With A 1+ billion Dollar Surplus In Virginia Budget and With 4.3 Billion Coming from the Federal Government Now Is The Time VADOC

 Hello,

With a 1+ billion dollar surplus in the Virginia budget and with 4.3 billion coming from the Federal Government, NOW is the time for the Virginia Department of Corrections to make major improvements in DOC facilities and operations.

With about 25% of VA inmates living without AC and still wearing masks, AC must be a high priority.  Safety and the security of the inmates is dependent in part on the quality of the personnel hired by DOC.  Please give these people a living wage so they won't be so tempted to bring contraband into the facilities.  Also, after a year of living on hard boiled eggs and peanut butter, it is time to upgrade the diet of those behind bars.  Please give them portions more appropriate to a male/female adult and please more fruits, vegetables, and higher quality meats.  Finally, according to the interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, they are due the same quality of health care whether they are behind bars or not.

Please, allocate the monies necessary to operate the DOC safely and humanely.  After a year dealing with  a COVID positivity rate 4x the Virginia rate overall, this demographic has suffered enough.

Thank you.

vapac committee member