Governor Youngkin Vetoes IAHR'S Solitary Bill
House Bill 1244 (HB1244) was adopted by both Houses of the Virginia Legislature on Monday, March 4. This is the first time legislation limiting isolation to no more than 15 consecutive days has passed the Virginia Legislature.
On Thursday, March 14, Governor Youngkin vetoed House Bill 1244 (HB1244). Here is IAHR's Statement in response to the Governor's veto.
Governor Youngkin's decision to veto the solitary confinement limitations bill is deeply concerning and reflects a disregard for the well-being and humane treatment of incarcerated individuals in Virginia's facilities. Despite the ongoing hunger strikes and the overwhelming support this bill received in both the Virginia State Senate and House, Governor Youngkin has chosen to prioritize his agenda over the lives of those affected by solitary confinement.
As a formerly incarcerated survivor of solitary confinement, I am profoundly disappointed and outraged by this blatant disregard for the suffering experienced by countless individuals subjected to solitary confinement. This decision not only perpetuates the cycle of harm within our criminal justice system but also undermines any progress towards creating a more just and compassionate society.
Governor Youngkin's assertion that vetoing this bill is somehow in line with making Virginia the "best place to live, work, and raise a family" is both disingenuous and morally reprehensible. True progress cannot be achieved while turning a blind eye to the inhumane treatment of the most vulnerable members of our society.
I urge Governor Youngkin to reconsider his decision and prioritize the lives and well-being of all Virginians, including those who are incarcerated. It is time to move forward with compassion, empathy, and a commitment to justice for all.
Natasha White
Director of Community Engagement (IAHR)
Interfaith Action for Human Rights
Email: [email protected]Phone/Text: 318-295-5343
Governor Youngkin's Veto Statement
Pursuant to Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 719, which regulates the use of restorative housing.
During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly came together in a bipartisan manner to enact reforms to improve the Department of Corrections' utilization of restorative housing. I supported and signed that legislation, which has since been implemented by the Department, bringing in best practices that have proven beneficial for correction officers and inmates.
These reforms represent the culmination of significant efforts by the Department, positioning us as a national leader in correctional innovation. The Department remains committed to developing new programs and fostering collaboration with diverse voices and stakeholders.
Click here to read the rest of the Governor's Veto Statement.
In Maryland, SB1085 and HB1144 have still not been voted on in either the House Judiciary Committee or the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Delegate Scott Phillips is the lead sponsor in the House. Here are the House Bill's sponsors:
Del. Scott Phillips [D] | Del. Charlotte Crutchfield [D] | Del. Aaron Kaufman [D] | Del. Mary Lehman [D] |
Del. Jeffrie Long [D] | Del. Cheryl Pasteur [D] | Del. Deni Taveras [D] | Del. Jennifer White Holland [D] |
We have three sponsors in the Maryland Senate with Senator Washington the lead sponsor.
Sen. Mary Washington [D] | Sen. Shelly Hettleman [D] | Sen. Anthony Muse [D] |
Click here for the March Newsletter which has a full account of our Legislation in the Maryland Legislature.
Read about our Pen Pal Program.
Pen Pal Who Was Released
Interested? We’d love to hear from you! Send us a letter to introduce yourself to our pen pal coordinator. Or write to IAHR Pen Pal Program, PO Box 9731, Arlington, VA 22219. Our next pen pal orientation will be on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. via zoom. Click here to register.
Voices from Inside Virginia Prisons Show Need for Robust Independent Oversight of State Prisons
Drawing from correspondence with more than 600 individuals incarcerated in Virginia prisons, Interfaith Action for Human Rights (IAHR) has released a report (the “Red Report”) calling for significant staffing and authority for independent oversight of the operations of the Virginia prison system. The report summarizes 156 stories divided into 16 different categories of abuse ranging from alleged assaults by prison staff to inadequate health care to ineffective and unreliable redress mechanisms.
The report, based on the authors’ years of correspondence with hundreds of people held in Virginia prisons and efforts to resolve their complaints, reveals that many of them:
-- endure medical conditions requiring costs to the state and resulting in suffering that could be avoided with prompt and effective medical attention;
-- feel unsafe in Virginia prisons because of the presence of gangs, drugs, and weapons; and/or
-- are held in unsafe or unsanitary conditions, housed in units subject to extreme temperatures and/or lacking access to a nutritionally adequate diet; and that
-- everyone housed in a Virginia prison is at the mercy of prison officials who have the power by accusation to reduce their access to programming, increase their security level, remove them from the general prison population, and reduce their ability to earn credits that can take time off their sentence.”
Click here to read the rest of the Executive Summary.
Click here to read the full report.
Torture In Our Name
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture has produced a film, Torture in Our Name, that we encourage you to watch. In this 35-minute documentary, filmmaker Matthew Gossage showcases the tenacity and resilience of people who have faced the torture of solitary confinement first-hand and are working to end it once and for all.