Emails obtained by The Appeal revealed that prison staff at Virginia’s Red Onion state prison discussed charging the six inmates who partially burned themselves last year in protest against what they described as “intolerable” conditions for hospital treatment or prosecuting them for setting fires in their cells, NBC News reported.
According to Kyle Gibson, director of communications for the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC), “restitution, including the payment of medical expenses, is an authorized penalty allowed by VADOC policy.” However, he stated that hearing officers did not pursue restitution or prosecution in these cases. The inmates did receive disciplinary charges.
The protest highlighted ongoing issues at Red Onion, including excessive use of solitary confinement, denial of necessary medication, and allegations of physical abuse by correctional officers. Virginia Delegate Michael Jones visited the facility in December 2024 and reported complaints from inmates about food quality, medical care, and racism. Jones also observed an inmate with injuries from a prison dog attack.
A central grievance among prisoners is the use of isolation, which the VADOC refers to as Restorative Housing Units. This program confines inmates to cells for at least 22 hours daily, a practice that meets U.N. guidelines for solitary confinement but is criticized for exceeding the recommended 15-day maximum duration. Kenneth Hunter, a former inmate, described enduring solitary confinement during his first year at Red Onion, calling it an experience marked by “physical abuse and excessive force.”
One of the protesting inmates, Ekong Eshiet, wrote to Natasha White of Interfaith Action for Human Rights, detailing his retaliation after self-harming. He alleged that officers withheld medication, tampered with his food, and desecrated his Quran. Kevin “Rashid” Johnson, a former inmate and vocal critic of the VADOC, previously exposed the self-immolation incidents, alleging widespread abuse at the facility. Gibson dismissed Johnson’s claims, citing his institutional record.
The ACLU of Virginia has been actively challenging solitary confinement at Red Onion. Attorney Geri Greenspan argued that the state’s Step-Down Program effectively amounts to indefinite solitary confinement. A 2018 complaint filed by the ACLU led to a settlement requiring broader language access for the program, but the Corrections Department did not admit liability.
Jennifer Dalton, founder of the Virginia Justice Alliance, highlighted the case of her client, Levi Springer, who was placed in solitary confinement for over a decade and prescribed antipsychotic medication upon release. Dalton alleged that the VADOC disregarded medical recommendations, leading to his eventual return to long-term segregation.
Virginia’s newly established corrections ombudsman, Andrea Sapone, has announced an investigation into the conditions at Red Onion, set to begin once her office is fully staffed. Advocacy groups, including the MacArthur Justice Center, continue to push for accountability and reforms to address the systemic issues exposed by the protests and ongoing allegations.
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