Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger was sworn into office not even a week ago. Governor Spanberger received the backing of countless prison rights advocates and human rights advocates, as well as the families of the prisoners being advocated for.

A short time after being sworn in, she chose Joseph Walters as her new Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Advocates, prisoners, and families are concerned for the safety and treatment of prisoners. Fearing that the new director of the Virginia Department of Corrections may not be different than the previous director. That maybe this isn’t a changing of the old guard, but instead a new face with a clean slate. An appointee prepared to carry out the old guards ways until his time comes to an abrupt ending filled with numerous lawsuits and investigations.

It’s safe to say that we are all confused by the Governor’s actions, and her appointment of Director Joseph Walters.

Advocates, prisoners, and families are respectfully requesting that the newly appointed Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections schedule a meeting via Zoom video call with a coalition of Prison Rights Advocates and Human Rights advocates not only as a show of good faith, but to discuss how the director plans to improve the Virginia Department of Corrections.

For decades the Southwestern Region of Virginia has proved to be a breeding ground for lawsuits, civil rights and human rights violations. A section of the state isolated by mountains and back roads. Emboldened by their isolation and distance from the DOC headquarters, major cities, and prying eyes. This has been one of many reasons motivating the widespread abuse and corruption that is prevalent in the prisons that occupy this region.

These prisons are ran by a predominantly all white and all male staff. Individuals who before this, had no prior experience working in corrections. A community of coal miners who were granted prisons to repair their communities failing economy once the coal mines were shut down. An action that appeared to improve a rural communities dying economic infrastructure, but opened a literal Pandora’s Box of racism, sadistic abuse, and human rights violations.

There has been a long standing trend of prisoner abuse, racism, mistreatment, the maiming and even murder of prisoners, among so many other issues at and with the prisons in the southwestern region.

This is nothing new. These state sanctioned crimes have been going on since these prisons were built. To bring up a recent crime committed by these state sanctioned security guards, the murder of Aubrey McKay.

Aubrey McKay was murdered by officers at Wallens Ridge last year in the midst of an onslaught of abuse stemming from a retaliatory campaign of Corrections officials literally out for blood. Advocates, prisoners and families have requested, protested and demanded justice for Aubrey McKay, a man whose time was cut too short. A man who had served his time and was preparing to go home to his family. A man who had clearly shown that he was ready to return to the community and be a productive citizen. Someone who had a lot of good to give to the world. A young man with a birthday on the horizon. A human being who was oppressed, handcuffed, beaten, tortured and killed by corrupt guards and left to die in a cold and filthy cell. A man and his family robbed of all the light he had to give to the world. A man robbed of all the days he had left on this earth. And a mother, a family, Aubrey McKay himself, as well as the world deprived of the justice he and his family have long deserved. May he rest in peace and may his family find light in a world of darkness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, all advocates, families and prisoners are asking for is a meeting. A simple Zoom video call with a coalition of advocates to hear it firsthand from the director himself about his plans for the Virginia Department of Corrections moving forward. There are human beings inside these cells who crave routine and rehabilitative programs. Education and access to more educative materials. Actual consistency. More time outside of our cells. Healthier food. Better paying jobs. More access to fitness equipment. Better healthcare. Better visitation standards. And so much more.

Understand that the path to truly lowering the recidivism rate, is not a path paved with abuse and neglect. Just look at a few of the programs the men and women incarcerated in California have access to, and then compare it to what we have.

So as a show of good faith, please set up a meeting with the advocates and change our outlook on the Virginia Department of Corrections. Give us a better tomorrow. Give us some actual help. And give us answers and justice for Aubrey McKay.