The following is a message developed by the Virginia ACLU to be sent to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin regarding solitary confinement. SALT supports the position set forth by the ACLU, as do many other advocacy organizations working to end solitary confinement in Virginia. If you agree with the letter, please click on the link below, provide the requested information, and send your message to Governor Youngkin. 

TELL GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN TO AMEND SOLITARY CONFINEMENT BILLS HB2487 AND SB 887

Any bill whose goal is to strengthen protections for people held in solitary confinement must do two things: it must meaningfully limit the reasons someone can be placed in solitary, and limit how long they can be held there. These bills do neither.

Far from ending solitary confinement in Virginia, the bill language currently in front of you doesn't include provisions limiting the reasons a person can be put in solitary confinement nor the amount of time a person can be held there. It doesn't even regulate all units that could have solitary conditions: only so-called Restorative Housing Units (RHUs).

And the regulations these bills do contain have dangerous loopholes that could actually expand VADOC's discretion to put people in solitary. For example, the bills permit VADOC to place people in RHU if VADOC determines their behavior "threatens the orderly operation of the facility," a reason so broad and subjective that – for an agency without any independent oversight – it amounts to a blank check.

To support amending the solitary confinement legislation currently before Governor Youngkin, click on TELL GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN TO AMEND SOLITARY CONFINEMENT BILLS HB2487 AND SB 887.