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New LEAD Program aims to keep people out of jail


New LEAD Program aims to keep people out of jail
New LEAD program aims to keep people out of jail
By Tara Todd | February 23, 2021 at 10:36 PM EST - Updated February 24 at 10:48 PM
AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - In Augusta County, there’s a new program in the works that aims to keep people out of jail by helping them reroute their lives. It’s called the LEAD program, which stands for Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion.
LEAD was discussed at length Tuesday night during a webinar which also served as a call to action.
Augusta County prosecutors and law enforcement are at the front of the new initiative, but the key is building critical collaborations.

Andrea-dilley , Institute-for-reform , Augusta-county , Law-enforcement-assisted , Manager-andrea , Middle-river-regional , Lead , Program , Pre-charge-diversion , Crimes , Commonwealths-attorney , Tara-todd

Middle River Regional Jail expansion | "We are just delaying the inevitability of needing to make a decision"


Middle River Regional Jail expansion | “We are just delaying the inevitability of needing to make a decision”
Middle River Regional Jail in Augusta County (Source: WHSV)
By Simone McKenny | January 19, 2021 at 9:53 PM EST - Updated January 19 at 9:53 PM
AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) — “The longer you delay something, the more it costs to do,” said Middle River Regional Jail Superintendent Jeffery Newton.
Middle River Regional Jail has been trying to expand and renovate its facility.
“Middle River has been operating at 200 percent capacity for the last four years,” Newton explained.
The expansion plan at Middle River is being considered throughout various localities in the Shenandoah Valley.

Stephen-king , Jeffery-newton , Jail-authority-board , Middle-river-regional-jail-superintendent-jeffery , River-regional-jail , Middle-river , Jail-authority , Middle-river-regional-jail , Mrrj , Jeff-newton , Superintendent-newton , Regional-jail

MRRJ: 2 additional inmates test positive for COVID-19

Middle River Regional Jail reports two additional inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus since its last COVID-19 facility-wide testing on Jan. 13.

Central-shenandoah-health-district , Middle-river-regional-jail , Central-shenandoah-health , Wvir , Whsv , Mrrj , Middle , River , Regional , Jail , Covid-19

$40 million Middle River Regional Jail expansion plans presented to Augusta County leaders


$40 million Middle River Regional Jail expansion plans presented to Augusta County leaders
$40 million Middle River Regional Jail expansion plans presented to Augusta County leaders
By Tara Todd | January 13, 2021 at 10:57 PM EST - Updated January 14 at 8:56 AM
SHENANDOAH VALLEY, Va. (WVIR) - Middle River Regional Jail’s Superintendent laid out expansion plans to Augusta County Supervisors Wednesday night during a board meeting in Verona.
The jail also serves Staunton, Waynesboro, Rockingham County, and Harrisonburg. And, it is out of space.
The number of inmates has grown since the jail opened in 2006 which requires more beds. But, it also means increasing requirements when it comes to treating mental health, substance abuse, and providing medical care.

Tim-fitzgerald , Jeffery-newton , River-regional-jail-authority-board , River-regional-jail , Augusta-county-supervisors-wednesday , Rockingham-county , Jail-superintendent-jeffery-newton , Middle-river , Augusta-county-administrator-tim , Middle-river-regional-jail-authority-board , Augusta-county-courthouse

13 additional inmates, 3 additional staff test positive for COVID-19 at MRRJ

Since Middle River Regional Jail’s last update, officials report 13 additional inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.

Central-shenandoah-health-district , Middle-river-regional-jail , Central-shenandoah-health , Wvir , Whsv , Mrrj , Middle , River , Regional , Jail , Covid-19

Shenandoah Valley correctional facilities continue to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks


Shenandoah Valley correctional facilities continue to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks
Generic prison bars graphic. (Source: Gray News, file)
By Simone McKenny | December 24, 2020 at 4:58 PM EST - Updated December 24 at 4:58 PM
AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - As positive COVID-19 cases rise in the Shenandoah Valley, there is also a rise within local correctional facilities. Multiple jails and prisons are dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks that have left hundreds of inmates infected and exposed to the virus.
Middle River Regional Jail
“Nothing, none of us can do anything about it. They are in the DOC’s hands. They are in the CO’s hands, mostly. It’s scary. It’s very scary,” said Nora Ramos-Martinez, a concerned family member.

Shenandoah , Virginia , United-states , Augusta-county , American , Nora-ramos-martinez , Food-service , Access-to-health-service , Virginia-department-of-corrections , American-dietetic-association , Augusta-correctional-center