EDITOR’S NOTE: We are publishing the following press release from the Virginia Dept. of Corrections exactly as it was received by us on 11/27/2024. The Clinch Valley Times has not independently verified its content.
RICHMOND – Virginia Department of Corrections Director Chad Dotson today released the
following statement on Red Onion State Prison:
“The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) has, on numerous occasions, invited all legislators
to visit Red Onion State Prison (or any other VADOC facility) to personally observe facility
operations and conditions, and to speak with inmates and staff. The recent round of stories about
Red Onion are nothing more than bad-faith efforts to try to score cheap political points by advocacy
groups who pursue prison abolition and policies that would make Virginians less safe.
“I want to thank those legislators who have made the effort to visit Red Onion and encourage those
who have not yet visited to do so at your earliest convenience. We have, in particular, sent personal
invitations Tuesday to every member of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus (VLBC) in response to
their statement.
“In recent months, six inmates at Red Onion State Prison have burned themselves using improvised
devices that were created by tampering with electrical outlets. To be clear, these inmates did not
set themselves on fire or self-immolate, as some reports have ludicrously suggested. Some of the
inmates were treated for burns at the Department’s secure medical facility at the VCU Medical
Center and cleared to return to the facility, while others did not require outside medical treatment.
All six inmates have been referred to mental health staff for treatment, and it should be noted that
several of these inmates have a history of engaging in self-harm.
“Virginia needs secure facilities in which to house the Commonwealth’s most violent offenders, and
Red Onion State Prison serves that purpose. Red Onion is accredited by the American Correctional
Association (ACA) and is in compliance with all ACA standards. Further, VADOC takes seriously the
mental health of our inmate population – Red Onion has the highest percentage of mental health
staff at this security level, based on population size. Finally, the Department has zero tolerance for
any form of abuse and investigates all such allegations.”