Phone Zap June 8 for prisoners at Greensville Correctional

We've received a direct request for help delivering demands to VADOC administration.
Start calling at 9am on June 8.

Background
A comrade has informed us of a major outbreak of the COVID-19 virus at Greensville Correctional Center (GCC) and the Greensville Men's Work Center (GMWC) in Jarratt, VA, where over 240 prisoners and staff have tested positive for the virus. Since then, conditions at GCC and GMWC and the staff’s treatment of prisoners have become significantly worse. Below is a description of events surrounding the outbreak and a list of demands for VADOC officials.

On May 15, 2020, Trey Fuller, Asst. Director of Health Services for the Virginia Dept of Corrections (VADOC), issued a memo advising prisoners that from May 21-22, all inmates and staff at GCC and GMWC will be tested for COVID-19.  On May 21, at approximately 3:30 pm, prisoners were locked down in preparation for COVID-19 testing. At approximately 4:45pm, a National Guardsman and 7 people dressed in all-white full-body PPE suits bearing a blue “DuPoint” sticker, arrived and commenced testing prisoners with kits manufactured by Carnival Health.
Prisoners were asked to sit down in a chair where the people in PPE suits removed the swabs from the kits, shoved them up prisoners' noses, and twisted them back and forth for approximately seven seconds. Our comrade expressed that the pain of this process was “unbearable.” After the swabs were placed back into the plastic bags and resealed, prisoners were ordered back into their cells. This same scenario was repeated through the complex.

On May 22, officers advised prisoners that the entire prison was placed on emergency quarantine lockdown because over 240 prisoners and staff tested positive for COVID-19 with more tests awaiting analysis. Word of the lockdown triggered an eruption of screams, shouts, and pounding on the cell doors.

Since the lockdown, food has been served cold and portions have been cut in half. Prisoners have only been allowed to shower once every three days. They have been denied access to phones and JPay kiosks to communicate with their loved ones. The only contact some have had with the outside world is via video visitation—a luxury unavailable to many, either because their loved ones don't have access to the required technology or because they can't pay for it during this time of economic hardship.

As the virus spreads throughout the Virginia prison system, hygiene and sanitation are critical. So is communication with loved ones and the outside world in general. Prisoners at GCC and GMWC are calling on us to assist them in communicating these demands to VADOC officials.

Thank you for your support.

Email VADOC administration

Numbers to call

• Harold W. Clarke, Director of VADOC
  • 804-674-3000
    
  • Director.Clarke@vadoc.virginia.gov
    
• A. David Robinson, Chief of Corrections Operations for the VADOC
  • 757-334-9872
    
  • david.robinson@vadoc.virginia.gov
    
• Steve Herrick, Director of Health Services for the VADOC
  • 804-674-3000
    
  • steve.herrick@vadoc.virginia.gov
    
• Marcus Elam, Eastern Regional Administrator of the VADOC
  • 434-658-4368
    
  • Marcus.elam@vadoc.virginia.gov
    
• Larry T. Edmonds, Lead Warden of GCC
  • 434-602-3403
    
  • larry.edmonds@vadoc.virginia.gov
    

Script

I am calling in regard to a major outbreak of COVID-19 at Greensville Correctional Center and the Greensville Men's Work Center. The prisoners there have been kept in the dark about the progress of the outbreak, and have been denied access to basic hygiene, sanitation, and means communication with their loved ones. Their demands are as follows:

1. We want the ability and right to use the phone and Jpay kiosk at least once a day to communicate with our loved ones
   
   
2. We want the ability and right to take a shower seven days a week
   
3. We want the ability and right to mop and scrub our cell floors and toilets seven days a week.
   
4. We want the ability and right to attend in-pod or outside recreation at least four times a week.
   
5. We want healthy and hot food and full food portions that are consistent with a healthy diet
   
6. We are kept in the blind. Therefore, we want a daily update on how many prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19 in each housing unit. We also want to know how many prison staff have tested positive for the virus since they are the ones who have introduced COVID-19 into this prison.
   
   

GCC & GMWC administration is in violation of its own operating procedures, including 864.1.
I expect your office to ensure these demands are met immediately in order to comply with procedures and provide prisoners with what they need to stay safe, healthy, and informed