Five More Garner Inmates Transferred To Virginia

By Andrew Gorosko

The state Department of Correction (DOC) has transferred another five inmates from the high-security Garner Correctional Institution on Nunnawauk Road to a state prison in Virginia as part of a DOC plan to better manage its incarcerated felons in Connecticut.

The five Garner inmates who arrived at Wallen’s Ridge State Correctional facility in Big Stone Gap, Va, Tuesday morning bring to 65 the number of Garner inmates now imprisoned there, said Captain Heather Ziemba, a DOC spokeswoman. The Garner prisoners were among 80 Connecticut inmates from several prisons who were transferred to Virginia this week.

The DOC transferred 60 other Garner inmates to Virginia October 23.

The Virginia prison now holds 160 inmates who formerly were jailed in Connecticut prisons. 

As of Tuesday, the prisoner population at Garner was 710 out of a statewide total of more than 17,000 inmates.

“The out-of-state transfer of inmates is the most immediate option available in managing the population increase in our jails,” DOC Commissioner John Armstrong said in a statement. Connecticut plans to transfer up to 500 of its inmates to Virginia.

Capt Ziemba said the DOC is targeting its “close custody” and high-security inmates for transfer to Virginia. The prisoner transfer project has proceeded well, she said, adding that all inmates have been transferred without incident.

 TransCor America, Inc. moved the Garner prisoners via road to Virginia, she said. Capt Ziemba declined to disclose the DOC’s specific plans about transferring the remainder of the prisoners to Virginia.

The DOC transferred the inmates to prevent Connecticut prisons from reaching a point where it would become difficult to manage inmates, she said. The prisoners who have been transferred are affiliated with gangs, pose high security risks and are violent offenders.

Garner, a high-security prison which opened in November, 1992, is designed to house more than 700 inmates. It is the state’s prime prison for housing violent inmates with gang affiliations. Capt Ziemba said it is probable that more Garner inmates will be transferred to Virginia.

Human Rights Watch, an international human rights organization, has criticized the Virginia state prison system for alleged instances of inmate abuse. DOC officials have countered that the allegations are unfounded.