State’s budget crisis hits Pittsylvania County

By John Crane

Published: October 9, 2008

The state’s budget crisis has hit Pittsylvania County.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is shutting down Chatham Diversion Center, one of several corrections facilities the governor is closing across the state to alleviate a $2.5 billion shortfall over the next two years.

The center houses 93 inmates and has about 40 employees. Michael Leininger, chief of staff for the Virginia Department of Corrections, said he expects the employees to be “taken care of,” trans-ferred to other facilities such as Green Rock Correctional Center in Chatham. The department had about 1,200 job vacancies set aside in anticipation of staff cuts, Leininger said.

The diversion center will close by Jan. 25, 2009, Leininger said.

Inmates will be sent to other centers operating below capacity, Leininger said. Other possible centers include Southampton Detention Center, Harrisburg Diversion Center, White Post Diver-sion Center and Stafford Diversion Center.

Gary Wagner, superintendent at the Chatham Diversion Center, declined to comment Thurs-day and referred questions to the corrections department.

Centers across the state will shut their doors due to the cuts, including Pulaski and Southamp-ton correctional centers, Dinwiddie and Tazewell field units, and White Post Detention Center. Numerous reductions will be also be made in budgets, staff, and programs within the department. The governor’s office expects to save about $22.7 million in the Department of Corrections, Lein-inger said.