Citing staffing shortages, safety, and maintenance costs, VADOC announced four Virginia prison facilities will be officially closing, effective July 1, 2024.
The facilities include Augusta Correctional Center in Craigsville and Stafford Community Corrections Alternative Program (CCAP).
At the other two facilities, Sussex II State Prison in Waverly and Haynesville Unit #17 in Richmond County, the staff have already been temporarily reassigned to neighboring facilities, Sussex I State Prison and Haynesville Correctional Center, VADOC said.
The department said it has begun working with staff to identify job placement opportunities within the agency to ensure the opportunity for continuous employment and career advancement. And VADOC said it will work diligently to ensure that everyone who wants to stay employe with the department can do so.
“I am committed to ensuring that those individuals impacted by facility closures will be able to maintain continuous employment within VADOC if they choose to do so,” said VADOC director Chad Dotson. “Members of the Department’s leadership and I met with affected staff at their facilities today and will continue to meet with them in the coming days… I value them, and our leadership and human resources staff are here to answer their questions and hear their feedback as we support them during this transition.”
The decision for closure was made “to enhance employee, inmate, and probationer safety, to address longstanding staffing challenges, and in consideration of significant ongoing maintenance costs,” Dotson explained.
Taking over private prison
VADOC also announced that when the current contract for the operation of Lawrenceville Correctional Center ends on August 1, 2024, the state will assume control of that facility. Currently, Lawrenceville CC is the only privately-run prison in Virginia.
VADOC said the plan is to work with the GEO Group to ensure that current Lawrenceville CC employees are afforded the opportunity to apply for state employment.
According to Dotson’s statement, “the Department has been made aware that Governor Glenn Youngkin plans to introduce a budget with additional funding needed for the VADOC to safely assume control of the facility next year.”
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