History Greensville Correctional Center

opened in september 1990 in ceremony presided on governor of virginia l. douglas wilder, $106 million facility built provide initial relief overcrowded virginia correctional system. facility opening allowed subsequent closure of virginia state penitentiary in downtown richmond. execution chamber moved former state penitentiary greensville in 1991.

initially, center classified maximum security facility. however, subsequent opening of other facilities intended hardened violent criminals, security classification @ greensville has been lowered medium security. there double perimeter fence topped razor wire 6 52-foot (16 m) high guard towers bolster perimeter security.

the facility consists of 4 pod-style buildings (three have capacity 516 inmates each; fourth can handle 192 higher-risk inmates) arranged in hexagon in 125-acre (0.51 km) campus-like setting. tract of land upon correctional center constructed measures 1,105 acres (4.47 km). located 1 mile (1.6 km) interstate 95. primary contractor project morrison-knudsen.

in 1995, minimum-security work camp low-risk inmates constructed adjacent main complex. together, 2 facilities have capacity of 3,007 inmates.

the facility contains dedicated health care unit , mental health center serves inmates in eastern region of virginia corrections system. home state death chamber, completed in april 1991. there have been 99 executions electrocution or lethal injection have taken place in l building, located @ rear of facility. unit containing condemned prisoners nicknamed hellsville inmates.