SALT's successes have been many and significant, thanks to your advocacy for justice!  We again have an opportunity to make a difference, to lift a burden and help restore the human dignity of those that have suffered because of a cruel practice sanctioned by the Virginia Department of Justice, namely the human dignity of the incarcerated that have spent time in solitary confinement and their families that have also suffered in solidarity with their incarcerated loved ones. SALT is again turning to all advocates for help on this issue, asking all of you to go the “extra mile.”

What this is about.

• As you already know, SALT has joined with the Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement to end the cruelty of solitary confinement.
• The Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement, in compliance with the “Rapid Response Work Group Study Project” required by SB108, is providing the needed human resources, i.e., a workgroup, to interview incarcerated individuals that have experienced the cruelty of solitary confinement, as well as the staff sending people into solitary confinement and managing the prisons.
• SB 108 is the legislation passed in the 2022 session of the General Assembly that convenes a work group to study the use of “restorative housing” (aka solitary confinement).

Why all this matters.

• Without the completion of the study referenced above, there is no possibility of ending the use of solitary confinement in Virginia.

How you can help with this project. 

• For 15 years or more, SALT has not solicited funding from our membership.  That is because of ad hoc donations from some faith communities and occasional gifts from SALT advocates.  At this time, however, we are seeking donations from our members, financial resources that will keep SALT alive and thriving and help us meet our commitment in funding the Coalition’s “Rapid Response Work Group Study Project” required by SB108. 
• We are hoping you will decide to contribute to SALT to make possible more SALT successes, including SB108. Please make checks payable to SALT and mail to  9610 Counsellor Dr., NW, Vienna, VA 22181-3248; and you may, should you wish to do so, designate your contribution solely to the coalition for the “Rapid Response” project by entering “For Rapid Response” in the subject/memo line. In that way your donation will be used exclusively for the Rapid Response Project.
• In addition, you can also volunteer as an interviewer of those that have unfortunately spent time in solitary confinement. Quality professional training will be provided to all those that volunteer to do interviews; also, a background check will be required for all interviewers. If interested in doing interviews, please contact David Smith via email: David Smith <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

As a proud partner in the coalition, SALT is committed to doing our part in helping to fund the “Rapid Response Project Work Study.” For more detailed information, please take the time to read the message below from McGennis Williams, J.D., Chair, Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement, and David Smith, Solitary Survivor & Chair, Logistics Subgroup of the SB108 Study Group.

Hi John,

As summer comes to an end the SB108 Workgroup is ramping up. We’re getting ready to start traveling throughout Virginia to interview incarcerated individuals who have suffered through and survived solitary as well as the staff that send people to solitary confinement and run the prisons.

To do this we will be sending people around the state for three weeks to conduct interviews. We want to be able to cover all the costs of the interviewers who were previously incarcerated and cover as much of the costs as possible for other interviewers from our Coalition.

Unlock The Box has generously agreed to provide a $2,500 “Rapid Response” Grant. We must, as members of the Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement, match this funding in order to cover all budget expenses for our interviewers for these three weeks.  As you know, the prisons in Virginia are spread out in difficult-to-reach places.  We need to cover the food and lodging and gas expenses for the interviewers, especially for those who are previously incarcerated. 

Time is of the essence as interviews are scheduled to start on September 6.

Thank you,

McGennis Williams                                                     

Chair, Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement   

David Smith

Solitary Survivor & Chair, Logistics Subgroup of the SB108 Study Group