VADOC set to take control of privately-run Lawrenceville prison

Photo byVADOC

Lawrenceville Correctional Center is in its final weeks under private management. Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) will assume control of the prison on August 1.

VADOC announced its intention to take over the state’s only privately-run prison last December. In a press release earlier this month, the department revealed a VADOC team conducted a shakedown at Lawrenceville and discovered an array of contraband, including drugs, phones, and cash. VADOC added that it is still set to take control of the facility next month.

Lawrenceville is currently run by GEO Group, a company that owns, leases, and manages prisons in the U.S., Australia, and South Africa. But Lawrenceville is its only operation in Virginia, and only accounts for slightly over 1% of its revenue, according to a financial document from March.

As previously reported, in recent years, Lawrenceville has been dogged with problems, including drug overdoses and inmate deaths, prompting calls for Virginia to take control of the facility.

If VADOC had chosen to continue using the company’s services, GEO Group’s contract would have been up for renewal this month. But since VADOC chose to part ways, GEO Group filed a WARN Notice with the Virginia Employment Commission at the end of May noting it would cease operations at Lawrenceville on July 31.

According to the notice, 235 employees will be affected by the management change.

When VADOC initially announced the plan to take over the prison, the department said it would ensure that current Lawrenceville employees are afforded the opportunity to apply for state employment.

Virginia prison closures

In December 2023, when VADOC made the Lawrenceville announcement, it was also announced that four Virginia prisons would be shutting down.

On July 1, VADOC confirmed that Augusta Correctional Center, Sussex II State Prison, Haynesville Correctional Unit #17, and Stafford Community Corrections Alternative Program (CCAP) are all now closed.

VADOC said every employee who wished to remain employed by the agency was able to stay.

Affected inmates and CCAP probationers were relocated to other VADOC facilities across the state, based on security level and classification, the department said.

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