Richmond, Va. (NewsradioWRVA.com) - The Virginia ACLU saying Friday that they're optimistic about a bill that looks like it may pass both chambers that would create an independent ombudsman's office that was serve as an oversight of the Virginia Department of Corrections. This office would be chosen by a committee of stakeholders.
Virginia ACLU Policy Strategist Shawn Weneta says that more than 10,000 people work there, the agency also has a 1.5 billion dollar budget and they have no oversight.
Weneta says that lawmakers get letters of concern all the time about trouble about conditions with inmates, issues with staff and they have no idea what's true versus what's self-serving.
Weneta says the bill has cleared the Senate and has moved to the House and cleared a committee and is now moving to another and he says they have not lost a vote yet.
He adds that it's long overdue to have oversight on, arguably, the most opaque agency in the state. He says, in addition, the cost to the state to do this would be minimal.
