Virginia Bribes Prisoners Not to Set Themselves On Fire
At Virginia’s Red Onion State Prison, a new “Inmate Safety Agreement” uncovered through a public records request on February 9, 2025, revealed that the state Department of Corrections (DOC) has offered incentives like a quarterly fish fry to prisoners for avoiding self-harm. The agreement also threatened vague “interventions” for noncompliance, and some prisoners who refused to sign said that power to their cells was cut off.
As PLN reported, a half-dozen prisoners set themselves on fire at the lockup in 2024, demanding an end to lengthy solitary confinement. DOC denied any self-immolations, claiming they suffered electrical burns that were somehow self-inflicted and adding that all had been referred for mental health treatment [See: PLN, Jan. 2025, p.19.]
The new agreement was apparently distributed after the incidents, offering both bribes and brickbats to coerce prisoner cooperation. There were “seven-day incentives” for compliance, including new movies and TV shows. Additional incentives kicked in after 30 days—group recreation, sports and other activities. After 45 days, prisoners could receive free commissary bags. Eligibility to enjoy the fish fry and other special meals was the incentive for 90 days of compliance.
Prisoners reported to the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that guards threatened non-compliant prisoners with power shutoffs to cell outlets that are used to charge tablets and plug in TVs. At least two prisoners lost power to their outlets, ACLU attorney Gerri Greenspan said.
The agreement included an acknowledgement that the DOC had mental health services available for prisoners, but some prisoners refuted that claim. Meanwhile, four of the prisoners who set themselves on fire were charged with “self-mutilation” and the other two with “setting a fire damaging or injury to person or property.” An internal email obtained in the records request additionally revealed that guards advocated for charging the prisoners for the cost of their medical care. See: Safety Agreement for Inmates, Va. DOC (Feb.2025).
Additional source: The Appeal
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