Consumer Behavior and Thinking Aloud

SPEECH By William Thorpe

RESOURCES FOR PRISON LAW AND ISSUES

Despite the fact VAPAC is focused on Virginia we still recognize that most laws and practices overlap in the various states so some of the material listed will still have similar items in law is also U.S. Constitution Law. Meaning a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on Cruel and Unusual Punishment on a Virginia incident will be binding on the other 49 states and last but not least we ask visitors and readers to share with us relevant and important items and Prison Advocacy resources.
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In Strength
VAPAC

1.  JAILHOUSE LAWYERS MANUAL BY COLUMBIAN HUMAN LAW REVIEW
2. FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
3. FEDERAL RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
4. PRISONER SELF HELP LITIGATION MANUAL JOHN BOSTON PUBLISHED VIA ANY BOOK OUTLET
5. VIRGINIA PRACTICE SERIES     CRIMINAL PROCEDURE/CIVIL PROCEDURE see links also PUBLISHED BY WEST
6. FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
7. BRENNEN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
8. GEORGETOWN LAW JOURNAL BY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
9. HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION - https://hrcoalition.org/
10. NATIONAL PRISON PROJECT BY ACLU [AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION]
11. FINDLAW- https://statelaws.findlaw.com/
12. NORTHWESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW- http://www.law.northwestern.edu/
13. PRISONER RIGHTS LAW - https://www.hg.org/prisoner-rights-law.html
14. PRISONER ADVOCACY - https://prisondivest.com/
15. PRISON LEGAL NEWS - https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/
16. SOCIAL WORKERS and ALLIES AGAINST SOLITARY CONFINEMENT - https://socialworkersasc.org/
17. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS ~ 202-872-8600
18. WASHINGTON LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS & URBAN AFFAIRS- 202-775-0323 [For Prisoners] 
19. LIEFF CABRASER LAW FIRM [SAN FRAN, CA AND NASHVILLE, TN  
20. INNOCENCE PROJECT- 212-364-5340
21. NETWORK FEDERAL DEFENSE HOTLINE - 212-679-2811 To get a copy of our Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook, either submit a request online at the linked website or write to us at our PO Box address:
• National Lawyers Guild
  PO Box 1266
  New York, NY 10009-8941
• If groups in Virginia are looking for legal observers, they can email CentralVA@nlg.org ; groups in other areas can request legal observers from the nearest chapter, which can be found alongside instructions for requesting LOs on our Chapters page
22. PRISON ACTIVIST RESOURCE CENTER DIRECTORY
23. THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL is the Commonwealth's law firm. In addition to representing the interests of the people of Virginia, their clients are Virginia state government and the state agencies, boards and commissions that compose it. ~ Note:" This is what Virginia Attorney General understands law to be, if you want to understand what VADOC can and can't do, you can search this index. "Official Opinions Search Engine"
24. Open Oversight VA: is Virginia's only statewide police transparency database. We maintain data on over 200 police departments and sheriff's offices through public records aggregation, open-source intelligence research, community contributions, and, most of all, hundreds of regular Freedom of Information Act requests. Created in October 2022 and inspired by Open Oversight (created by Lucy Parsons Labs), we are an independent, decentralized, and fully autonomous collective run entirely by dedicated volunteer researchers, digital archivists, data enthusiasts, and others with a passion for police transparency through public records. It is dedicated to victims of police brutality, those brave enough to share their encounters with police officers, and every officer who "doesn't have a name." Now they do.
25. Civil Rights Enforcement - In an effort to make it easier for individuals to report instances of discrimination or civil rights infringements, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Christopher Kavanaugh, has launched a new online portal. The website, known as the Civil Rights Enforcement page, provides a dedicated platform for individuals living in the Western District of Virginia to report these incidents.

Thanks, vapac

*NOTE* Always study the operating procedures and standards of the various corrections from your state and if you have any questions contact us at vapacommittee@gmail.com

The Exile of William Thorpe From Virginia to Texas, An Extraordinary Act

On May 29th, 2019 at approximately 6:30 am, a Wednesday. I had just had the starvation breakfast portions Red Onion State Prison in violation of its foodservice procedure, the Virginia Department of Corrections Food Service Manual and the cruel and unusual punishment prohibitions of the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides prisoners it detains in Solitary Confinement. When a contingent of 8 of its prison guards, including 2 sergeants under the command of Lieutenant Lambert came to the cell door and told me that I was going on transportation and I won't be taking my property. I wasn't told where I was being transferred to.

What Lt. Lambert and his comical lies of not knowing where I was being transported to didn't know was I had been told, just the day before, by one of his colleagues that I would be transferred to Texas        So began the end result of a process by official elements of the Virginia Department of Corrections to exile me to good ole Texas. After a 3 hour plus ride on the Governor of Virginia's plane, under escort of 4 plus pilot and co-pilot, the plane landed at the Huntsville, Texas Airport. The Huntsville area of Texas is a gulag in its own right, growing prisons.

After 39 years of imprisonment in Virginia and 24 continuous years of ongoing Solitary Confinement. Virginia claimed I was a Security Threat as basis to execute a scheme of exiling me to Texas. Aspects of my exile to Texas are universal and common. During my detention at Virginia's Red Onion State Prison in Solitary Confinement, I worked to expose by publicizing specific and general violations of its prison officials and in extension official elements of the Virginia Department of Corrections.

The question my exile poses besides the obvious Governmental abuse with its deceptive security threat basis which is nothing more than cover for petty and crass extrajudicial vindictiveness for the Virginia Justice System is simple and it isn't limited to my circumstance. Besides regardless of the "legality" of the exile, it's motive details an extrajudicial act and its execution underscores an intrinsic aspect of our human condition which in a nutshell is: irrespective of the backdrop of law, there isn't a just and democratic accounting of its misuse. People will apply their petty tyrannical impulses, which in this instance prison officials under cover of law but in unlawful ways. Those prison officials who decided that my work, of exposing their violations and malfeasance as it were, was so intolerable, despite the fact it is inalienable, that they had to pervert the privilege the citizenry of Virginia had given them        to lawfully imprison humans, by misapplying the extraordinary authority of characterizing a prisoner, a security threat have no measure of its accounting save for publicity and it's exposures.

The only response my exile ask of all people who understand that prison officials, in particular, must be held accountable is:

• Demand I am returned to Virginia and released from Solitary Confinement
• Involve yourself in the work of holding officials of national [including state and local] justice system accountable so the question of what is justice and due process isn't stuck in an academic-speculative loop while in practice it is left to the savagery and Sado -barbarity of reactionary minds and hearts who substitute presumptions and suppositions for thought.

The work of Justice reform contrary to how it is formulated and presented to the public even by advocates isn't removed or exclusive of society's integral narrative, instead, it is fundamental and germane to it. The prison official is subject to a type of bias that society's apathy and ignorance has allowed and permitted to exist to the point it is assumed as an unimpeachable fact. A heightened recognition of this is vital to whether we are informed and practical in our anticipations. If society is to hold prison officials accountable and it must, the understanding of what is being done in the name of the Virginia taxpayer should not be left to colloquial hypocrisies.

 By William Thorpe detained at the Eastham Unit in Texas in Solitary Confinement

NOTE Get a Feel Of Eastham Unit Our appreciation for Photos by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

When Pain Is A Dazzling Diamond By William Thorpe

Man and Woman in Love,
Physically apart isn't new

We only hear the stories and they are Legend of couples who triumph it.

We Marvel at the dazzling Diamond nature of their strength and not once do we think about and realize the true deep intense, hell, intimate pain of it           Till it is us.

By William Thorpe for his Wife Stacey D. Thorpe

*Note* William Thorpe who was a prisoner held in Solitary Confinement since 1996 and at the Virginia Department of Corrections Red Onion State Prison since its opening in 1998, has been transferred via Administrative Interstate Compact to a prison in Texas. His Wife D. says distance is not an obstacle. We Will Triumph, sending all my Love to my Husband, I will see you soon, always be safe, focused and strong. We got this.

Assault Reported at Virginia Department of Corrections Sussex 1 State Prison

*NOTE* This report was shared by IAHR on behalf of prisoners at Virginia's Sussex 1 State prison of alleged abuse by Prison officials, This is a call to action of our  VAPAC members 

IAHR is concerned about an incident that occurred at Sussex I State Prison on May 30, 2019, affecting Darius Richards and others in the prison infirmary.  These men were recovering from surgery.  According to information received by IAHR, a fight broke out between two prisoners, leaving the aggressor badly injured.  Mr. Richards and two others, who were not involved in the fight, were told they were going to be taken to "restrictive housing" (solitary confinement).  They asked why but were given no answer.  A few minutes later they were asked if they were ready to go.  They said no and again asked why they were being taken to "restrictive housing." 

An extraction force of 12 to 16 officers in riot gear lined up outside the infirmary door, led by Major Ruffin. The prisoners asked to speak to him, but he responded, "We'll do that later."  The men in the infirmary raised their arms, signaling they were prepared to be cuffed.  Mr. Richards, because of recent knee surgery, and another prisoner were in wheelchairs.  A third had just had surgery on his shoulder and was in a sling.

Sgt. Williams ran into the infirmary, hitting Mr. Richards with a shock shield, causing his wheelchair to fall backwards.  Officers allegedly punched Mr. Richards repeatedly and bent his injured knee.  This incident was reportedly captured on a security camera, which Mr. Richards believes will show he offered no resistance.  He complains of pain from injuries suffered during this attack and the prison's failure to provide any treatment for these injuries.

Mr. Richards and others were then taken to "restrictive housing."  He wrote an emergency grievance and gave it to a sergeant who refused to submit it.  Two hours later Richards wrote another emergency grievance and gave it to another officer. To the best of our knowledge, he still has not received a response.  DOC Operating Procedure 866.1 states that "the time frame for staff response to an offender's Informal Complaint shall be no longer than 15 calendar days. . ."  It also provides that an emergency grievance should be responded to within 8 hours. 

Mr. Richards and at least one other prisoner were charged with "inciting to riot, rioting, or acting in a manner that disrupts the orderly operation of the institution," even though they stated that the reporting officer could not identify any disruptive actions they took and the hearing officer ignored their pleas to review the video footage from the security cameras. 

Please contact the officials listed below, expressing concern about the treatment of Darius Richards #1442245 and others in the infirmary at Sussex I State Prison on May 30 and urge that the incident be thoroughly and impartially investigated.  You may wish to note the following:

• I am concerned that this incident seems to be an example of overreaction and excessive violence against prisoners.  I am aware of other such incidents at Sussex I State Prison, including attacks by K-9 units that resulted in serious injury to prisoners for which they did not receive appropriate medical treatment.  What steps are being taken to investigate this incident, prevent future incidents of excessive use of force, and ensure that resulting injuries are treated promptly and appropriately?
• Mr. Richards and others who were assaulted in the infirmary deserve a prompt and thorough explanation of why they were placed in "restrictive housing" (solitary confinement) and how long they will have to remain there.  I am aware that VDOC operating procedures bar the use of "restrictive housing" as punishment.  I urge you to inform Mr. RIchards and the other affected prisoners of specifically how they posed a threat to the security of the prison that justified placing them in "restrictive housing."
• Mr. Richards and others who were assaulted in the infirmary on May 30 reportedly suffered new injuries as a result of their forcible extraction.  I urge you to ensure that they receive appropriate medical treatment as long as they need it.

Harold Clarke, Director of Corrections.  harold.clarke@vadoc.virginia.gov, 804-674-3000

A. David Robinson, Chief of Corrections Operations. david.robinson@vadoc.virginia.gov, 804-674-3000

Israel Hamilton, Warden of Sussex I State Prison.  israel.hamilton@vadoc.virginia.gov, 804-834-9967

Jamilla Burney-Divens, Regional Operations Chief for the Eastern Region.  jamilla.burney-divens@vadoc.virginia.gov, 434-658-4368

Randall Mathena, Director of Security Operations. randall.mathena@vadoc.virginia.gov, 804-887-7793

Steve Herrick, Director of Health Services. steve.herrick@vadoc.virginia.gov, 804-887-8118.

Brian Moran, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. brian.moran@governor.virginia.gov, 804-786-5351