Title
Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Hampton Roads Regional Jail Authority Board’s Decision to Close and Sell the Hampton Roads Regional Jail and to Take All Necessary Actions to Execute the Sale and Closure Thereof
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The Hampton Roads Regional Jail (HRRJ) closed to inmates April 1, 2024, due to persistent staffing challenges. Over the last few years, the HRRJ member cities have explored different alternatives and the viable path forward was to close the facility.
Discussion:
HRRJ is no longer a viable alternative for housing Hampton's inmates. All member City Managers agreed that the facility should shut down. We have also reached agreement to sell the jail facility and all of its contents to the City of Portsmouth for $31.5 million and Hampton is expected to receive approximately $8.1 million from the sale. These proceeds will cover the cost of the City's $5.7 million "buy in" into the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority to house the City's inmates that can not be housed locally. All remaining HRRJ liabilities are projected to be covered with cash the Authority has on hand. All bonds have already been paid off. The Hampton Roads Regional Jail Authority will remain in place to respond to any lawsuits until the statute of limitations expire on March 31, 2026, with a small staff in place to close out the remaining authority obligations. The HRRJA Board will be restructured to be comprised of the City Manager's or their designees. The four other member cities of the HRRJ approved this closure resolution on Tuesday, Mary 14, 2024.
Impact:
Recommendation:
Approve the Resolution to close the Hampton Roads Regional Jail.
Body
WHEREAS, the HAMPTON ROADS REGIONAL JAIL AUTHORITY (“Authority”) was established on December 14, 1993, pursuant to Section 53.1-95.2 et seq., VA Code Ann., (1950), as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Authority is comprised of five municipal entities including, the City of Portsmouth, Vi...
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