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EXCLUSIVE: HRRJ Superintendent discusses DOJ report for first time

After a DOJ report accusses Hampton Roads Regional Jail of violating the constitutional rights of inmates, the jail superintendent speaks out for the first time.

Hampton Roads Regional Jail Superintendent David Hackworth spoke with 13NewsNow in his first interview since the scathing Department of Justice report that accuses the Hampton Roads Regional Jail of violating the constitutional rights of inmates.

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The 43-page report listed a series of jail failures including ignoring prisoner requests for medical treatment and leaving inmates in their cells for 22 hours or more.

“I think we're looking at this as an opportunity,” said Hackworth. “An opportunity to improve our operations, and to make sure we're doing what we're supposed to be doing.”

Hackworth is the jail’s third superintendent in 18 months. His administration came in after the Department of Justice investigation.

Hampton Roads Regional Jail houses inmates who have the most serious medical and mental health needs from Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton, and Chesapeake city jails. The jail has the highest mentally ill inmate population across the state.

“We're going to move forward and continue to improve our operations, but I think right now the staff is doing a fantastic job,” said Hackworth.

When 13NewsNow reporter Jaclyn Lee pointed out that the DOJ report signals the opposite, Hackworth responded, “As we move forward, we've still got to go into discussions with the DOJ so until we have those meetings and we go forward at this particular time, I can't really comment on the report itself.”

The DOJ listed more than 40 recommendations for the jail to implement to address the issues. Hackworth said he will sit down with DOJ officials at the beginning of January to make sure they are all on the same page.

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