Will Virginia Media investigate Red Onion State Prison for its high rate of Suicides in Solitary?

Credit William Thorpe

 

Will Virginia Media investigate Red Onion State Prison for its high rate of Suicides in Solitary? 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018 have all had Suicides The Need For Independent Investigation.

Jason Karavias VADOC Prisoner Reported History of Past Abuse leads to 2018 Continued Violence

The following letter was written by Activist Mr. Shaheed Omar revealing a past incident of abuse carried out by prison guards on Prisoner Jason Karavias whom the author of this letter believes is mentally challenged. He was warehoused at Virginia's Red Onion State Prison allegedly brutally attacked then transferred to sister prison Wallens Ridge State Prison where he continued to be abused. This submission outlines the historic actions prison guards take. The attacks, the lack of medical care served afterward with a ladle spoon of indifference by medical staff. In this letter, he along with "vapac" is asking for an independent investigation. Many letters with the same content have been consistently addressed to many of various Virginia Legislators, Governmental agencies, media outlets and advocacy groups.

With this being said we want to follow up with the recent Petition sponsored by vapac we would like for everyone to take a minute to click on this link and sign then as actionnetwork.org says share and spread the momentum "Virginians, tell your Legislators to call for an independent investigation of Red Onion State Prison practices".

Mr. Omar goes even further suggesting many of Virginia Prisons need investigating which vapac agrees the corruption is widespread in the state of Virginia. We also want to add, this submission delves into the issues of mental health of prisoners, we have received word from "vapac" members and followers that Red Onion State Prison is moving all seriously Mentally Ill Prisoners to specific prisons (Wallens Ridge). As well as other prisons are emptying pods so they can have pods designated for mental health issues, closing one institution that was also designated for those with mental issues. Purported River north is one that’s designating pods for this purpose.  Our committee has been trying to seek an answer to our query from the VADOC but have yet to receive any response not that we expected to....instead of being operated by mental health personnel, will it be operated by regular prison guards, or whether the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services which has oversite over mental health will exercise its oversite because it HASN'T within the current regimen of VADOC. As an update to Mr. Jason Karavias whereabouts now he is being warehoused at Marion Correctional Treatment Center and last but not least? Please take note of the dates of some of our submissions of the alleged assaults there is a small amount of time passing between the assaults as well as the Red Red Onion Suicides and attempted suicides.

By Shaheed Omar & vapac on behalf of Prisoner Jason Karavias

Related articles

• Solitary Watch and The Antagonism Of Idealistic-Journalism and Accountability (vapac.blogspot.com)
• Red Onion State Prison Obstructs Prisoner Complaints While Touting It's Reduction (vapac.blogspot.com)
• Wallens Ridge State Prison Steals Money Then Obstructs Prisoner Shiva Bhairava Complaint Followed By The Right To Access Heat In Cold Temperatures (vapac.blogspot.com)
• Kashaun Ricks Describes Assault by Virginia Red Onion State Correctional Officers (vapac.blogspot.com)

Virginians, tell your Legislators to call for an independent investigation of Red Onion State Prison practices

Virginians, tell your Legislators to call for an independent investigation of Red Onion State Prison practices. By writing an Action Network letter.Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/virginians-tell-your-legislators-to-call-for-an-independent-investigation-of-red-onion-state-prison-practices?source=email& . Gratitude to all those of you have signed and shared please continue to share. We need your help.
"Virginians, tell your Legislators to call for an independent investigation of Red Onion State Prison practices". Red Onion, a Supermax prison, isolates more inmates than any other facility, which means keeping prisoners in solitary confinement for up to 23 hours a day in cells the size of a doctor’s exam room.. As more becomes known about the effects of isolation — on health, public safety and prison budgets — some states, unlike Virginia, have begun to reconsider the practice. The number of inmates that enter the prison with mental illness or develop seriously deteriorating mental health issues is directly correlated to these practices. We are concerned about two issues: One is the recently reported transfer of seriously mentally ill prisoners from Red Onion to Wallens Ridge in which it appears that prison guards, instead of trained Behavioral Health personnel, are being used to transport these prisoners. This is not the protocol and inquiries made to the Department of Corrections from VAPAC (Virginia Prison Accountability Committee) as well as by other organizations and individuals have gone unanswered. Second, is the policy of using OC pepper gas on prisoners attempting suicide. It has been reported that before guards even enter the cell to cut the Prisoner down, OC Pepper Gas (a debilitating toxin that causes a gag reflex) is used before any attempt to help the prisoner. The use of the gas, one would think, is the last thing a potential hanging victim should be subjected to. Red Onion has been under scrutiny for its practices for several years from ACLU, Human Rights Watch, IAHR (Interfaith Action for Human Rights, Solitary Watch, and VAPAC (Virginia Prison Accountability Committee).   We call for an independent investigation on these two issues.   Can you join me and write a letter?

By vapac

Kashaun Ricks Describes Assault by Virginia Red Onion State Prison Correctional Officers

The following letter was submitted by Shaheed Omar a prison activist on behalf of Red Onion State Prisoner Kashaun Ricks confined at Virginia's Red Onion State Prison who suffered brutal attack by prison guards followed by the indifference and neglect by medical staff in collusion with their henchmen (women). This letter was also sent to the many claimed Media outlets, prison reform advocates and VADOC Prison officials. Vapac gives voice to issues prisoners are faced with in prison highlighting Virginia prison issues and experiences. This being the case of his civil rights violated by prison officials citing unlawful actions within the U.S. Constitution. We at "vapac" demand Accountability and Transparency


By Kashaun Ricks submitted by Omar Shaheed

Related articles

• Red Onion State Prison Food Violations (vapac.blogspot.com)
• RED ONION STATE PRISON AND IT''S FOOD SERVICE SCHEME: IMPROPRIETIES AND VIOLATIONS BY FOOD OPERATIONS DIRECTOR (vapac.blogspot.com)
• What We Are About (vapac.blogspot.com)

VAPAC States Hold Prisons Accountable & Demand Transparency!

Greetings from Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee" [VAPAC] member Prisoner William Thorpe has been confined in long-term solitary confinement since 1996 and at Virginia’s Red Onion State Prison since its opening in 1998. 

Greetings Brothers and Sistahs minds and hearts in the struggle. "VAPAC" Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee stands in solidarity. We in Virginia's gulag salute you from Red Onion State Prison where we encounter the proficiency of the state at breaking its own laws and violating its own rules with how its prison officials and guards act.

We state: Vapac is working tirelessly to sharpen the focus on (1) The narrative of imprisonment in Virginia. How we as vanguards characterize its fact, paying particular attention to the words we use, to the inevitability

(2) of holding accountable Prison officials and bringing transparency to their actions.

We at Virginia’s Red Onion State Prison in Solitary Confinement and general population state (1) The conditions of our confinement are specifically based on the relative degree of compliance Red Onion State Prison officials and it's rank and file guards have for Virginia laws and to the extent, they follow procedures and standards of the Virginia Department of Corrections.

A second point we must emphasize is: Contrary to public statements by executive leadership of Virginia Department of Corrections in Virginia's mainstream media about the astounding decrease in prisoner filed complaints and grievances at Red Onion. The truth is Red Onion's grievance department systemically refuses to process and file prisoner complaints and grievances. The point is Red Onion Steals Prisoner filed complaints and grievances. This issue is one, on which we call upon all conscientious minds and hearts help resolve.

Last but not least Brothers and Sistahs we call for Red Onion State Prison to be investigated by an independent agency removed from the Virginia Department of Corrections. Let's not forget our brothers, William "Balagoon" Thorpe aka Sporty Black (photo) who has been confined since 1998 and Henry Gorham aka Bo Billy who was recently released into Red Onion general population after spending over 20 years in Solitary Confinement.

We send gratitude to all who have joined, there is much we must accomplish so we are asking those families and friends who are already members and followers who care deeply about prison issues to become proactive and ask others to become involved, please share our platforms ask others to join if you are a first comer? We invite you to join, we must speak collectively, with one voice to make changes visit out other platforms:
Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/vapac/ (public)
Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/groups/vapacommittee/
Twitter ~ @vapacommittee ~ https://twitter.com/
Email ~ vapacommittee@gmail.com
Write Us ~
vapac
P.O. Box 213
Clintwood, VA. 24228

By William Thorpe submitted by vapac

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• On Death Row In The State Of Texas, Last Meals and Backwards Republican Politicians (wwwapropos.blogspot.com)
• Solitary Watch and The Antagonism Of Idealistic-Journalism and Accountability (vapac.blogspot.com)

Wallens Ridge State Prison Steals Money Then Obstructs Prisoner Shiva Bhairava Complaint Followed By The Right To Access Heat In Cold Temperatures

Vapac has received a disturbing letter from committee member Mr. Shaheed Omar along with a copy of his letter to the proper Prison pfficials. Mr. Omar along with us are attempting to assist Wallens Ridge State Prison~Prisoner Shiva Bhairava. Mr. Omar through correspondence with many prisoners in the Virginia Department of Corrections has received permission to share Mr. Bhairava's treatment by Wallens Ridge State Prison Employees. We seek to help him get his monies back, publicly address hindering his grievance process and last but not least bring to light the prisoners right to access heat in cold temperatures thus exposing the deviousness of some prison guards and their actions. Vapac is aware of prisoners in many Virginia prisons because of the heat being turned down or conveniently leaving doors open having to burrow under a thin blanket nearly all day and night. As Mr. Bhairava has expressed, Its cold outside, ice on the ground, meat-locker temperatures and "they" find it human to "cage me in cold stone walls and steel ". These violations by prison guards must be exposed and issues addressed. Here is Mr. Shiva Bhairava Correspondence.

Mr. Omar,
I am sending you proof that J. Oquinn stole $16.81 from my account for a commissary order never delivered to me. I tried to go through the inmate grievance process, but the grievance coordinator asked for proof that I couldn't retrieve at the time. Finding this proof was like pulling teeth. The Business officer M. William, works together with the commissary supervisor, J. Oquinn, and steal money and hide receipts in a United front. But there is proof, $16.81, taken on 11/3/2017 just as I said (Mr. Bhairava has submitted proof that was pulling teeth to obtain. You will find the proof following This correspondence)

Mr. Omar, please contact the people in reference to this criminal theft offense. I don't have money to spare, I am very poor. Also, Cpt. Carico, the Watch commander, had the heat turned down in the S.H.U. [Segregated Housing unit/Solitary Confinement/] so it is again, ice-cold in my cell. There is a cold front, and ice is on the ground outside, yet they find it Human to cage me in cold stone walls and steel with no insulation in the window, and with such little heat that it doesn't bring up the temperatures in the cell. The heat had been up for a few weeks, but officers would leave security doors open to draw out heat from our cells. I protested the result is the closing of security doors and heat turned down very low in our cells. the heat was turned down again on 16 Jan. and 18 Jan every minute in the torture chamber with no heat is cruel and unusual. It's like a horror movie.

Mr. Omar, please contact the people in reference to the criminal enterprise of J.Oquinn and the meat-locker temperatures in S.H.U. cells
Sincerely
Shiva Bhairava     

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Related articles

• Red Onion State Prison Obstucts Prisoner Complaints While Touting It's Reduction (vapac.blogspot.com)
• Red Onion State Prison Food Violations (vapac.blogspot.com)
• Solitary Watch and The Antagonism Of Idealistic-Journalism and Accountability (vapac.blogspot.com)