On April 22, 2020, the ACLU of Virginia filed a petition on behalf of IAHR with the Virginia Supreme Court, known as a writ of mandamus, asking the Court to order government officials to fulfill their legal obligations in providing adequate care for people in custody during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The petition argues that overcrowded facilities and current conditions make social distancing impossible, and requests that officials decarcerate facilities as much as safely possible in order to adhere to guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Virginia’s own Department of Health. Additionally, facilities must provide proper access to sanitation products and health care."

Click here to read the Petition for Writ of Mandamus.

Click here to read the Petition for Writ of Mandamus verification.