University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Keep CD Out Of Jail

Please permit me to take
issue with the article written
by Margaret Alford on 14
February, 1973. The article is
distorted and not factual. Our
Charlottesville-Albemarle Jail is
now under construction at a
cost of one and a half million
dollars and will be completed
during the fall of 1973. Money
was appropriated though a
bond issue and I was one of the
first citizens of Albemarle to
endorse and support the bond
issue in order to have adequate
facilities for the inmates. I said
on many occasions we did not
have adequate facilities and I
still feel the same way. The
building we now have is over
100 years old. Each cell has an
outside window that can be
opened by inmates to allow
them to get fresh air. The walls
are painted yellow and the jail
was painted throughout in
1972. The walls are
approximately two feet thick,
with solid stone, the concrete
floors contain heat pipes that
keep the building warm in the
winter time and this is
governed by a thermostat. Your
young writer referred to
radiators and peep windows
which indicate she didn't take
time or listen to statements I
made during the interview.

I turned over to OAR
Director, Wayne Shannon the
bills I approved for food for
the months of December and
January. The average cost per
day, per person is
approximately $1.25. All food
supplies are bought at
wholesale process, tax free.
These meals consist of a well
balanced diet and inmates are
fed three meals per day. I
understand from Wayne
Shannon that he is going to
clarify the statement of
22 cents per meal
which your reporter included
in her article.

I have checked with the
Chief Jailer, Mr. Lewis Dunn,
as to the statement made about
a hunger strike. My
investigation revealed that we
had one person, who
subsequently has been
committed to South Western
State Hospital, Marion, who
would not eat his food in the
middle of the day. I have
personally checked with the
inmates of the jail and there
have been no complaints about
the food. The deputies on duty
at the time have never made a
threat concerning any inmates.

The article written by your
reporter has confirmed my
belief that you reporters
should not be allowed in the
jail because of the distorted
articles they write. Attorneys,
doctors, clergymen and the
OAR Director are welcome.

The Albemarle County Jail
and jails throughout the state
are inspected by State and
Federal Officials on a regular
basis.

As I stated to your reporter
I look forward to moving into
the new facilities around the
end of 1973 when we will have
a rehabilitation program that