When multiple people held at Red Onion State Prison burned themselves last fall, we called on Virginia’s independent oversight office – which we fought to establish – to investigate the conditions there.
Now, Red Onion has forced everyone in solitary-like conditions – whether they’ve ever harmed themselves or not - to sign a vague agreement promising not to hurt themselves and threatening to punish people who show symptoms of mental illness. The prison cut off the power to everyone’s cells who refused to sign.
We’re already suing Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC) over the conditions of confinement in Red Onion’s inhumane long-term solitary program. Now, our lawyers are demanding that VDOC:
- restore power to everyone’s cells
- erase any disciplinary charges or other punishments related to mental health symptoms like self-harm
- not retaliate against people who don’t sign the agreement
- and not retaliate against people who harm themselves
Read our letter to VDOC articulating our lawyers' demands below.
