Proposal to limit solitary confinement in Virginia prisons clears first hurdle

WRIC ^ | 1/13/2023 | Dean Mirshahi

[Right Wing Vegan]

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A proposal to limit solitary confinement in Virginia prisons advanced out of a state Senate committee Friday before moving to another panel for consideration.

The bill, introduced by state Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond), would only allow prisons to hold an incarcerated person in isolated confinement when there is a medical need or to prevent an imminent threat for up to 15 days within 60 days.

The proposal faces long odds in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates and didn’t receive GOP support in Friday’s Virginia Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services committee hearing.

But Sen. Morrissey thinks his colleagues across the aisle in the state Senate will back the legislation.

“I think we’ll get bipartisan support on the floor of the Senate, and I believe it will pass out of the Senate,” Morrissey told 8News after the committee hearing.

Morrissey said he believes there are enough safeguards in the legislation to protect the mental health and rights of incarcerated people in Virginia and others in prisons. He pointed out that the measure requires documentation on why someone was put into confinement and the factors that may lead them to return once they are back in general population.

“I think that people now realize that after 10 days there are mental health issues associated with keeping someone locked up,” Morrissey told 8News. “I think you can be merciful and compassionate but still show strength, and that’s what this bill does.”

In a party-line vote — with one Republican abstaining — the bill reported out of the committee and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

[Right Wing Vegan]

Could make the argument that solitary confinement should actually be the norm, even with some sentences shortened a bit to compensate (as well as offset any cost increase). Offenders socializing with other offenders just entrenches them in criminal culture. They should only be allowed visits from nonoffenders or the demonstrably rehabilitated.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Solitary seems like a blessing compared to being in the general population. "Oh B'rer Fox, Don't throw me into that solitary patch!"

[DennisR]

Solitary confinement should be much more humane. Yeah, they should not have committed the crime, but they should still be treated more humanely.

[hanamizu]

“Could make the argument that solitary confinement should actually be the norm,...”

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Solitary was the norm when penitentiaries were first built. The theory was the guilty should reflect on his crimes and become ‘penitent’. The idea was to be more humane than the older corporal punishments. Prisoners went crazy and after many years the practice was dropped.

One could ask, is it more humane to lock someone away for years, or inflict pain on them that is terrible for minutes, hours or maybe days, very bad for weeks, and then just a bad memory thereafter? I’m thinking of ‘caning’ as practiced Singapore.

[Sacajaweau]

Solitary confinement is inhumane in my book.

[exPBRrat]

If a convict is a threat to the staff/inmates then it’s a good alternative.

[Right Wing Vegan]

Prisoners went crazy and after many years the practice was dropped.

Unaware of the history, but having little doubt leftists exaggerated this for leftist reforms, as usual.

[hanamizu]

Unaware of the history, but having little doubt leftists exaggerated this for leftist reforms, as usual.

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I believe this all occurred before ‘leftists’ as we know them became a thing.

[Right Wing Vegan]

I believe this all occurred before ‘leftists’ as we know them became a thing.

Then we better not rely on what you believe. Leftists in one form or another span time and civilizations.