By Sara Korash-Schiff
The number of inmates at the Rockbridge Regional Jail has been growing since 2007. Built in 1988 to hold 56 prisoners, it currently houses more than 100. Superintendent John Higgins attributes much of the over-population to drug-related arrests. Higgins says the number of prisoners and their recent medical bills are straining his budget. He says local governments are looking at coughing up a lot more money for the jail.
It is also hard for inmates to cope with time away from their friends and family during time in the overcrowded county jail.