Social Action Linking Together (SALT) is supporting the SB 1179 Corrections Private Management Act; name change; private management of Virginia prisons prohibited by the legislation patroned by Senator Adam Ebbin.
SALT has documented the reasons for supporting this legislation in a recent Newsletter with Fact Sheets #1, #2, #3, and helped make the case for opposing the private management of prisons with Senator Ebbin during a recent interview on television that is available for viewing here: ABC TV program.
We think you will also have reasons for supporting legislation to end the private management of prisons in Virginia after reading the compelling material provided above. If you are supportive of the legislation, please send a letter to members of the Virginia Senate. SALT has drafted a letter that you can use. You can also edit the letter and include your own comments. Click here to send your letter.
PLEASE DO NOT DELAY IN SENDING YOUR LETTER. BECAUSE OF THE SHORT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION IS CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS.
Our research has documented many instances of perilous and poorly managed problems at Lawrenceville. The facility is operated by the GEO Group, which receives about $25 million in Virginia taxpayer funds each year to manage the Lawrenceville Correctional Center (LVCC).
GEO is a publicly traded company with a primary interest in generating profit and enriching their shareholders. Their primary goal is clearly not to advance the common good of Virginia citizens or protect the incarcerated from harm that results from deficient maintenance. The best interest of the Commonwealth would be much better served if the state would assume management of the Lawrenceville Correctional Center (LVCC). Fortunately, a remedy for addressing this problem is now available: legislation proposed by Senator Adam Ebbin would strike language from the state code that allows Virginia to enter into contracts with private for-profit companies for the management and operation of jails and prisons. Three states--Illinois, California, and Nevada--have passed legislation prohibiting the private management of prisons. Virginia should, too!