HRRJ votes to sell facility to Portsmouth PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The Hampton Roads Regional Jail board has voted to sell the facility to the city of Portsmouth. According to Portsmouth Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas Burke, who is vice-chairwoman of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail Authority, said in a statement that “HRRJ passed a resolution that allowed member jurisdictions to take the […]
Leadership to announce closure of Hampton Roads Regional … The board of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail plans to announce the closure of the facility in their September meeting.
Hampton Roads Regional Jail board unanimously votes … The board of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail unanimously voted Wednesday to shut down the jail by April 1, 2024.
Chesapeake FY25 budget keeps real estate tax rate, … Chesapeake’s $1.6 billion proposed fiscal year 2025 operating budget keeps the city’s real estate tax rate at $1.01 with no new fees for residents.
HRRJ put to use amid Portsmouth jail fire The Hampton Roads Regional jail opened back in 1998, originally meant to house inmates from Portsmouth and neighboring cities. Though it closed on April 1, 2024, it was put to use again on Sunday.
Portsmouth looks to buy regional jail in plan to … “It’s kind of the last piece of the puzzle if you will for redevelopment and revitalization in Portsmouth.”
Judge rules Cory Bigsby’s statements can be used … Cory Bigsby, the man accused of killing his 4-year-old son Codi, confessed to burying his son’s body after finding him unresponsive, Hampton Roads Regional Jail officers testified in court on Wednesday.
Portsmouth looks to buy shuttered Hampton Roads Regional … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — What do you do with a jail that’s shut down and taking up a lot of space? The mayor of Portsmouth and other city officials have an idea. On Monday, we told you about the shutdown of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail. Some of what went on behind bars was controversial, […]
Portsmouth strikes deal with HRRJ and Hampton to … Portsmouth City Council has moved forward with an agreement to try and lower the amount of money taxpayers pay to the Hampton Roads Regional Jail.
Jail official: Inmate dies by apparent suicide at … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A woman has died by apparent suicide while at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, jail superintendent Col. Jeff Vergakis said in a news release Tuesday. The woman, Sarah Ganoe, had been transferred from Newport News City Jail to Hampton Roads Regional Jail on May 21, 2021. At 4:24 a.m. Sunday, Ganoe […]
No bogus confession: Jury hears incriminating statements … HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — The jury in the second-degree murder trial of Cory Bigsby heard statements he made while behind bars that incriminate him in the death of his son Codi. He reported the child missing January 31, 2022, but the Commonwealth alleges Bigsby killed his son seven months before that. Cory Bigsby‘s attorney tried […]
Mental health evaluation details Cory Bigsby’s ‘bizarre’ … Zwermer concluded that Bigsby understands the roles of the judge, jury, and prosecution, but doesn’t have a “rational appreciation for his legal circumstances” or the ability to help his defense team, court records show.
HRRJ officer banned from Virginia law enforcement, … A Hampton Roads Regional Jail officer accused of stealing thousands in overtime payments has been banned from working in law enforcement in Virginia.
Regional jail to remain open despite earlier call … The embattled Hampton Roads Regional Jail will remain open after a vote this week by the Virginia Board of Local and Regional Jails, six months after a board committee was highly critical of the Portsmouth lockup.
Charges dismissed for man accused of strangling HRRJ … An ex-corrections officer accused of choking a now former inmate at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail had his case dismissed at trial on Tuesday.
Judge approves $900K settlement in inmate death at … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A judge has approved a settlement between the father of an inmate who died and the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, its medical provider, and the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office. 32-year-old Regina Honeycutt died in 2018 after she was found unresponsive at Hampton Roads Regional Jail. The medical examiner said she died of […]
Virginia jail review committee recommends closure … A state panel has recommended the de-certification and closure of the long troubled Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth.
Case against former HRRJ officer accused of choking … A judge ruled on Tuesday that there is enough evidence to move the case against former master jail officer Robert Whitaker to circuit court.
Norfolk and Chesapeake will likely pull their inmates … Sheriffs in both cities issued statements to WAVY, saying they are concerned about staffing numbers declining and the safety of their inmates, as a result.
Chesapeake sheriff latest to decide to remove inmates … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Chesapeake Sheriff Jim O’Sullivan decided late Wednesday afternoon to remove his 149 prisoners from the Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth. His decision follows a similar one last week by the Norfolk sheriff. HRRJ is fighting a shortage of personnel and a critical federal report. A U.S. Department of Justice report […]
Hampton Roads Regional Jail inmate dies after being … The Hampton Roads Regional Jail (HRRJ) says an inmate died Thursday after being in “end-of-life care” for the past few months.
Inmate at HRRJ dies after being found unresponsive PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Officials at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail (HRRJ) in Portsmouth said an inmate at the facility died early Monday morning. This is the fourth death reported at HRRJ this month. In a release sent Monday afternoon, officials said the inmate was found unresponsive inside the facility around 5:42 a.m. that day. […]
Significant staffing issues at Hampton Roads Regional … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A significant staffing shortage at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail has created “health and safety concerns” for security and medical workers at the facility, according to a federal report. 10 On Your Side first uncovered serious staffing issues at the HRRJ in November when investigator Chris Horne interviewed an inmate who […]
Hampton Roads Regional Jail superintendent to retire … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Less than a year after he was appointed superintendent of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, Lt. Col. Christopher Walz announced that he is retiring. Walz announced his retirement to the Hampton Roads Regional Jail Authority Board on Monday during a special meeting. His retirement will be effective on Jan. 1, 2021. […]
Former guard, superintendent disagree on staffing, … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A former corrections officer at Hampton Roads Regional Jail says fears of COVID-19 are causing guards to walk away, creating a staff shortage and a volatile atmosphere. Lebrea Manley, 27, worked as a guard beginning in August 2018. She contracted COVID-19 three months ago, quarantined for two weeks, but she quit […]
HRRJ mourns death of officer who tested positive … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Hampton Roads Regional Jail is mourning the loss of a jail officer who passed away after contracting the coronavirus during an outbreak at work. Master Jail Officer Robert Charles Sunukjian, 48, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 24. The Cambridge, Massachusetts native worked with the jail for more than 16 years. “Over […]
HRRJ inmate dies after being found unresponsive PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Officials at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth said an inmate at the facility died Friday afternoon. Officials said the inmate, identified as Thomas Fludd, was found unresponsive around 12:03 p.m. Friday. Security staff, medical personnel, and Portsmouth Emergency Services responded and attempted to resuscitate him, but were unsuccessful, and […]
Portsmouth ends legal battle over city jail PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The multiyear legal battle over the Portsmouth City Jail is over — for now. City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to drop its case that asks a judge to order Sheriff Michael Moore to move his inmates to the Hampton Roads Regional Jail. The city and sheriff were currently awaiting a […]
HRRJ: Altercation leads to inmate pepper-spraying … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Hampton Roads Regional Jail confirmed that an incident occurred on Tuesday night resulting in an officer and supervisor being pepper-sprayed, and another treated for injuries. At 9:30 p.m. inmates in solitary confinement flooded the Housing Area by breaking the sprinkler head and jamming the toilets and sinks. A supervisor and three […]
Inmates no longer being sent to Hampton Roads Regional … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — New inmates will no longer be sent to the Hampton Roads Regional Jail during the coronavirus pandemic after an inmate tested positive for the disease, leadership says. The HRRJ announced that an inmate tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. That inmate was tested Friday after they developed flu-like symptoms with […]
Hampton Roads Regional Jail COVID-19 updates This post is no longer updated. For the latest WAVY.com Coronavirus Coverage, click here. Archived content: PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The Hampton Roads Regional Jail has launched an online counter that will be updated weekly with the total number of inmates and staff who test positive for the coronavirus. Here’s a breakdown of the cases […]
Murder charge against inmate dropped in connection … An inmate at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail has been charged with the murder of a fellow inmate after a death investigation.
Family files lawsuit after 18-year-old inmate dies … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — On May 13, Marcia Keeling filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Hampton Roads Regional Jail on behalf of her son, who died while in the jail’s custody. In 2018, 18-year-old Davageah K. Jones, an inmate in HRRJ, was found unresponsive in his cell and later pronounced dead after live-saving procedures […]
Judge will rule by Sept. 1 whether Portsmouth inmates … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A long-running battle between the Portsmouth sheriff and the city over the fate of the Portsmouth City Jail is expected to take another turn by Sept. 1. A Portsmouth judge said Tuesday that he will make a ruling by Sept. 1 on whether the city must move inmates to the Hampton […]
Judge says Portsmouth must send inmates to HRRJ, … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The first day back for in-person court cases started with a big development in the ongoing fight between the City of Portsmouth and the sheriff. At first, Portsmouth Judge Johnny Morrison more or less sided with the city, saying that Sheriff Michael Moore needed to honor the contract between the Hampton […]
Judge approves $800K wrongful-death settlement in … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – A Portsmouth judge approved an $800,000 settlement in a lawsuit against the Hampton Roads Regional Jail’s medical contractor, Correct Care Solutions. Marcia Keeling filed the wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of her son, 18-year-old Davageah Jones, earlier this year. Jones died on May 15, 2018 after jail staff found him unresponsive […]
Mother concerned after HRRJ puts inmates on lockdown … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — As coronavirus infiltrates some jails and prisons in Virginia and North Carolina, facilities are taking steps to keep inmates and staff safe. One mother, whose son is in the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, says she’s concerned about a lack of contact from her son since the facility started isolating COVID-19-positive inmates […]
Portsmouth City Council votes to close jail, despite … Portsmouth City Council decided close the city jail with a close vote Tuesday night.
Boy runs a mile for HRRJ officer who died from COVID-19 PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Zechariah Cartledge ran around his school’s track, over and over again, with a flag in hand, to remember Major Jail Officer Robert Sunukjian. “Hello everybody it’s Zechariah. As many of you know I’m running for police officers and firefighters who lose their life in the line of duty in 2020,” said […]
Officer, 2 employees and 8 inmates test positive … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Nearly a dozen staff and inmates at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Friday, April 24. The Hampton Roads Regional Jail released the news in a release Friday. The facility says an officer has been self-quarantined at home since the onset of an elevated temperature, […]
Portsmouth officials announce community-based coronavirus … Health district officials say the testing will be held in a drive-thru fashion and will be free to those living in Portsmouth. Residents do have to register and must be pre-screened.
HRRJ undergoes change in temporary leadership after … Following a unanimous vote, Hampton Roads Regional Jail has appointed their former Assistant Superintendent, to Interim Superintendent.
2 months after judge urges Portsmouth, sheriff to … A resolution submitted by a council member and placed on Tuesday’s City Council agenda proposes closing the city jail by August 15.
Judge rules Portsmouth jail will stay open; city … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A Portsmouth Judge ruled Thursday that the city jail cannot be condemned and that the city must complete repairs at the facility. The ruling comes after a monthslong legal battle. In July, the city’s building and code official decided to condemn the city jail and the rest of the civic center […]
Doctor sustains minor injuries after assault by inmate … Hampton Roads Regional Jail officials say a doctor sustained minor injuries after an inmate attempted to attack him Wednesday.
Lawsuit filed against HRRJ, Norfolk sheriff in inmate … PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — An inmate who died in October complained of overwhelming stomach pain and bloody vomit to the correctional and medical staffs at two local jails in the days and weeks before her death. Now her father is suing the leadership of both jails and their medical provider for nearly $10 million. He […]
Sheriff’s attorney plans to ask judge to hold Portsmouth … The attorney for Portsmouth Sheriff Michael Moore will be asking a judge to hold the city in contempt of court if the council goes forward with a plan to close the jail.
Former HRRJ employee accused of rape pleads guilty … NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A former employee of Hampton Roads Regional Jail who was accused of raping a woman in January 2018 has pleaded guilty to an amended charge. Ivan Chappell pleaded guilty to sexual battery Wednesday in Norfolk. He was sentenced to 12 months with 11 months suspended. He will be under unsupervised probation […]
Jail to stay open for now, judge allows condemnation … On Wednesday night, Morrison lifted a stay on the condemnation for all buildings at the Portsmouth civic center except for the jail. He’s expected to make that ruling in the coming weeks.