Virginia prison, jail inmate population falls slightly

RICHMOND (AP) - State figures show the number of inmates in Virginia prisons and local jails has fallen slightly.     Since June 2008, the number of prison inmates fell 1.1 percent, or more than 400 inmates, compared to a 3 percent average annual growth starting in 2001. The average daily population of jail inmates fell 1.7 percent in 2008, and has fallen almost 3 percent so far this year. The average daily population of jails grew 5 percent a year from 2001 through 2007.     The reasons behind the total drop is unclear, but some possible reasons include lower violent crime and a reduced number of felony drug arrests.     Prisons are where long-term felons are sent to serve their sentences; local and regional jails primarily hold people awaiting trial and those serving relatively short sentences.