Another Reason For Transparency In Virginia Prisons

Virginia Prison Assaultive Behavior

Virginia ROSP Guards returning to their Assaultive Behavior. From March/April 2019 3 prisoners in handcuffs, shackles, held in solitary confinement beaten, Slammed face-first to ground NotCute Prison Staff BreakingLaw

Governor Ralph Northam's 2019 State of the Commonwealth Address Announces Virginia Maintains the Lowest Recidivism Rate in the Country, Now Virginians Do This!

NOW VADOC HAROLD CLARKE LET'S ABOLISH THE BARBARIC USE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN VIRGINIA PRISONS!!!

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS INNOCUOUS INSTITUTIONAL ATTORNEY REQUEST FORM

This innocuous nature of this form reveals it's insidiousness. The prison is well aware of legal confidentiality. So why is it even presenting a waiver which naturally can only harm the prisoner? This is but one aspect of Virginia's Red Onion. That's why transparency and the subsequent accountability is needed.




By vapac

A Story Of Professional Irresponsibility and Ethical Indifference By A Virginia Sussex l State Prison [SXISP] Mental Health Official By William Thorpe

On 8/30/18; a prisoner soon to be released was removed from Sussex l State Prison [SXISP] General Population [GP] and placed in Solitary Confinement Unit because he was allegedly cursing and acting out because SXISP guards wouldn't allow him use of a phone to set up an alternate home release plan because his mother was refusing to let him live with her once he was released.

On 8/31/18; a SXISP Mental Health official came to the prisoner's cell door, identified herself and said she was here to talk to him because he'd got locked up last night. To which the prisoner responded, and I paraphrase, he goes home in a week and his release plan fell through because his mom wouldn't let him live with her, so he had to use the phone to figure out alternatives and the officers wouldn't allow him its use. The prisoner was cogent and clear in expressing what his issue was. To which the Mental Health official responded and I am paraphrasing, the counselor for the Solitary Confinement unit didn't show up for work and Monday is Labor Day so she'd email the counselor about his situation after the Labor Day holiday.

Professional Duty and Ethical Responsibility 

Virginia Law provides a generalized requirement for a Mental Health official's contact with a prisoner initially placed in Solitary Confinement and Virginia Department of Corrections Operating Procedure [VADOCOP] 730.4, 730.5, 841.1 861.3 all specifically detail and define a VADOC Mental Health Officials Responsibility. This "Story" about a SXISP Mental Health officials contact with a prisoner initially placed in the prisons Solitary Confinement unit reveals, the legal obligations, professional duty and ethical responsibilities of a Virginia prison Mental Health official. But what it also seriously exposes is official misconduct and the culture of professional irresponsibility and ethical indifference that grows unchecked when prison officials accountability to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, which particularly includes its prisoners are allowed to be demagogued away by political reaction.

This Story: A Second Aspect  

The prisoner then told the SXISP Mental Health official that he had spent the entire night in the cell without a blanket and sheets and he was cold to which the Mental Health official responded: and this is a direct quote, you look pretty warm to me, your face is red", then she turned around and left the prisoners door. The Mental Health official never bothered to look through the glass window to verify the prisoner's claim of being without a blanket and sheets. Which the U.S. Supreme Court has long since settled the question: that prison officials have the legal obligation to provide prisoners with adequate clothing and not to do so violates the U.S. Constitution 8th Amendment dicta against the cruel and unusual punishment of prisoner. Also the Virginia Constitution and formulations of Virginia Statutorial Law also prohibits cruel and unusual punishment of prisoner.

Prisoner Official Accountability: It's Lack

For the reader and the Virginia public, I ask:

• Is the behavior of the SXISP Mental Health official reflective of the professional duty and ethical responsibilities anticipated by the Virginia taxpayer?
• The Virginia Department of Corrections is a sprawling $1.5 billion a year behemoth of taxpayer money and if it's function is so integral to Virginia society, are the watchdogs: Governmental and non-governmental up to it?                                                                                                                                                    

The callousness displayed cavalierly by the SXISP Mental Health official on 8/31/18; besides those specific violations of VADOC OP's i.e not even a pro forma inquiry into the state of the prisoner's mind, or a follow up on the inadequacy of the prisoners clothing. Instructs of and illustrates what endemic, systemic indifference looks like. We are constantly lectured by Senior Virginia Governmental officials and VADOC executives that Virginia penology is on the just side of history because for one, "low" recidivism says so [this work isn't dealing with recidivist claims by Virginia's Government] yet the actual behavior of Virginia prison officials in its prisons are anything but. From acts, which if were committed by a regular taxpaying citizen would be seen as felonies and prosecuted as such. To administrative malfeasance of the like existing at the U.S. Department for Veterans Affairs of which the Virginia mainstream media presumes its disclosures satisfies and completes its duty to educate the taxpaying citizen, while serious acts of governmental misconduct and unaccountability play out as nauseam behind the concertina wire and storm fences of its prisons, without a squeak from its mastheads.

Re-Entry Into Society

The release of a prisoner back into society is serious business and those responsible for its process should see it as such. When a prisoner within days of release informs the only prison official with administrative authority, he had contact with, within hours of his placement in Solitary Confinement, due to an issue with his home release plan because it has fallen through and he virtually has nowhere to go upon release and that prison official only sees the issue as an emailing one, for another prison official, a counselor who wouldn't be back to work till after the holidays, then the question has to be asked to what extent is this SXISP Mental Health official cognizant of her professional duty and ethical responsibilities and what exactly are the taxpayers of Virginia paying for?

Furthermore what has become of Brian Moran's Virginia Secretary for Public Safety and Homeland Security much vaunted "Re-Entry Program" and the assertion, no prisoner is released from Virginia prisons without Re-Entry Programming? Because had this prisoner been in the SXISP "Re-Entry Program" this wouldn't have been an issue necessitating critique.

By William Thorpe who is in Solitary Confinement currently at Sussex l State Prison

Virginia's Sussex l State Prison and The Serial Violator Prison Guard N.Iwuamadi By William Thorpe

The Virginia Department of Corrections [VADOC] at its Sussex l State Prison [SXISP] is employing Nigerians who are crooked, corrupt and who blatantly violate U.S. and Virginia law and VADOC Operating Procedure.

On 8/19/18; SXISP guard N. Iwuamadi denied me and 2 other prisoners on long-term solitary confinement the mandatory outside exercise. Claiming the building Sergeant Dunleavy had told him to do so. On 8/20/18; Sgt. Dunleavy told me and the other 2 prisoners, he never told the Nigerian N. Iwuamadi to deny us anything.

This prison guard N.Iwumadi is a serial violator of U. S. Virginia law and VADOC Operating Procedures:

• From, capriciously denying prisoners in Solitary Confinement outside exercise.
• Serving meals ice cold in violation of Virginia Department of Health Regulations and Law, VADOC Food Service Manual Directive, SXISP-3D Post Orders.
• Tampering with prisoners outgoing mail
• Arbitrarily cutting off water to all 44 cells in 3D because of actions of 1or 2 prisoners., 
• Denying prisoners showers
• Threatening & attempting to assault prisoners. Recently, around 8/10/18; the prison guard N Iwuamadi tried to break a prisoners arm in the tray box by repeatedly closing the tray box on the prisoner.
• He refuses to provide complaint forms and emergency and regular grievance forms when prisoners ask for them.
• He denies prisoner access to PREA calls to report sexual harassment and misconduct
• He is reluctant and unwilling to notify his superiors when prisoners are in need of emergency medical care.
• He talks to prisoners abusively and belligerently in violation of VADOC professional conduct code.   

The above bullet-pointed examples are some of the prison guard N Iwuamadi's offensive behavior and moral turpitude and VADOC must be held to account for the presence of a prison guard in an environment that is naturally challenged with complying with its own procedures, policies and practices.

William Thorpe in Long-Term Solitary Confinement at Red Onion State Prison but is currently temporarily held in Long-Term Solitary Confinement at Sussex l State Prison'

By William Thorpe

DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer prevents any law enforcement agency, corrections authorities, or prosecutor, from holding any specific person accountable for punishment and/or retribution for the contents of the posts which are submitted here on this site.

These posts are written by actual prisoners who have been convicted of breaking State & Federal Laws.

Some of the post submissions on this site may be overstated and thus inadmissible to establish the validity of any matter herein professed in all court or correctional facility administrative proceedings.

It is your responsibility to safeguard your security and privacy when communicating with prisoners that are listed on this site. We strongly recommend that you take appropriate safeguards when corresponding with prisoners. You are using this site information provided at your own risk.

We are not attorneys or medical doctors.

We at vapac.blogspot.com hold no responsibility for the validity or accuracy of any statement made by prisoners or commenters on this site.

However, we go the extra mile to research facts from fiction.

By vapac 

Life-threatening Diseases & Conditions If Left Untreated Virginia Prisoners Will Become Sicker or Die

We at vapac have received many alarming letters concerning health.  Life-threatening diseases and conditions if left untreated will cause these prisoners to become sicker and in some instances can be fatal. A Prisoner imprisoned at Sussex 1 State Prison J. Davis (1097342) Suffers from the "silent killer" that has a known treatment and even a cure. In at least nine states, prisoners have filed lawsuits arguing that withholding drugs constitutes deliberate indifference to their dire needs, violating a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Delaying treatment and curing can have deadly consequences for Mr. Davis who shared with Mr. Shaheed Omar longtime prisoner advocate and collaborator with vapac that he is a great husband, father, son and is a man of faith and is in need of treatment the same treatment Mr. Omar was fortunate enough to get and was cured. We must ask how will Mr. Davis even be considered for a chance to become healthy again if the Sussex 1 State Prison Staff ignore his informal complaints and allow grievances to go unnoticed? Other prisoners who have medical issues whom have provided adequate documentation 

1.  Lester Hayes 1465707 he was in a bus accident on 4-18-17 and has not been Adequately medically treated. He also has issued of a different nature that is not being addressed today. 
2.  Yusuf Hakim Ali 1092185 Stomach and Colon Problems and is suffering very badly and can't get the help that he needs. 
3. Tarik Hudgins 1069060 Just received a letter from him which I have enclosed just one page of it about his feet. 
4.  Michael Kelly 1190718 has Disease called Graves Disease. He is currently at Sussex 1 but a prisoner of Red Onion. The only reason at Sussex is to get treatment for his medical condition but cannot get out of Solitary Confinement etc.
5. Anthony Kirby 1314706 on 6-6-18 fell the on the floor the in the kitchen while no signs of wet floor were present. He is injured and needs help.
6. Jeffrey Whitebey 1118137 Sussex 1 needs surgery on heart but is not getting help 
7. Marvin Rash 1428427 Sussex I Gastroenteritis problem with stomach and not able to get help.
8. Robert Yeary 1035754 having problems with medical treatment for his dentures. Commissary does not sale denture adhesive chemical, therefore he cannot use his denture so he cannot eat properly.

Steve Herrick Director; Office of Health Services Virginia Department of Corrections your job description requires you to supervise all clinical department heads and the local health authorities at the facilities. Your overall responsibility is to assure efficient and quality care is provided to these incarcerated offenders. [prisoners]

It is obvious (in the accompanying documents we received complaints and grievances but for reason of lack of space we can not print all letters, however, copies can be obtained in writing) that these men are not being professionally addressed and need proper attention from every level of the Virginia Department of Corrections. Beginning with the officers who are supposed to provide counsel and words of instruction to inmates who have legitimate questions and requests, but are indifferent, then there are the prison registered nurses and prison doctors who are supposed to provide health care and related services, including advocacy, health education, preventive care, research, and clinical care to prisoners, however, they are also on many occasions indifferent. The requirement is for prison staff, officers, doctors, and nurses to adhere to prison regulations, agency rules and last but not least the law. Director Steve Herrick & Director Harold Clark, we ask you to look into the matter of these life-threatening Diseases and conditions if left untreated, these Virginia prisoners will become sick or/and die.






By vapac
In Collaboration with Shaheed Omar and prisoners listed in this article.

References

The ACLU of Virginia Prisoner Rights to adequate medical care
State Prisons Fail to Offer Cure to 144,000 Inmates With Deadly Hepatitis C
Three N.C. Prisoners Sue the State for Hepatitis C Treatment
The Massachusetts Department of Correction has reached a settlement with prisoners' rights Groups over its medical treatment of prison inmates with hepatitis C.
A peoples’ victory: Court rules to give Mumia Abu-Jamal hep C cure – Workers World

Virginia's Justice System and Freedom Of The Press

Our Prisons are filled to over capacity with accounts of significant and crucial stories that must be told. We bespeak of the refusal of journalists and media access to level 3 and higher levels in Virginia's correctional institutions.

Prisons more often than not hide on the back roads of our communities in rural America as a means for economic development, thus they normally lay outside the visible spectrum and are repressed by the vigilant eye of the press...We at vapac want to join those behind prison walls who may have been wrongly convicted by our criminal justice system which have been highlighted by the Innocence Project inadequate defense, eyewitness misidentification, incentive informants, government misconduct, false confessions or admissions. We join them and investigative journalists who seek truth with the ethical responsibility in highlighting this issue as with the recent effort: to record (audio, video) prisoners "fails" in Virginia. Yet all too often state, local government and prison officials seek out favorable media to disseminate their propaganda. While denying objective media of the inclusive means of audio and video that will permit a though recording of the account.


We at vapac do not profess to know of an individuals innocence or guilt, however, there are currently 2,252 exonerations with more than 19,790 years lost reported by the National Registry Of Exonerations. We think many of those are compromised by the unavailability of recording (audio, video)...which could play a significant role allowing full compass of investigative reporting by allowing unbiased journalists the ability to uncover the truth when there may be a miscarriage of justice.

We note here that the Virginia Department of Corrections [VADOC] doesn't unequivocally deny media access however they still sanction  ..Virginia's Justice system needs to end the block on the full range of media access and allow the Freedom Of The Press access Virginia prisoners to share their story.

By vapac

References

Innocence Project

Society of Professional Journalists

The National Registry Of Exonerations

State Media Access VADOC Operating Procedure 022.1

Editorial: Allow Recordings Of Prisoner Interviews (Virginian Pilot)
Effort to allow recording of inmate interviews flounders | Local News | dailyprogress.com 

Prisoner Seeking Attorney & legal Assistance Due To Transport Driver Negligence Colliding With Van

Prisoner Lester Hayes claims while being transported due to driver’s negligence an accident occurred causing injury. Mr. Lester is pursuing an injury claim. He has a right to file a claim against that negligent driver. Mr. Lester states On 4/17/17 transportation collided with a van while speeding back from Virginia's Bland County Correctional while prisoner was using the urinal causing injury to head, right shoulder, lower back, and left knee, he was then denied medical attention when requested. He was then instructed to see institutional Doctor upon arrival at Wallens Ridge State Prison where he was again denied. Mr. Hayes states that Bland County State trooper did an accident report 4/18/17 at around 3:30 p.m. he never came on the bus to see who was injured. He is requesting an attorney to assist him in seeking compensation for pain and suffering.

Contact
Shaheed Omar

shaheed_omar@yahoo.com

540-892-1765

By
Lester Hayes
Collaboration
Shaheed Omar
vapac

Red Onion State Prisoner in Solitary Confinement Accuses Guards Denying Of Meals, Threats of Sexual and Physical Assault

Virginia Red Onion State Prisoner [ROSP] Donnell Barnes soon to be released from prison accuses Guards of continued mistreatment as stated in his first letter published June 1, 2018. He states to vapac ROSP guards are starving him in retaliation for filing complaints on their misconduct ranging from withholding food to the point of starvation, to sexual and physical assault.  These ongoing violations of threats and provocation by ROSP guards must be investigated. Prisoner Barnes has said to be a transgender and is in fear of reprisal which means being humiliated for being the person they are. This degrading treatment of prisoners is dehumanizing but then add to the torturous treatment of this prisoner being locked in solitary confinement. Red Onion  State Prison needs to be independently investigated

Virginia's Red Onion State Prisoner Jason Jordan Files A Grievance and Lawsuit Then Report of Abuse and Assault Ensues

The complaint method of the Virginia Department of Corrections [VADOC] is the process in which prisoners are able to air their complaints about prison guard abuse, violations, and lawlessness. The primary recurring theme prisoners report at Virginia's Red Onion State Prison [ROSP] are threats of retaliation or in the case of ROSP prisoner Jason Jordan's report, full-blown assault. Magaret Breslau prison activist and force behind Virginia Coalition for Justice  Virginia Prisons Justice Network  [VPJN] among other platforms cited in a recent correspondence with VADOC whom asserted all claims of abuse are taken seriously and properly investigated. However, prisoner Jason Jordan reveals his attempt to file a criminal complaint were denied him by ROSP investigator denoting the rule of thumb "wall of silence" to protect their own. We must interject "how can prisons police/investigate themselves. His claims for filing a grievance and lawsuit when he was met with physically aggressive behavior taken to a spot off camera and kicked in his testicles (drawing blood) by guards as to "teach him a lesson" Mr. Jordan went through the various steps to file a charge, "what prisoners go through when they follow their First Amendment Rights to redress a grievance"  wherein Civil Court he won a "Summary Judgement" and is waiting to go to trial. Mr. Jordan also asserts he is a "mental health" prisoner and is being denied mental health treatment. We must state here, Retaliation is illegal, guards have abused their power when they violate the 1st Amendment Rights of prisoners, in this case, the right to petition government officials for a redress of grievances.


By Prisoner Jason Jordan held at Red Onion State Prison
In collaboration with Virginia Prisons Justice Network  [VPJN]
and VAPAC

• Under the First Amendment, you have the right to “petition the government for a redress of grievances
• Jordan v. Large, No. 7:2016cv00468 - Document 28 (W.D. Va. 2018)

Virginia Department of Corrections Responds to Recent FOIA Request By Virginia Prison Accountability Committee Members Concerning The Use Of Body Scanning Technology On All Prisoner Visitors

Vapac recently submitted an FOIA to the Virginia Department of Corrections [VADOC] requesting some answers to questions concerning the use of Body Scanning Technology on families, friends, including Children and Pregnant Women. We are sharing their response with our Committee members and followers, family friends of prisoners and the public as this should be of grave concern for many reasons that which was included in a previous post by Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee... Click link to read in its entirety [vapac], "Are Prisons Putting Prisoners Loved Ones, Children, Mothers In Potential Health Risk  `a la Tuskegee Experiment, Even Experts Won't Agree http://bit.ly/2rqpawr".

The questions we posed were as follows and the VADOC's INCLUDED RESPONSE:

• What are the side effects of the body scanners on the health of adults and privacy of images?
• See attached

• What are the side effects of the body scanners on the health of children and the privacy of images?
• See attached

• What are the controls to protect and safeguard a visitors privacy?
• See attached

• All reports and studies VADOC has done on the use of full intrusive body scans of visitors?
• VADOC has no records responsive to your request because the records do not exist.

The VADOC States: Although this department is not required to create new records for the sake of responding to an FOIA request, and although FOIA does not compel the production of records in response to informational inquiries, as a courtesy please see above and attached for all responses and responsive records. Thank you for contacting the Virginia Department of Corrections.

We thank the VADOC for their response to "vapac". It shares with us "some" answers however it still leaves us with much concern *NOTE* the highlighted query and response.

• All reports and studies VADOC has done on the use of full intrusive body scans of visitors?
• VADOC has no records responsive to your request because the records do not exist.

It still leaves folks asking: Are Prisons Putting Prisoners Loved Ones, Children, Mothers In Potential Health Risk  `a la Tuskegee Experiment, Even Experts Won't Agree.

*NOTE*
We would lov to have some feedback from those who read this so we can further inquire about this issue with those who can address it. Leave your comments and we will be posting all of them. For or against this policy.

For further accessibility and to read in its entirety click on the popout link ↓↓↓↓↓

By vapac

References

Are Prisons Putting Prisoners Loved Ones, Children, Mothers In Potential Health Risk  `a la Tuskegee Experiment, Even Experts Won't Agree http://bit.ly/2rqpawr".

An Insider’s Look at How the Virginia DOC Handles Contraband - Correctional News http://bit.ly/2sYlB1c

Virginia's Denis Rivera Prisoner At Red Onion State Prison Expresses Fear Professing Threats From Officers

One of the biggest threats at some Virginia Prisons especially ROSP prisoners convey is the antagonistic threat of "I'll set you up" from guards.  Prisoner Denis Rivera confined in Virginia's Red Onion State Prison [ROSP] speaks of lawlessness by prison guards, Threats and Abuse seem to be the common thread in their midst. Mr. Rivera states threats of retaliation for complaints. One must realize here that if the job duties were being performed there would be few complaints from prisoners.
                              Click On Pop-Outs for Assessable Reading ↓↓↓
By Denis Rivera
Collaboration Shaheed Omar
vapac

FREE-LANCE STAR IRKED BY ACLU of VIRGINIA REPORT ON SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

It would have been refreshing had the 5/16/18 FREE-LANCE STAR Fredricksburg Virginia editorial on VA. MAKING STRIDES ON SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, made the effort to do what editorials and opinions are intended and that makes us think and attain a deeper understanding of an issue. But true to contemporary form the editorial instead plyed the idealistic and easy way out lemming-dive by parroting a narrative that has nothing to do with the nature of the issue. Instead, the editorial behaved as any run of the mill diversionary campaign leaflet pronouncing absurdities.

The question isn't; "really what is a prison to do" as fifth columnesque asked by the Free-Lance Star Editorial. Because the answer to what is a prison to do is simple: Follow the law, comply with the rule of law and obey policies and procedures. But we have to assume that if this answer, is such a conundrum and paradox for the Free Lance-Star editorial to access we have to then presume that the editorial accepts the mythology, prison officials are beyond reproach and above the law.

The prison officials are beyond reproach and above the law narrative, quite frankly is tired, worn and stale and has wreaked more havoc on society than the cumulative and aggregate acts of the prisoners whom prison officials have the professional privilege and responsibility of imprisoning.

Virginia spends relatively $1.5 Billion on its prisons and if taxpayers who are saddled with poor schools, a health care system that's a travesty and the injustice of an anachronistic political-economy are satisfied with their money funding an opaque prison system that is supported by default tough on crime platitude excusing the unaccountability of its prison officials who behave with lawless impunity, then the tensions and antagonisms of such a social contract will only grow. But if questions are asked and accountability demanded     Then the citizenry of Virginia will have the benefit of "equal justice for all".

The 5/16/18; Free Lance-Star editorial on Solitary Confinement in Virginia was it's irked response to the 5/10/18; ACLU of Virginia Titled, Silent Injustice: Solitary Confinement In Virginia.  By which the ACLU called upon Governor Ralph Northam to ban its use in Virginia.

For whatever reason, this call by the ACLU irritated and irked the Free Lance-Star hence the editorial and that tired, worn and stale reactionary narrative with antebellumnesque retorts like"

• "Those who are in solitary had to earn their way there. It is incarceration of last resort". Or [Those] who chooses to do bad things or make bad decisions simply because they are inherently bad people" or "The ACLU is free to make its case.......despite the publics lack of sympathy for how those they see as the worst of the worst inmates are treated".

Are intended to be well-reasoned points, a contribution to the question of solitary confinement, which in 1890 the U.S. Supreme Court in the case In Re: Medley 134 U.S. 160 declared "an infamous punishment" and in 2018 Porter v. Clarke et al 1:2014cv1588 [Virginia case] ruled that solitary confinement violated the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

Had the Free Lance-Star been intellectually honest and not indulged in colloquial distortions, it would have quickly realized that the ACLU's report spoke of and detailed criminality by prison officials.

Prisoners are not sentenced to prison to be assaulted and battered, their testicles crushed by prison guards or denied outside exercise, showers, and meals or framed with contrived and fabricated offenses and lied on to extend the imprisonment by prison officials or entombed in solitary confinement or restrictive or administrative segregation or whatever euphemism used by prison officials in effort to conceal the true nature of the detention which in turn exposes the fact that prison officials are well aware that something is inherently unjustifiable and abjectedly beyond the pale with the detention and the "incarceration of the last resort" apologetic dismissal of it by the Free Lance-Star editorial is all the more insidious.

What the FreeLance-Starr editorial doesn't tell us is prison officials are not a law unto theirself, despite the fact certain Virginia politicians have attained speculative power by enabling that myth. But Virginia prison officials [as all other prison officials across the nation] are firstly subject and subordinate to the U.S. Constitution then as it relates to Virginia, The Virginia Constitution and Virginia Law-code 53.1 and lastly Virginia Department of Corrections [VADOC] Standards, Procedures, policies and Practice Nothing in the U.S. Constitution, Virginia Constitution, Virginia Code 53.1, VADOC Standards, Procedures, Policies, and Practices permits prison officials to operate and behave in a manner the ACLU Silent Injustice Report describes prison officials at Red Onion State Prison [ROSP] has.

When the Free Lance-Star editorial speaks of [prisoners] earning "their way" into solitary confinement or "because they are inherently bad people". It is a divisionary red herring intended to distract from the fact the ACLU's report detailed ROSP officials criminality and instead reframe the issue as the ACLU wants to coddle prisoners whom society has no and shouldn't have no sympathy for. It also reveals the extent and level to which that reframing narrative is divorced from the fact, prison is a legal construct and regardless of the fact prison officials behave hypocritically and lawlessly underpins prison and imprisonment.

First of all, no one is in prison because they are "inherently bad". People are imprisoned because of a violation of a criminal code, then the subsequent conviction under law and imposition of sentence. There are all sorts of "inherently bad" people in Virginia society and some very well could be on the Free Lance-Star editorial staff. So framing the issue as a simple bad and good contrast is insidiously naive and biased towards a specific and particular worldview that has nothing to do with the questions raised by the ACLU's report.

Prison Reform has never been about society's lack of sympathy for prisoners. Prison reforms instead, is about the work to hold prison officials accountable for their lawless behavior and the ACLU's report made that sternly clear with a damning indictment against ROSP and VADOC officials. But instead of the Free Lance-Star pointing this out, it chose to pull out all the stops in defense of prison officials ignoring the likely probability that statistics generated by VADOC and ROSP, used by the editorial were plausibly spurious.

ROSP which is signaled out by the ACLU report because it is Virginia's primary prison for solitary confinement is subject to and subordinate to the legal authorities listed earlier, U.S. Constitution et.al and more immediately VADOC Operational Procedures.

The Practice of indefinite solitary confinement of prisoners by ROSP officials is subject to a couple of U.S. Const. Amendments, specifically, the 8th Amendment, Prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment, due process under the law and equal protection provisions. It is also subject to Article 1 Section 9 prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment and Article 1 Section 11 Due process under the law and equal protection provisions of the Virginia Constitution, also protections against ex-post facto punishment. Also VADOC Operating Procedures [OP] 861.1    Offender discipline or punitive segregation or solitary confinement Local OP 830 A-Step Down Program or Administrative Segregation or Solitary Confinement and OP 830.1, OP 830.2     Facility classification management and security level classification   both deal with mechanisms for due process under the law.  

What all of this, the above show is there are specific procedures or legalities governing the practice of Solitary Confinement which ROSP systemically violates. The consequences of the violations are what the Free Lance-Star and its partisan brethren have typically dismissively characterized as "harshness" of prison that is to be expected and there is no public sympathy for its amelioration. While opportunistically ignoring that they are endorsing lawlessness while claiming to be against it. at the most pivotal intersectionality of all the contradictions of the social contract laid bare     Prison. Which is another revelation that the historical antagonism of those who want to under cover of law behave extra judicially while exploiting that same law to subjugate others is the quintessential issue.

If the Free Lance-Star's editorial staff are interested in the practice of Solitary Confinement, the due diligence responsibility is to maximize a qualitative understanding of it and to also recognize that VADOC and its ROSP officials have a vested interest in its either pro or con  narrative that is diametrically at odds and not apparent in its pronouncements of reform.  Yes, there has been a decrease in the number of prisoners held at ROSP C/Building which is the primary Solitary Confinement Unit. But there are a number of reasons for that, which one obviously being it isn't serving the current 1998 ROSP narrative. Since its opening in 1998 ROSP has lurched and morphed a new reason for its existence every 5-7 years. But that is not the point, the issue is the systemic violations ongoing at ROSP Solitary Confinement. which the ACLU-VA exposed in its report and the Fredricksburg Virginia Free Lance-Star saw fit to ridicule. 

*Note*

By William Thorpe is confined in Solitary Confinement at Red Onion State Prison.

Virginia's John Donahue Prisoner at Red Onion State Prison Asserts, Held in Solitary Confinement After Charges Unfounded

Policy and Procedure is essential to the day to day operations of prisons, failure to follow policy and procedure escalates to the next level of appeal, so why doesn't Virginia's prison systems particularly in this case Virginia's Red Onion State Prison [ROSP] comply with their own DOP'S & IOP's? It is historically a known fact that ROSP does not follow VADOC established rules and protocols, the internal staffing at ROSP must be held accountable. ROSP prisoner John Donahue has shared his experience with Mr, Shaheed Omar and VAPAC of failure to follow policy and procedures asserting over 17 months in Solitary Confinement after charges were unfounded and he STILL REMAINS in Solitary Confinement. Prisons exist BECAUSE  of law, ROSP guards and officials are NOT above the law
                                            Click Pop-Out for Assessable Reading ↓↓↓↓

By John Donahue
Collaborating Mr. Shaheed Omar & vapac

Here Is The Letter to Professor Heather Ann Thompson

Professor Heather Thompson claims no one ever reached out to her from Virginia's Red Onion State Prison. This 7/16/17 letter says otherwise. [see attachment].

Minds and hearts as Heather Thompson shouldn't wilt from critique and mischaracterize it as hostility.

We are only realized with critique.

In Strength,  5/9/18
William Thorpe

Even The Sun Had to Justify Its Existence 

Before The Court of Dialectics....1789   1799

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By William Thorpe
I Am Held In Solitary Confinement At Virginia's Red Onion State Prison

Prisoner Israel Copper VA's Red Onion State Prison Previous Victim of Assaults Settled Out Of Court But Still Remains At Same Facility To Continue to Be Victimized & Retaliated Against

When someone’s behavior is not compliant with the law, or they are acting in a way that threatens safe and secure incarceration or is contradictory to decency, honesty and so on, disciplining is necessary for everyone’s safety and well-being to quote Peter Garrett who has written articles for  Around Corrections, the Official Newsletter of the Virginia Department of Corrections. Note We are NOT talking about Prisoners here but prison officials and guards. The following letter from Prisoner Israel Cooper shared by Mr. Shaheed Omar exposes Virginia's highly dysfunctional Correctional system where the Virginia Department of Corrections claim disciplining is relatively rarely needed in the Department. Could it be they allow said prison guards to unlawfully mistreat prisoners?

By Israel Cooper
Collaboration Omar Shaheed
vapac

William Thorpe States in reference to the ROSP MEMO: A sly and sneaky way to impose limitations and restrictions on prisoner access to courts

Anytime Government, which prison is a function imposes limitations on access or a service. The reasons given rarely have anything to do with the intent of the government reaction.

Think about this. You are an attorney with a prisoner-client at (Virginia's) Red Onion State Prison [ROSP] and you are restricted to only Mondays and Thursdays or after 4 p.m. on any other day-----which could also mean a time limitations of sorts. This is clearly onerous and restrictive, on the Attorney-Client Privilege, not to mention the violation on various U.S. Constitutional Amendments. i.e The 1st Amendment.

Prison Attorney visits are unlike any other visits and should not be cavalierly and arbitrarily treated as such unless the intent by the government i.e ROSP, is an insidious effort to limit prisoner access to the courts which attorney access enables.

Instead of restricting prisoners access to the courts by imposing onerous and arbitrary conditions.ROSP should stop its systemic violations of the rule of law and operating procedures, it's officials, rank, and file are sworn to uphold, which consequently necessitates prisoners seeking access to courts.

Prima facie evidence of ROSP attitude to the rule of law is this memo attempting to limit prisoner access to the courts, which ROSP is fully aware is unlawful.

By William Thorpe

I am held in Solitary Confinement at Red Onion State Prison

Red Onion State Prison MEMO: A sly and sneaky way to impose limitations and restrictions on prisoner access to courts

Anytime Government, which prison is a function imposes limitations on access or a service. The reasons given rarely have anything to do with the intent of the government reaction.

Think about this. You are an attorney with a prisoner-client at (Virginia's) Red Onion State Prison [ROSP] and you are restricted to only Mondays and Thursdays or after 4 p.m. on any other day-----which could also mean a time limitations of sorts. This is clearly onerous and restrictive, on the Attorney-Client Privilege, not to mention the violation on various U.S. Constitutional Amendments. i.e The 1st Amendment.

Prison Attorney visits are unlike any other visits and should not be cavalierly and arbitrarily treated as such unless the intent by the government i.e ROSP, is an insidious effort to limit prisoner access to the courts which attorney access enables.

Instead of restricting prisoners access to the courts by imposing onerous and arbitrary conditions. ROSP should stop its systemic violations of the rule of law and operating procedures, it's officials, rank, and file are sworn to uphold, which consequently necessitates prisoners seeking access to courts.

Prima facie evidence of ROSP attitude to the rule of law is this memo attempting to limit prisoner access to the courts, which ROSP is fully aware is unlawful.

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By William Thorpe

I am held in Solitary Confinement at Red Onion State Prison