jail and say you need to pick up more cost and then turn right around and do what they’re doing,” Aylor said.

Aylor said his jail board has not discussed the possibility of a similar suit. Col. Ronald Matthews, jail superintendent of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, said he doesn’t foresee a lawsuit for his jail either.

However, both expressed concerns about the state’s new contract to house about 300 out-of-state inmates in state facilities. The two-year, $18.5 million deal with the Wyoming Department of Corrections is meant to help offset nearly $40 million in budget cuts.

According to the Virginia Department of Corrections, about 1,800 inmates are in local jails who should be in state prisons. Of about 540 inmates, Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail had about 60 waiting to be placed into state facilities last week; the Orange jail had about 30 of a total population of 370.The state is expected to receive about $75 per Wyoming inmate per day under the contract. According to Aylor, local jails only receive $8 a day from the state to go toward the housing of inmates who should be in state facilities. Once the deadline passes for the state to pick up their inmates, the jail receives $14 a day to house them.

However, that amount is insufficient to pay for the costs of housing an inmate. At the Orange jail, it costs $45.09 a day to house one inmate. At the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, Matthews said, it costs $43 a day.

Matthews said the Wyoming inmates are taking up space that could be used for state inmates being held in local jails.

“It definitely has a bearing on our population and what we do,” Matthews said about the contract. “When we have disciplinary issues, we have to schedule them to be isolated sometimes … they’re not getting held accountable because we can’t move an inmate.”

Larry Traylor, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Corrections, said the limited number of beds at state facilities might affect how fast inmates are transferred from local to state facilities.

Traylor said the state views the contract as a temporary solution made necessary by the economy.

“Without the revenue produced by out-of-state contracts, it could become necessary for the department to close currently operating facilities,” Traylor said. “This would result in both the loss of jobs as well as correctional beds.”

Aylor said he doesn’t think that would happen.

“I don’t believe that story for one minute,” Aylor said. “How do you shut the doors on prisons? It can’t happen.”" (Tasha Kates, The Daily Progress, June 13, 2008)