SB 1301, legislation to appropriate the financial support needed to end the use of Solitary Confinement (Restrictive Housing) in Virginia’s state prisons, passed out of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee today! This is great news, and much of the success is due to your advocacy. However, your advocacy continues to be needed, if we expect the legislation to succeed in both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates when it comes up for a floor vote. 

TO SEND AN ADVOCACY LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION, CLICK HERE.

IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU NOT DELAY IN SENDING YOUR LETTER OF ADVOCACY, SINCE THIS LEGISLATION WILL MOST LIKELY COME UP FOR A FLOOR VOTE THIS WEEK.

Below are excerpts from a powerful letter by David Smith, Chair, Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement, sent to the chair and members of the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee prior to their vote today on SB 1301.

Re: Fiscal Impact of S.B. 1301 (Use of Isolated Confinement)

Honorable Chair Howell and Members of the Finance & Appropriations Committee: 

I write on behalf of the Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement...to provide this committee with information relevant to S.B. 1301 and its fiscal impact, and to urge this committee to appropriate the money needed to end the use of Solitary Confinement...in Virginia’s state prisons. S.B. 1301 will end the practice of placing individuals in isolated confinement/restrictive housing for extended periods of time, a practice that has been shown to be detrimental to the physical and mental health of both the incarcerated individual and the Corrections Department staff that oversees them. 

Although we understand that VDOC has estimated the elimination of extended isolated confinement will cost approximately $41 million, annually, the experience of other states strongly suggests this figure is overblown.  Five states (Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Washington) have adopted similar policies, either through legislation or administrative actions. These states have all shown an approximate neutral fiscal impact when they have reduced or eliminated the use of isolated confinement. 

It’s hard to imagine that Virginia would not have a similar fiscal experience...

How can it be that removing the most expensive form of correctional housing, one that has been proven ineffective at keeping staff and incarcerated individuals safe, actually cost $41 million? 

The fact is it can’t. 

We hope you will review the attached documentation that supports our argument and that you will support S.B. 1301.

(The referenced document can be accessed by clicking on Solitary Confinement Fact Sheet: What Other States Have Done to Address the Cost and Cruelty.)

TO SEND AN ADVOCACY LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION, CLICK HERE.

PLEASE DO NOT DELAY IN SENDING YOUR LETTER.