Residents and advocacy groups urge council to halt ACRJ expansion, push funds to alternatives

Dozens of residents pressed Charlottesville City Council on the Albemarle–Charlottesville Regional Jail expansion during the city’s public comment period, urging officials to halt the project and redirect money to community-based services.

The city manager announced earlier in the meeting that bids for a bond-financed phase of the ACRJ project came in above budget and that the presentation by Colonel Coomer and the associated item were removed from the agenda while the jail authority and stakeholders determine a path forward.

The People’s Coalition and several speakers told the council the larger project now described in packet materials — which residents said includes a “big beautiful jail” design — exceeds earlier cost estimates and will lock the community into higher expenses. “If they have to cut something, don’t let it be the renovations,” said Kate Fraley, who identified herself as a city resident and a member of the People’s Coalition, referencing design changes she said had been added to the final plans. Fraley and others said photos of the final design were not included in the packet provided to the council the prior Friday.

Speakers argued the jail expansion would cost “tens of millions of dollars” and that those dollars would be better spent on restorative justice, reentry and mental-health services. “The jail should be a last resort for community members, not a first response,” Elizabeth Stark, a Woolen Mills resident, told the council. Rosalynn Parker noted the city, Albemarle and Nelson counties have already spent $4.5 million on planning and urged councilors to “stop pouring $49 million more” into an expansion when the jail population is at a historic low.

Several speakers, including Jessica Jackson and Gloria Beard, raised concerns about mental-health care inside jails and the adequacy of clinical staffing. Jackson cited the regional jail’s public webpage indicating three dedicated mental-health professionals and told council that three clinicians could not meet the needs of the facility’s population; she asked the council to require funding for more mental-health staff alongside any renovation work.

The city manager told the council the low bid issue will be handled by the ACRHA board and that the city would not speculate on next steps. He and public speakers repeatedly emphasized that community conversations remain open and that the item will return to a future meeting when there is a concrete proposal.

Council took no formal action on the ACRJ expansion at this meeting. Citizens were told there will be further public comment opportunities when the item returns to a council agenda.