Solitary confinement; data collection and reporting, Department of Corrections to submit report. (SB1140)
Introduced By
Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington) with support from co-patron Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
☐ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Solitary confinement; data collection and reporting; report. Requires the Department of Corrections to submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the Governor containing specified statistical information regarding the Department's use of solitary confinement, as defined in the bill. This bill was incorporated into SB 1777. Read the Bill »
Status
01/25/2019: Incorporated into Another Bill
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 12/30/2018 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/19 19103350D |
| 12/30/2018 | Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services |
| 01/18/2019 | Incorporated by Rehabilitation and Social Services (SB1085-Marsden) (12-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/18/2019 | Impact statement from DPB (SB1140) |
| 01/25/2019 | Reconsidered by Rehabilitation and Social Services |
| 01/25/2019 | Incorporated by Rehabilitation and Social Services (SB1777-Saslaw) (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
Comments
It is shameful that we are not collecting data and reporting out on solitary confinement. The use of solitary confinement must end. Having the data will not only allow the public, and our legislators, insight into how pervasive the practice is and how it is being used in correctional facilities, but will also serve as a valuable tool to finally have a much needed conversation on ending this archaic and cruel form of punishment.
Solitary confinement can harm prisoners with serious mental illness. Many of those with these disorders are increasingly showing up in our prisons. Any person in solitary confinement for a long time can suffer from this punative action.
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports requiring the Virginia Department of Corrections to collect and report data on how many people are held in solitary confinement, why they were placed there, for how long, and whether they are a member of a vulnerable population. There currently are no data or reporting requirements on the use of solitary confinement in Virginia and as a result we know very little about this harmful and inhumane practice, except that it is far more prevalent than the VDOC has been willing to admit.