Stephanie Clifford, a Democratic precinct captain and a new Green Valley (Nauck) homeowner, was the closest thing to a surprise. Clifford announced that she is running for the 49th District House of Delegates seat currently held by Del. Adam Ebbin, who’s running for state Senate.
“I’m sure a number of you are surprised to see me up here,” she said. “But I found a reason to serve and thought I’d step up.”
Together with the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police, Arlington Police will set up a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location in the county. All cars passing through the checkpoint will be stopped, and drivers suspected of operating a vehicle while intoxicated will be asked to pull to the side to perform further sobriety testing.
In addition to the checkpoint, police say they will be adding extra DUI saturation patrols for the remainder of the holiday season.
Cuccinelli was given a tour of the jail by Sheriff Beth Arthur and county Department of Human Services Chief Cindy Kemp. Arthur and Kemp highlighted the jail’s diversionary, re-entry and education programs, as well as its programs for assisting inmates with mental health issues.
“We welcomed the opportunity to highlight the Arlington County Detention Facility and our partnership with the Department of Human Services in assisting incarcerated individuals,” Arthur said in a statement. “We appreciate Attorney General Cuccinelli’s interest in our operations and the programs that assist individuals with mental health challenges re-enter the community.”
The current facility, built in 1994, is unimposing inside and out. Forget your tour of Alcatraz, this facility looks more like an office building than a prison to the average passerby. Inside, groups of prisoners are held in residential units that combine the functionality of a jail cell, prison yard and dining hall.
But make no mistake: behind the non-threatening interior — which somewhat resembles a public high school with a whole lot of doors — this is a facility built for security. Since it was built, not a single prisoner has escaped.
