Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
New jail addition opens
It's been 20 years in the making but the county's new Adult Detention Center was officially opened on Oct. 21. The $50 million structure is an expansion for the existing ADC building, next to the courthouse in Manassas.The new building is currently rated for 200 inmates but with extra staffing, it could house as many as 400.
“It's going to allow us to bring back 150 farm-outs for an approximate savings of $3 million to the county and the city,” said Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart.
The main jail was rated for 175 prisoners but currently houses more than 400. A modular building for overflows was meant for 200 but has 260. The county “farms out” about 150 more, paying other localities to house them in their jails. Altogether, Manassas and Prince William County are responsible for more than 1,000 inmates.
The new building will not only help with overcrowding, it will provide more security for the staff and community. Manassas Mayor Hal Parrish said that the old jail wasn't close enough to the courthouse. Officers had to escort prisoners 50 yards from the magistrate's office across the street and through the parking lot to the jail in all kinds of weather and often in the dark or through morning crowds on their way to the courthouse.
“Often, the prisoner would cross paths with family members, witnesses and victims,” Parrish said, noting that made for some “exciting” encounters that officers would rather avoid.
The new ADC building has been built with a long enclosed corridor connecting it to the court system so inmates can be moved from court to jail without having to go outside.
It also includes a video contact room where visitors can sit at semi-private stations, pick up a phone receiver, look into a video monitor and talk with inmates. Elsewhere in the building, the inmates sit at similar stations, talking to friends and loved ones without ever coming into direct contact with each other.
“It limits inmate movement and when you limit inmate movement, you limit the possibility for contraband to be introduced into the facility,” said Capt. Brian Foddrell, the facility's director of transition. “We don't allow contact visits.”
The jail cells themselves are small and set with heavy windowed doors, rather than the stereotypical bars. Each cell contains a set of bunk beds, a sink and a toilet.
“I definitely would want the top bunk,” said County Executive Craig Gerhart, checking out the set-up during a tour.
One officer patrols a pod of 50 cells containing 50 inmates. The bunk beds will allow up to 100 inmates could stay on each pod, but that would require additional officers and at the moment, the double-bunking isn't necessary.
Twice an hour, the officer tours the cells. The officer first swipes a card at one end of the pod. He or she then has a set amount of time to get to the end of the room and push a button on the wall. If the button isn't pushed within the time limit, an alarm will alert other officers to send for help.
But officials don't expect much trouble. The new facility will house primarily minimum-security inmates while higher-risk prisoners are in the other building. In the new structure, inmates are expected to make their beds by 9 a.m. each morning and then they can spend part of the day watching television, playing board games and attending programs, such as GED classes, religious services or drug rehab.
“We're going to make sure that when they come in, they go out a little better,” said Col. Pete Meletis, the ADC superintendent.
You must be logged in to post a comment.