Dear Senators and Delegates:

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY PRIOR TO THE 2022 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION!

My name is Bob Stewart. I serve as the Social Action Linking Together (SALT) Coordinator of Public Affairs.

With respect to justice for those incarcerated in Virginia, SALT is a community of advocates working with other organizations opposed to extreme punitive practices, especially the use of solitary confinement. We are in agreement with the February 28, 2020 statement from the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner: “Solitary confinement may only be imposed in exceptional circumstances, and ‘prolonged’ solitary confinement of more than 15 consecutive days is regarded as a form of torture.” SALT, in solidarity with the United Nations, religious leaders nationwide and internationally, and the Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement, supports what should be the aim of the penal system, namely rehabilitation and successful reentry of the incarcerated into society after release. 

SALT Criminal Justice Legislative Priorities for 2022 are:

•  Limiting and ending solitary confinement—referred to at different times as restrictive housing, local control, administrative segregation, special housing units, and management control units. We do not have a bill number at this time; Senator Morrissey is the patron for this legislation.
• Eliminating the use of attack dogs in guarding and controlling the incarcerated. Delegate Kaye Kory is carrying this bill in the 2022 Virginia General Assembly session. See attached document for links to draft of the legislation and an associated fact sheet.
• Placing a moratorium on private prison (for profit) facilities and establish a plan to end the private sector management and operation of the only Virginia operated for-profit prison at Lawrenceville. We do not have a bill number at this time; Senator Ebbin is the patron for this legislation.
• Addressing the cost of commissions—a regressive tax the causes genuine financial strain on vulnerable families--collected by the VADOC on purchases made by the incarcerated. We do not have bill numbers at this time. Legislators carrying this legislation for the price-gouging by the VADOC will be Delegate Hope and Senator Boysko; for the jail price-gouging, it will be Delegate Shin and Senator Morrissey.
• Heading off hunger for the incarcerated before they leave prison.

Additional information regarding 2022 SALT legislative priorities is also available now via our web site: SOCIAL ACTION LINKING TOGETHER (SALT).

In addition, the attached document will provide you with supplemental information regarding SALT’s criminal justice priorities for 2022.