By E&P Staff
Published: July 06, 2005 8:55 PM ET
NEW YORK When the judge sentenced New York Times' reporter Judith Miller to jail Wednesday afternoon, he did not say where it would be, but E&P soon learned that it would be just outside Washington, D.C. Later, she was seen entering the Alexandria (Va.) Detention Center.
The Virginia facility's best-known resident is convicted terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui, according to the Associated Press. But what else is it known for?
It was completed in 1987 at a cost of $15 million, and houses all individuals committed by the courts to the sheriff's custody--local, state and federal. According to the Web site of the city's sheriff's department, the Center's management is based upon "New Generation" jail philosophy, which it describes as "a more modern and humane approach over traditional linear-style institution.
"New Generation philosophy is a combination of management style and architectural design which facilitates increased staff and inmates contact and works to reduce tension and improve security within the correctional setting."
This "scene," the Web site says, "resembles a dormitory with a lounge attached. At one end of a large room. a handful of young men are watching television; in another area, a second group watches a different set. Several inmates are playing cards. The area is bright, sunny, and clean. The furniture--sofa and chairs--is comfortable and clean. The carpet on the floor is unstained. No one has scratched his or her initials in the paints or on the wood tables. Windows allow a view of the outside.
"Despite all the activity, the room is relatively quiet. The television volume is low, and no one is shouting.
"This is not the scene of most jails in the United States today. It is however, typical of daily activity in the Alexandria Detention center and other institutions in New York, Chicago, San Diego, Tucson, Portland, and several other cities. These facilities are known as 'New Generation' jails, and they are generally regarded as the state of the art in jail design. In form, function, and style, they are significantly different from the old traditional jails. They have proven to be secure, safe, and cost-efficient places for inmates to live and for staff and volunteers to work."
In another section on "tension," the site notes: "One of the first things visitors remark on when they tour a New Generation jail is the low level of tension. Fights are rare and are quickly broken up. Weapons are not involved, and even the most thorough shakedowns rarely find them. Gangs do not form and vendettas do not develop. Sexual assaults are almost nonexistent. Shower areas are safe because they are constantly supervised."
- E&P Staff