University of Virginia Library

Prison Grant

The LEAA had awarded $775 thousand to
build the penal facility as part of a $4.15
million block grant to the state.

However, the three-judge panel of F.
Clement Haynsworth, Harrison L. Winter, and
Simon E. Sobeloff, ordered the LEAA to
comply with requirements of the National
Historic Preservation Act and the National
Environmental Policy Act.

In accordance with these requirements the
LEAA must prepare a statement on the effect
of the project on its surroundings and circulate
this to other federal agencies concerned with
environment for their comments on the
advisability of its construction. The final
decision will still rest with the LEAA, however.

Initially, the LEAA awarded the money to
the state for the prison without any particular
location in mind. Under the present court
decision, though, the agency's eventual action
on the fund allocation must depend in part on
environmental effects on the proposed prison
area and a special review of the site plan will be
needed.

The Green Springs Association, claiming that
construction of the prison would irreparably
harm the beauty and historic value of the
Louisa county community, brought suit against
Welfare and Institutions and LEAA officials.

In the first decision U.S. District Court
Judge Robert R. Merhige, Jr. refused to prevent
construction of the facility by the state or to
block LEAA funding.

The recent action of the Circuit Court of
Appeals reversed part of Judge Merhige's
decision on federal financial assistance and
upheld his ruling on the state's right to build
the facility.

The director of information for the
Department of Welfare and Institutions, George
Minter, stated that his department was "pleased
that the legal attempt to block construction of
the Virginia Correctional Center was rejected
by the appellate court. We will be proceeding
with developing the project as rapidly as we can
clear up the administrative procedures"
required by federal law.

In reference to the possibility that the
federal funding request may not be approved,
Mr. Minter stated "we will cross that bridge
when we come to it."