Virginia’s new corrections ombudsman to prioritize Red Onion prison probe

Virginia corrections ombudsman Andrea Sapone speaks with lawmakers on Dec. 16, 2024. (Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

Virginia’s top investigatory body is turning its attention to Red Onion State Prison following alarming reports of self-harm and poor conditions at the supermax facility in Wise County.

Andrea Sapone, the state’s new corrections ombudsman, announced Monday that her office will prioritize an investigation into living conditions and the health and safety of incarcerated individuals at the prison, which has faced scrutiny after a hunger strike in 2023 and six cases of people burning themselves this year.

“The Office of the State Inspector General takes all allegations of abuse seriously,” she told the House of Delegates’ Public Safety Committee. “A Red Onion investigation will be prioritized as soon as we have full staff to do it properly.”

An offer has been extended for one position, and a pool of candidates is under consideration to fill four more roles, an OSIG spokesperson confirmed to The Mercury.

Calls for oversight at Red Onion have grown louder from prison reform advocates, lawmakers and families of incarcerated individuals. Allegations against the facility include poor living conditions, mistreatment and the extended use of solitary confinement.

During a presentation to the committee on Monday, Department of Corrections director Chad Dotson suggested the recent incidents of self-harm were attempts by inmates to secure transfers to other prisons closer to their families.

“There’s no evidence whatsoever that there was any kind of a plot or a protest,” Dotson said. “All the inmates involved said they did it because they wanted to get away from Red Onion. Two of these have a history of self-harm.”

However, Taj Mahon-Haft, founder of the Humanization Project, pushed back, emphasizing that the underlying issue is the level of desperation that drives people to harm themselves.

Mahon-Haft, who was formerly incarcerated, said he understands firsthand the challenges of imprisonment, particularly how prolonged isolation can lead to harmful thoughts or actions.

April Wright shared a harrowing account during the meeting, revealing that her incarcerated son had apparently attempted to hang himself. Wright said she only learned of the incident when another inmate reached out to inform her.

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The use of solitary confinement, or what Virginia calls “restorative housing,” was another major focus of the discussion. Under a state law enacted last year, incarcerated individuals in restorative housing are now granted four hours a day outside their cells.

Dotson described the practice as a temporary measure, explaining that it is reserved for individuals with serious behavioral infractions who may pose a threat to themselves or others.

Plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) allege they were placed in confined housing for extended periods, with at least one person claiming the experience left them feeling suicidal.

“It’s clear that this is a systemic problem,” ACLU attorney Geri Greenspan said.

Earlier this year, the General Assembly passed a bill aimed at further reforming confinement practices in Virginia prisons, but it was vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. While it remains unclear if a similar bill will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session, members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus have hinted at the possibility.

In the meantime, Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax, is looking forward to a formal investigation into Red Onion State Prison.

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“I think the most important thing we heard was the commitment from the ombudsman to make this investigation into Red Onion her top priority,” Simon said. “I think that’s a win.”

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