IN VIRGINIA I LOVE YOU CARDS UNAUTHORIZED TO SOLITARY CONFINEMENT PRISONERS AT VADOC SUSSEX 1 STATE PRISON

How can prisoners better nurture and cultivate their relationships with family In Virginia prisons when Guys in Solitary Confinement cannot even send an I LOVE YOU CARD to a loved one?  As limited as gift giving is for prisoners to their loved ones? A simple card, simple but a multifaceted treasure that is beyond personal communication. It is flashes of moments in time of feelings across the miles,  it is I am thinking of you, I miss you, and I LOVE YOU!  It is incomprehensible love cards are considered UNAUTHORIZED by Virginia Department of Corrections [VADOC]  When Solitary Confinement prisoner William Thorpe was REJECTED his Keefe Commissary order for 2 I love cards to send to his beloved wife by Virginia's Sussex 1 State Prison. We must ask who made this negative apathetic judgment call?




By William Thorpe & Wife Dee

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

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

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