On March 7, 2023, the ACLU of Virginia submitted a letter on behalf of fifteen additional organizations to Governor Youngkin urging him not to sign legislation on solitary confinement currently on his desk.
As written, Senate Bill 887 and House Bill 2487 would not improve conditions for people incarcerated in Virginia. In fact, the current form of the legislative text has the potential to codify inhumane practices that -- paired with the lack of any accountability mechanisms -- would not limit the use of solitary confinement in the Commonwealth.
Any bill to reform solitary confinement must limit the reasons someone can be placed in solitary and the length of time they can be kept there. Gov. Youngkin should amend the legislation before him to include those key reforms.
Read the letter in full below.
