Goochland prison to close in April

Goochland prison to close in April

Photo by Ken Odor
The Department of Corrections announced last week that the James River Correctional Center will close April 1.

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James River Correctional Center employees learned last week that the center, located on Route 6 just west of Crozier, would close April 1 this year, said Department of Corrections Director of Communications Larry Traylor last week.

The center houses about 450 inmates and employs around 160 people.

The James River Work Center agribusiness and dairy operations, with about 270 inmates, will remain open, said Traylor.

All DOC employees were informed Friday morning of the decision by DOC Director Harold Clarke in a statement, who said the agency, faced with the need to cut $10.9 million from its 2012 budget, decided to close the main compound at James River, while continuing the James River Work Center and agribusiness operations.

“We will be implementing strategies to maximize the placement of our employees at James River.  This will include holding relevant vacancies which may require the rest of us to help cover for these vacant positions while the placement process proceeds.,” wrote Clarke.

Traylor said efforts would be made to absorb some of the correctional center inmates by the work center if appropriate, as well as placing some of the affected employees at the work center if possible.

How the closing will affect Goochland is hard to determine, said Assistant County Administrator Don Charles, Director of Community Development.

“We’ve never done an economic analysis of the prison’s impact on Goochland,” said Charles, who said the power plant will be decommissioned and the prison building will be mothballed.

Charles said the county is very interested in maintaining the infrastructure at the center since the water for the courthouse area comes from the site.

William E. Quarles Jr., the chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said anytime a facility closes, the county is concerned about losing business and jobs, and he said Goochland has been in close touch with prison officials.

“None of the folks there are expected to lose a job — though they may be moved somewhere else — so that’s a good thing,” said Quarles.

“We understand in times of budget crises that things are going to have to be done. But it looks like they are working to ensure that there’s not a lot of displacement of folks and that business, as best as it can, will be minimally disrupted. Anything that Goochland County can do to help, we’ll do it.”

District 4 supervisor Malvern R. “Rudy Butler said the closing would affect the county somewhat, citing the money prison employees spend in the county. It is not known how many of the prison’s employees are Goochland residents.

Traylor and Quarles said they were not aware of any plans for the state to sell any of the property.

Traylor said the retired Thoroughbred horse care program for inmates will continue to operate out of the work center, which is not being closed.

The Pen Pals program that teaches inmates how to train dogs will continue at other prisons, he said.

Richmond Times Dispatch reporter Frank Green contributed to this article.

Photo by Ken Odor
James Correctional Center, DOC’s oldest facility will close April 1. The inmate population of 450 will be moved to other facilities. Efforts will be made to place the 160 employees in other positions within the DOC.

Article source: http://www.goochlandgazette.com/index.php/news/article/goochland_prison_to_close_in_april1/

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