VIRGINIA PRISONERS DAY, MAY 18, 2025

WE GREET ALL VIRGINIANS who stand with us on this 3d VIRGINIA PRISONERS DAY with the understanding that the measure of ourselves and Society is how ACCOUNTABLE we are to the law and laws that governs us and subsequently creates THE VIRGINIA PRISONER. Because in the treatment of the prisoner thats done in our name, are we affirmed or ridiculed. To THE VICTIMS OF CRIME, We recognize your harm which all the more underscores and emphasizes the inclusive necessity of your voice demanding ACCOUNTABILITY and ADHERENCE to Law by the Virginia Prison Official in the administration of the "JUSTICE" of imprisonment of the convicted Virginian. The harm of your criminal experience shouldn't be mocked and travestied by the Law breaking impunity of the Virginia Prison Official. To THE FAMILIES OF THE VIRGINIA PRISONER, Our Solidarity is eternal. We are The People in whose name all is done, as such we demand its ACCOUNTING in the administration of Virginia Prisons. To VIRGINIA BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZED LABOR, On this VIRGINIA PRISONERS DAY, contrary to the us against them dehumanizing narrative, THE VIRGINIA PRISONER is Human and Citizen, having that intrinsic creativity, resourcefulness and industriousness necessary for the development of the Commonwealth and we ask you have the revolutionary foresight to make the most of this. To our VIRGINIA EDUCATORS, including THE PROFESSIONAL CLASS, On this VIRGINIA PRISONERS DAY, We have a simple ask: WHERE ARE YOU?, As Educators and Professionals you are a font for novel approaches to Social intractabilities and nothing spells "intractable" as crime or deviance. The Commonwealth of Virginia were you to appreciate your historical responsibilities would instruct our human condition that, a philosophy of dehumanizing the prisoner only reveals our savagery. To VIRGINIA'S RELIGIOUS FRONT, On this VIRGINIA PRISONERS DAY, it isn't about us reminding you of your tenets, but rather you becoming that which your tenets instruct you are to the PRISONER, least of challenging, unlike Paul of The New Testament, impunity of hypocrisies and its travesties. To OUR VIRGINIA GOVERNMENT, First of all, on this VIRGINIA PRISONERS DAY, We recognize and stand with those of our Elected Leaders who do the Peoples work and their efforts and focus on actually developing serious and enlightened responses to the antagonisms of the Commonwealth's Social Contract. When Section 9 of Article 1 of [the] Bill of Rights to [the] Constitution of Virginia and its prohibitions against cruel punishments were declared, punishments then modeled the gratuitous cruelty of the Spanish Inquisition, then enlightened minds and hearts revolted and aspired something else and its with that as THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA stand with THE VIRGINIA PRISONER.

By vapac

Shutting Down Virginia's Red Onion State Prison By Kevin "Rashid" Johnson

Shutting Down Virginia's Red Onion State Prison

 By Kevin "Rashid" Johnson

Prison Radio

Ex-Convict Reveals How He Survived Decades in Virginia Jails and Prisons | Jason Brewer

How does the Supreme Court fail to accurately represent the interests of Americans?

*Pictures are taken from the internet and are used for illustrative purposes only.

Presidents pick Supreme Court justices, and the Senate rubber-stamps them. But do these nine unelected officials truly speak for the people? Political scientist Kevin J. McMahon joins Krys Boyd to explore this fundamental question. He'll discuss how the court has become increasingly out of touch with public opinion, the damage this does to its reputation, and potential solutions to restore public trust. His book, "A Supreme Court Unlike Any Other," offers a comprehensive analysis of this pressing issue.

Via "Think Podcast"

NPR

Think is a daily, topic-driven interview and call-in program hosted by Krys Boyd covering a wide variety of topics ranging from history, politics, current events, science, technology and emerging trends to food and wine, travel, adventure, and entertainment.

John Grisham address wrongful Convictions

*Pictures are taken from the internet and are used for illustrative purposes only.

Acclaimed author John Grisham, known for his gripping legal thrillers, turns his attention to the sobering reality of wrongful convictions. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss these miscarriages of justice and the underlying systemic issues that contribute to them. His book, "Framed," co-authored with Jim McCloskey, provides a detailed examination of these disturbing cases.

Via Think Podcast ‪@NPR‬

*NOTE* Think is a daily, topic-driven interview and call-in program hosted by Krys Boyd covering a wide variety of topics ranging from history, politics, current events, science, technology and emerging trends to food and wine, travel, adventure, and entertainment.

The Third Sunday In May Is Virginia Prisoners Day

As we at VAPAC [Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee] continue the work of holding the Virginia prison official accountable it is necessary it is established that the prisoner as narrative exist independent of that colloquial supposition, which the petty tyranny of the above the law attitude of a faction of Virginia politics exploits. The Virginia Prisoners Day is a principle declaring that the Virginia prisoner is not a scape goat, a distraction and diversion to be blamed for Virginia's historic and systemic injustices. 

For This 2023, May The 21st Inaugural Virginia Prisoners Day: We State

The Commonwealth of Virginia historically has had a schizophrenic cognizance of human life. See the Virginia Thomas Jefferson's pronouncements in the United States declaration of Independence, "That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness......" even as he held enslaved hundreds of black men and women in direct contravention of his pronouncements. even as he serially raped the enslaved Sally Hemmings whom he deprived of her created equality, endowed unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

On April 17th 1861; Virginia became the 8th state whose political-economic needs and wants were structured on enslaving human beings, specifically black men and women to declare war against the united states in pursuit of its practice of enslaving human beings, a pursuit that violated the all men are created equal dicta. Again on the Virginian Thomas Jefferson imploring the witness of a "candid world" in the declaration of Independence even as he prejudiced the "candid world" by the enslavement of millions of black people.

Again in 1871, the Commonwealth of Virginia despite the repudiation of the contradiction of Dred Scott in blood and Catholic perdition of the civil war and despite the emergence of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution still pursued its rabid intoxication with enslaving human beings if not as the former social fact it would under the travesty of law and order. So in November 1871 we find the Supreme Court of Virginia dementedly declaring in the case Ruffin v. Commonwealth 62 VA. 790

"The Bill of Rights is a declaration of general principles to govern a society of freeman, and not of convicted felons and civily dead. Such men have some rights it is true, such as the law in its benignity accords to them, but not the rights of freemen. They are slaves of the state undergoing punishment for heinous crimes committed against the laws of the land. While in this state of penal servitude, they must be subject to the regulations of the institutions of which they are inmates, and the laws of the state to whom their service is due in expiation of their crimes."

What the 1871 Supreme Court of Virginia revealed is that continuum of schizophrenic cognizance of what is the Virginia prisoner we see displayed since 2021, for example by Harold Clarke Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections with his 54%  of Virginia prisoners would violently re-offend were they released       A declaration that remains unchallenged by Virginia's media.

As we mark May 21, 2023 as Virginia Prisoners Day we ask all life loving persons to join in underscoring the fact: As a society we are not redeemed when the prison official is unaccountable and above the law;

#VaPrisonersDay #MayVAThirdSunday

In Strength and Solidarity We Stand

vapac

We Establish Virginia Prisoners Day

 

Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee

We At Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee Establish Virginia Prisoners Day

The third Sunday in May will represent a speaking out in whatever manner available in accord with ones ability in support and solidarity with Virginia prisoners. If its tweets, posts on the various social media platforms, t-shirts, signs, videos, radio call-ins, and discussions     That clearly state to our politicians that abusing and driving prisoners insane in our name, we the people isn't what we vote for.

Please use these hashtags       either or both

#VaPrisonersDay

#MayVaThirdSunday

vapac

#Caging Covid #ClemencyNow, #FreeOurElders and #LetThemGo #EndSolitaryConfinement

Prison Is Speech By The State and It's Organized Violence By William Thorpe

The colloquialism "The only thing prison provides is time and what the prisoner does with the time is solely his choice."

On the surface and superficially it sounds commonsensical making all the sense in the world because it fits the narrative of the national status quo and its pursuit of a supposed responsibility and its individual accountability. But upon scrutiny, we find it is just another gibberish and idealistic utterance in the employ of the controlling functions of the state and its national status quo. And why should we simply stop with prison being the only environment requiring the accountability of individual responsibility        Lets expand it to general life, beginning with the argument point from our political and religious reactionary brethren, the life begins at conception demagoguery and let's hold that construct of life responsible and accountable for itself independent of the mother and humor at its collapse in the objectivity of its anticipation. Which by the way as much as our reactionary brethren push for life at conception, the fact it is still based on the responsibility and accountability of the mother as an independent anticipation, in no uncertain terms mocks the responsibility and accountability supposition.

And it makes the same point, that as much as the controlling mechanism of the status quo expects a self-policing imperative with our buy into a superficial and speculative grasp of individual responsibility and accountability. The fact remains, prison provides more than time. Prison is speech by the state and it's organized violence. Prison as function of the state assumes responsibility and accountability for and of the imprisoned in dicta to provide.

Thus the responsibility and accountability of the state to the prisoner as it exercises it's organized violence speech of imprisonment should not be excused nor apologized away with the naive and delusional observation that the prisoner in and for theirself should have the presence of mind and ambition to experience the passage of the imprisonment time in a supposed manner when the very lack or bias of the supposed is what resulted the prisoners confinement to begin with.

The adage "the devil is in the details" isn't sophistry and society and its inherent relations cannot escape its scrutiny and consequences of those relations will compel such scrutiny regardless of whether we are intellectually-material enough or still indulging in the intellectual-liberalism of our subjectivity. Because even the sun bows down to reason as the practice of our brethren in 1789 reminded us and again we were taught from 1818-1828 that colloquial traditions and culture are just that mechanisms of the supposed, to be brushed aside as feeble articles of backwardness while new realizations in the employ of progress enable the emergence of a new culture and tradition which in the prison context is reform and holding state and it's organized violence responsible and accountable.

By William Thorpe

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS OPERATING PROCEDURE "INCOMING PUBLICATIONS" CONCERNING FOREIGN LANGUAGE

When prisoners and families are faced with questions as it concerns the Virginia Department of Corrections [VADOC] the only approach is to refer to the VADOC Operating Procedures first, secondly visiting the relevant policy, from there this is the guidelines for which prisoners will follow to file his/her complaints and grievances. We at vapac [Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee] will be periodically sharing policy and procedure on our site.

Correctional agencies must deliver clear and brief composed mandates for staff, prisoners, and the community. Given the issues of authoritative risk, accreditation benchmarks, case law, and the need to help proficient conduct, written policy and procedure is a requisite.

Prisoner family and friends should go on the VADOC website and familiarize yourselves with the policy and procedure so you can understand what prison guards are SUPPOSE to do.

Recently vapac received a concern from a prisoner family member pertaining to "incoming mail and publications as it pertains to foreign language" sharing their concern stating "just because somethings in a different language and they can't read it, doesn't mean that the inmate shouldn't get it! What do they do for the non-English speakers?" Unfortunately, as it pertains to "publications" policy considers and states "Publications that are written or communicated in languages other than English or Spanish that cannot be readily translated and reviewed for content pose an overriding security concern for the DOC." (note~see page 8 of 10).

We are highlighting this issue in hopes it will be of some help to other prisoners and their loved ones. Again every one familiarize yourself with VADOC policy and procedure as this is ammo to battle a war we more often than not find ourselves in the middle of.




By  Dee
vapac

Reference

Virginia Department of Corrections Procedures

803.2

Incoming Publications

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 

Prisoner & Ex-Prisoner RESOURCES

Here is a list for Prisoner and Ex-Prisoner Friendly Resources. Please email us at vapacommittee@gmail.com if you would like to add to this list or message us on facebook @vapac. When making contact please provide a description and updated link

Call 211~Nationally& Parts Of Canada  2-1-1 (http://www.211.org/) Free and confidential service that helps people find local services in need. Available for free to anyone: Ex-prisoners families, friends, and others

Virginia 2-1-1~(https://www.211virginia.org) Call 211, visit site and chat or email ..Free and confidential service that helps people find local services in need. Available for free to anyone: Ex-prisoners families, friends, and others focused in Virginia

Zoukis Prisoner Resources~ (https://www.prisonerresource.com/) An unbiased, non-partisan prison consulting group offering resources for those going to prison or getting out of prison.

Virginia Prison Justice Network~ (https://vapjn.wordpress.com/) A website for everyone who advocates for prisoners and seeks solutions to the judicial racism that plagues our criminal justice system.

Find Your Legislator~ There is a wealth of information about the General Assembly members and sessions

JailHouse Lawyers Handbook ~ (http://jailhouselaw.org/) Great handbook that is a resource for prisoners who wish to file a federal lawsuit addressing poor conditions in prison or abuse by prison staff. This handbook is available for free to anyone: prisoners. families, friends, activists, lawyers, and others Download.

Central Virginia Legal Aid Society ~ Links to Helpful Organizations and Information

National Prea Resource Center ~ "In developing the PREA [Prison Rape Elimination Act] standards, the Department of Justice ensured that inmates/detainees/residents have multiple ways to report sexual abuse, and that they are able to access victim support services from outside agencies

Restoration of Rights ~ [Virginia] Governor Northam has updated his eligibility criteria for restoration of civil rights.  Effective March 16, 2021, individuals are eligible to have their rights restored after being released from incarceration

Restoration of Firearm Rights ~ [Virginia] A person convicted of a felony automatically loses their firearm rights under state and federal law. If you have been convicted of a felony as described in Section 18.2-308.2 of the Code of Virginia, you may still be eligible to purchase a firearm if your rights have been restored under both state and federal law.

Frequently Asked Questions on Parole ~ To apply for parole, the offender has to fill out and sign an application furnished by a case manager. Everyone except those committed under juvenile delinquency procedures who wish to be considered for parole must complete a parole application.

Pardon and Commutation Information FAQ ~ For over 125 years, the President has relied on the Department of Justice, and particularly the Office of the Pardon Attorney, for assistance in the exercise of the executive clemency power granted to the President by Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution. Under the Constitution, the President’s clemency power extends only to federal criminal offenses. Executive clemency may take several forms, including pardon, commutation of sentence, remission of fine or restitution, or reprieve. 

NoLef Turns ~ Our mission is to reduce recidivism by helping those with court and justice involvement successfully thrive post-conviction. Our vision is to be a leader in decreasing the prison population by supporting and empowering those who are most affected by crime, trauma, and incarceration. We will treat everyone with dignity and respect and will not pass judgement, as we seek justice and redemption. 

RIHD, Inc. ~ Lillie (Ms K) Branch-Kennedy~ Founder ~ Resource information help for the disenfranchised and disadvantaged.

SALT ~ Social Action Linking Together (SALT) is a network of persons in Virginia embracing the principle that “The justice of a society can be measured by how the most vulnerable members of that society are faring and being treated.” This principle can be found in all the great religious traditions and inspires SALT members to propose and shape fair public social policies through our education of policy makers & our advocacy for the poor and powerless.

Community-based alternatives to police in your city  ~ [dontcallthepolice.com] Find alternatives to calling the police. Typically, people call the police because they are experiencing or perceive an emergency and need immediate assistance. In order to provide the most effective alternatives to calling the police or 911, unless otherwise indicated, the resources included here are limited to those that 

Warmlines ~ Need someone to talk to? were created to give people support when they juoffer immediate assistance through emergency or crisis services. Reimagine public safety.  Don’t call the police. Richmond Virginia area resourcesst need to talk to someone. Speaking to someone on these calls are typically free, confidential, and run by people who understand what it’s like to struggle with mental health problems. For a Virginia Connection 

Social Workers and Allies Against Solitary Confinement ~ National task force of social workers and allies dedicated to confronting the issue of solitary confinement, both on a macro-level as a core mechanism of our racist and classist system of mass incarceration, and on a micro-level as a practice that social workers in correctional settings actively and passively participate in, while being simultaneously charged with upholding the human rights and dignity of all people.

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Benefits Reentry~ Social Security Reentry Benefits: An individual released from incarceration may be eligible for Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits if they have worked or paid into Social Security enough years. An individual released from incarceration may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits if they are 65 or older, are blind, or have a disability and have little or no income and resources.

Health coverage for incarcerated people ~ 

• Incarceration doesn’t mean living at home or in a residential facility under supervision of the criminal justice system, or living there voluntarily. In other words, incarceration doesn’t include being on probation, parole, or home confinement.

• You’re not considered incarcerated if you’re in jail or prison pending disposition of charges—in other words, being held but not convicted of a crime.

Virginia Employment/Felons: Ex - Offender Assistant

• Federal Bonding Program
  A link to the U.S. Department of Labor's Federal Bonding Program for "at-risk" and hard-to-place job seekers
   
• Restoration of Rights
  If you have lost the right to vote as a result of a felony conviction in a Virginia court, a U.S. District or a military court, you must have your rights restored in order to qualify for voter registration. The restoration of rights restores the rights to vote, to run for and hold public office, to serve on juries and to serve as a notary public.
  
  
  
• Assistance Available to Ex-offenders (pdf)
  Offered as a service to counselors, family members, and others assisting ex-offenders in their efforts to return to the workforce.

Jobs for felons: Updated list of companies as of July 1, 2021.

Jail to Job 
Jobs for Felons: Government Help For Felons Looking for Jobs
Jobs for Felons: How to find a Job
Jobs for Felons: These Companies Hire Felons
From Jail to a Job

Prison Activist Resource Center Directory 

Companies That Hire Felons

Ace Hardware, Macey's, Domino's, AT&T, Wendy's,  Best Western, Dollar Tree Kohl's, 

Walgreens,  Dennys,  Huddle House, Family Dollar, Kmart, Caterpillar, Goodwill, Lowe's,  Chick-fil-A,  Chili's,  Red Lobster, Menards 

Pilot Flying J, Walmart, Home Depot, Pepsi,

Greyhound, Great Clips, Papa John's,  Sprint,

Ashley Furniture, Goodyear Tires, Sam's Club,

Dairy Queen, Steak N Shake, I Hop, Golden Corral, Pizza Hut, Buffalo Wild Wings, KFC, 

General Mills, Blue Cross Blue Shield

• As we find out more, we'll post on our website. 

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

                                    Click Pop-Out for Easy Accessible Reading ↓↓↓↓



By William Thorpe
I Am Held In Solitary Confinement At Virginia's 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.

 \
By William Thorpe

I am held in Solitary Confinement at Red Onion State Prison

Jeffery Gardner Warehoused at Pocahontas State Correctional Center Expressing Prisoners Plight

A former Senator once noted avidly before his colleagues (quote) " The Public cannot tour the prisons and interview the inmates". (unquote)  However, the "inmates", as well as their families and friends can" share their experiences with "vapac" [Viginia Prisons Accountability Committee]. Here we amplify the prisoner's voice in society so both sides are presented. The following submission: The reality of prison life by Prisoner Jeffery Gardner confined in Virginia's Pocahontas State Correctional Center expressing the prisoner's plight. Note he has some interesting elements open for discussion. We at "vapac" give thanks to Mr. Gardner for sharing his experience. *Note* Click on pop-out icon for larger view,
By Jeffery Gardner Confined at Pocahontas State Prison

Virginia Wallens Ridge State Prison Guards Exhibit Racist, Unprofessional Behavior Towards Prisoners Claims Sanctioned By Warden and Assistant Warden By Shiva Bhairava

The following letter was shared with Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee by Prisoner Shiva Bhairava confined at Virginia's Department of Corrections Wallens Ridge State Prison submitted by advocate Shaheed Omar. Per Institutional Operation Procedure 135.3. The PURPOSE of This operating procedure ensures that all Virginia Department of Corrections staff and service providers understand and comply with requirements to act professionally and ethically, and to respect the privacy of fellow employees and individual offenders. As prisoner, Shiva Bhairava states in his letter violations of his and other solitary confinement prisoners Civil rights. As Mr. Shaheed states in his cover letter to varied entities, There is a ongoing pattern over the years of racist, unprofessional conduct by named guards who are in violation of these policies and directives, rules and regulations, protocols and procedures and they are supposed to be disciplined accordingly. Examples of the prison's guards behavior are as follows contaminating and messing with Prisons Common Fare Diet/food trays that which is court ordered to be handled and served by Special Sanctions, racial slurs, (example "N****er I will stick these Common Fare up your A**, you Damn Muslims don't deserve to eat") (Mr. Bhairava claims to not be Muslim) it has been brought to our attention that allegedly kitchen supervisors have taken away gloves from kitchen workers as well and then there are the incessant threats. This degrading treatment of prisoners is dehumanizing but then add to the torturous treatment of these men locked in solitary confinement, sleep deprivation. the jamming on doors all night long by a Wallens Ridge Officer named Galliher. Mr. Shiva states that "No wonder prisoners are forced into insanity and are committing suicide! Officer Galliher states that This psychological Warfare is sanctioned by the Warden and Assistant Warden Combs etc..please read the following "Prison Alert" In his own words. *Note to enlarge click on pop-out icon
By Shiva Bhairava Confined at Wallens State Prison Narrative by Shaheed Omar and vapac

Related articles

• Red Onion State Prison Obstucts Prisoner Complaints While Touting It's Reduction (vapac.blogspot.com)
• Recent Memo to Red Onion State Prisoners Held In Solitary Confinement (vapac.blogspot.com)
• Red Onion State Prison Food Violations (vapac.blogspot.com)
• Veteran facing deportation moved into solitary confinement amid ongoing hunger strike (stripes.com)
• 'Punish a Muslim Day' spurs defiant pledges to #ProtectAMuslim (euronews.com)

Prisoner Quincy Jones Is Asking Virginia's Red Onion State Prison are you Purposely Forcing the Hand of Non Gang Members In Your "Step Down Program""

One must ask Virginia Department of Corrections if they are purposely antagonizing prisoners that are not involved in gangs forcing their hand to make a behavioral mistake in their "Step Down Program" that might very well get them sent back to long-term solitary confinement? Because one must know the "Step Down Program" is just another form of "Solitary Confinement". Prisoner Quincy Jones has submitted a letter to "Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee" Member Shaheed Omar. Advising us that he may be forced to be confined in a cell with a gang member that which he is not a gang member, thereby placing him in a detrimental position one can only imagine. We are sharing his letter of concern to the public and the Virginia Department of Corrections must take notice to address this issue if their "Step Down Program" is to become successful. As this is not a pathway for prisoners to get to lower security.
                               *Note* Click on "pop out" tab for the enlarged view.  ↡↡↡↡.

 

Related articles

• Accountability, Prison Reform Advocacy and the 13th Amendment (vapac.blogspot.com)
• RED ONION STATE PRISON AND IT''S FOOD SERVICE SCHEME: IMPROPRIETIES AND VIOLATIONS BY FOOD OPERATIONS DIRECTOR (vapac.blogspot.com)
• Red Onion State Prison Food Violations (vapac.blogspot.com)
• Red Onion State Prison Obstucts Prisoner Complaints While Touting It's Reduction (vapac.blogspot.com)
• Maryland's new crime bill is a start, but remains weak tea (hotair.com)

Virginia Department of Corrections In Its Operation Unlawful Treatment of Reentry Prisoners At Virginia's Greensville Correctional Center

We at "Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee" have received the following alarming letter from concerned families of prisoners  At Greensville Correctional Center. We have been alerted officials there are not doing their jobs and denying guys their earned good time, overriding their security levels thus keeping them incarcerated longer than they should be. VADOC headquarters in Richmond (atmore) is also not listening to the families when they call the court legal services unit and the correspondence department is not responding to inmate requests, assistance etc. my husband should’ve been home last month and they’re denying him his review and all the things aforementioned. 
We are asking our followers and members to share this post as a step in the process by exposing VADOC violations at Virginia's Greensville Correctional Center. 

Thank you
Submitted Anonymously protecting their identity by a member and follower of Virgina Prisons Accountability Committee.

Victims Ploy Or Accountability

Are the various victims "Rights" enactments actually designed to address issues confronting victims of crime or are the enactments political ploys exploiting victims for the benefit of politicians in the pursuit of speculative power?

Let us hear from you!

By vapac

On The March 30th 2017 Tour of Red Onion State Prison [ROSP] By Interfaith Action for Human Rights [IAHR]

On Thursday, March 30th, 2017; a coterie of self-styled advocates for prison reform in Virginia including members of the group, Interfaith Action for Human Rights [IAHR] toured Virginia's Red Onion State Prison [ROSP].

The group walked past cells in c-building ROSP's primary solitary confinement building. Cells which held and hold prisoners who are denied outside exercise, showers and sometimes meals. They walked past cells improperly and inadequately holding mental health prisoners. [it is noteworthy that since 2014, 3 prisoners in solitary confinement in ROSP's C-Building have committed suicide], They walked past the cells holding prisoners, some of whom have been in Solitary Confinement over 20 years and the walk through, tour for them was a festive affair. Their voices rang giddy with the excitement of being inside the ROSP environment. As one asked their tour guide [a member of ROSP's investigative or intelligence department] could they go out into the outside exercise cages! Then a prisoner's voice yelling through a cell door, in C-Buildings 3/pod called to account the spectacle that prisoners are not animal exhibits or displays in a zoo.

IAHR in its subsequent newsletter/email titled "Report on visit to Red Onion State Prison" gave itself the proverbial congratulatory pat on the back.

What IAHR and its ilk ignore is: 1. Prison officials work for citizens of society which also includes prisoners. 2. Advocates for prison reform shouldn't be motivated by friendship with prisoners or prison officials. What I mean by prison reform shouldn't be motivated by amicability with either prisoners or prison officials is this: Prison reform is necessary because prison and imprisonment stand at the accountability apogee of society, playing a crucial and pivotal role to the social contract and compact. Because when society practice of imprisonment is done in an idealistic and reactionary manner, society as a whole suffers and pays the price. Because prisoners, once released from the imprisonment, who have been brutalized and dehumanized while in prison will now interact with an unsuspecting society in alienating and destructive ways and daily news accounts bear this out. to which prison officials are quick to shift the narrative and blame prisoners and the released prisoner for whatever stupid mayhem the released prisoner brings society. But the reality is prison officials are squarely and primarily to blame because of the idealistic conditions and sadistic treatment they subjected that imprisoned human to. Conditions which if the prisoner before the imprisonment was deviant, prison officials and their prison experimentation have now catalyzed and enabled the maturation of the deviancy. So society's interest in prison reform is primarily all about society's self-interest because to put it simply, accountability irrespective of the subjective is the objective of the social-contract and compact.

But as it related to IAHR and their March 30, 2017, ROSP tour, IAHR is oblivious to all that I have said. If Government is, to quote Abraham Lincoln, "of, by and for the people", prison officials are functionaries of government and are not exempt from the"..... by and for the people" nature of government and the only dilemma [which IAHR in its "Report on visit to Red Onion" describes itself as facing] was when it was confronted with the inadequacy and immaturity of its understanding and perspective of what is the prison official in a modern American prison. Which was starkly exposed by IAHR's behavior, its interaction with ROSP officials prior to and during the March 30, 2017, tour within the fraudulent context that it is about prison officials and the gentility of their sensibilities.

IAHR doesn't see the prison officials as a functionary of government which then means it doesn't understand that the only interactive operative prison officials have with society is that of accountability, specifically treatment of the imprisoned and how it readies and prepares them for release in a practical manner and not self-serving sloganeering for budgetary opportunities.

Instead, IAHR's behavior on March 30th, 2017, revealed it has a fantasy, an idea, a supposition that prison officials are to be reasoned with, cajoled or implored. Which then upends the only relevant fact: Which as I've stated, prison officials are functionaries of government and are bound by law, procedures, and policies to which they must and can only be held accountable.

Had IAHR interacted with ROSP officials within accountability imperative and context it wouldn't have accepted Virginia Department of Corrections and ROSP's  pre-condition for the tour, that it shouldn't talk to prisoners, whom it claims its advocacy is for?  Maybe prison officials wouldn't have permitted the tour. But then IAHR could have challenged such a decision and the obvious lack of accountability by 1. Legal action to obtain access to ROSP and 2. Politicizing the issue of access to ROSP and if it took a ballot initiative to specify public access to prisons which are governmental function funded by tax payers, so be it.

Instead on March 30th, 2017, IAHR and advocates for prison reform walked right past cells holding prisoners at Red Onion State whose conditions and experiences are the self-claimed basis and motive-force for the advocacy. Once again IAHR and prison reform advocates toured Solitary Confinement building at ROSP, walking right past cells that held and hold prisoners who experience daily violations of the United States, Virginia Law, and Prison procedures and policies. But because of a pre-condition that only mocked and undercut the very reason for prison reform advocacy, IAHR rendered itself impotent.

By William Thorpe

William Thorpe is held in Solitary Confinement at Virginia's Red Onion State Prison.