Title
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Amendment to the Agreement for Creation of the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority that Adds the City of Hampton, Virginia as a Member
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The Hampton Roads regional Jail is no longer housing inmates, as of April 1, 2024, will be closed permanently and the jail building and equipment will be sold to the City of Portsmouth. Hampton has been sending inmates to Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) in Suffolk, since the Downtown jail closed for renovations and HRRJ could no longer accommodate our inmates. Sheriff Karen Bowden has been satisfied with the service provided by WTRJ and they are willing to extend permanent membership to Hampton on mutually agreeable terms.
Discussion:
Hampton will benefit from joining the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority, as the Hampton Roads Regional Jail is no longer a viable alternative for housing Hampton's inmates. The Western Tidewater Regional Jail has indicated that they will accept Hampton as a permanent Member if the City pays a "buy-in" fee of $5,736,162, which the City will be able to cover within its $8,098,535 projected proceeds from the sale of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail. Hampton will be charged the same per diem cost rate as the current WTRJ Member Jurisdictions (the City of Suffolk, the City of Franklin and Isle of Wight County). However, the extraordinary medical costs covered by the WTRJ will be $250,000 (which is our pro-rata allocation of what the historic experience has been for the other member jurisdictions). In essence, if serving the extraordinary medical costs of our inmates is more than what that cost for the other Member Jurisdictions , Hampton will pay the difference. Hampton will also cover inmate transportation to and from WTRJ until they can increase their transportation corps to 85% of the approved staffing level. Hampton should have budget savings to offset these costs from the closure ...
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