Cline Asks For Special Session To Reverse NBJCC Closure Decision   (Editor's note: the following letter was sent to the key legislators from Del. Ben Cline, R-24th Virginia House District) September 16, 2009 Hon. William J. Howell Speaker, Virginia House of Delegates P.O. Box 8296 Fredericksburg, Virginia 22404 Hon. Richard Saslaw Majority Leader, Senate of Virginia P.O. Box 1856 Springfield, VA 22151 Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. Leader: I was recently contacted by several constituents regarding the Governor’s budget cuts that were announced last week. The specific item of concern to both me and my constituents is that of the decision to close the Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center (NBJCC). I strongly feel that it is necessary for the General Assembly to call itself into special session to consider legislation I plan to introduce to keep NBJCC open and retain this important public safety resource. The closure of NBJCC, located in the 24th House of Delegates District, comes unexpectedly to its employees and without much warning to the facility, local legislators and local public officials. This action by the Governor will undoubtedly leave many constituents in my district without a job and discontinue the progress made by each young man housed at the center. NBJCC employs over 100 people full-time in my district and its closure will have a definite and negative impact on the local community, the local economy, and the young men who are served by the center. The facility boasts a recidivism rate of 21% among those juveniles that graduate from its programs as opposed to the average recidivism rate of 79% at other juvenile facilities across the Commonwealth. However, this facility is the only one slated for closure by the Governor’s cuts. This past week, the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution urging Governor Kaine to realize the impact to the community that closing NBJCC would create. The Board of Supervisors and I are concerned that the closure will affect far more families than outlined in Governor Kaine’s announcement and that this announcement was not handled in the deliberative manner that the Commonwealth usually employs. As the Governor neither consulted with the legislature nor contacted local legislators regarding this matter to research the impacts of this closure, I feel that the only remedy to this problem is through the legislative process. I request that the General Assembly call itself into special session and take up legislation to correct this misguided change in public safety policy for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Sincerely, Ben Cline Member, House of Delegates * * * (Editor’s note: Jared Leopold, a spokesman for the CreighDeeds campaign released the following statement on this issue: “Creigh was very disappointed to hear of the decision to close the Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center. Creigh knows firsthand that Natural Bridge as a one-of-a-kind facility that helps juvenile offenders learn valuable career skills, pursue an education, and become productive citizens. “While he understands that the immediate decision to close the Center is irreversible, Creigh continues to work with Governor Kaine, local elected officials, and those who have been impacted by this decision to explore alternatives to closure. This includes the possibility of convening a one-day special session of the General Assembly, provided this can be done in a responsible way that limits the discussion to the correctional facilities closures. If Republican and Democratic leaders determine it is not possible to limit a special session to this single issue, Creigh will immediately review the decision upon taking office to determine what the best options are for keeping Natural Bridge and the other correctional facilities open.”)

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