The Prince William County Adult Detention Center had about 125 inmates when Skip Land joined the staff a quarter century ago. The jail population now routinely hits the 1,000 mark, and Land is preparing to retire after a 34-year career in law enforcement and corrections.
“The jail has grown just like the county,” said Land, who describes the decision to retire amid health concerns as the toughest of hislife
His departure creates an important vacancy at a time when the jail system is starting a contentious illegal-immigration initiative and dealing with chronic overcrowding.
Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart said the path ahead is difficult, but Land is leaving the jail “in great shape.”
Land oversaw the implementation of the 287g program that allows jail staff to screen the residency status of its inmates.
“It’s been a complex issue,” Land said, “but it is working, and the promise we have kept is we have not been looking at anyone unless they have come in the front doors of the jail.”
So far, more than 100 inmates have been transferred to federal authorities for deportation proceedings, and another 170 are being held on immigration detainers, Land said.
“He was a big champion of the program, he’s been very, very helpful getting the program installed and running, and we’re really going to miss him,” Stewart said.
Land said he would rank the immigration and crowding challenges as 1 and 1-A, saying the next superintendent will have to oversee the immigration program’s expansion and new-jail construction.
More than 180 inmates are being held in other jails around the state, and the 200-bed expansion under way will be completely filled when it opens next, Land said.
Maj. Peter Meletis will take the reins as acting superintendent on Jan. 1.
