‘Brutal’ conditions: 3 former Red Onion inmates’ experiences and the state’s response WISE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Recent allegations of abuse and mistreatment at Red Onion State Prison are back at the forefront after reports of inmates burning themselves. A state investigation is now one ste p closer to becoming a reality following a call to action from inmates, families and advocates. Red Onion State Prison is a supermax prison in Wise County. In recent months, concerns about conditions at the facility resurfaced following reports of six inmates burning themselves in November. That same month, 8News spoke with Gregory Holloway of the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC), who said these claims were false. And VADOC Director Chadwick Dotson agreed. “The recent round of stories about Red Onion are nothing more than bad-faith efforts to try to score cheap political points by advocacy groups who pursue prison abolition and policies that would make Virginians less safe," said Dotson in a statement via email. (Photo Courtesy: Virginia Department of Corrections) 8News confirmed another inmate burned themself in January, and advocates have called the burnings a cry for help. But while the Department confirmed inmates did tamper with electrical outlets and burn themselves to be transferred from the prison, the agency stated Red Onion's conditions aren't the problem. At a December House of Delegates public safety committee meeting, VADOC officials addressed concerns raised in recent months by lawmakers and advocates about its use of restorative housing, the burning allegations, and reports of violence. Here, department officials stated that of the 776 inmates housed at the facility, 88% were charged with violent offenses like murder or rape, 82% have 10 or more disciplinary offenses and 65% have a mental health concern. Officials once again extended an invitation to lawmakers to come and visit the facility for themselves. An invitation, Delegate Mike Jones took them up on later that month. "I didn't want to be that person that talked the talk and didn't walk the walk," said Jones. Jones spoke with 8News about his three-hour surprise visit after what he calls 'disturbing reports'. It was during his visit that Jones said inmates shared their experiences with him. “A gentleman showed me where he was bit and he told me he's like, 'Look, I wasn't even the guy the dog was supposed to bite and it bit me,'" said Jones. (Photo Courtesy: Virginia Department of Corrections) Excessive force using K-9s, plus complaints of abuse and lack of educational opportunities, were among Jones' top concerns. Delegate Holly Seibold echoed his concerns. She scheduled a visit there in the summer of 2024. “What bothered me the most about Red Onion was the mass amount of solitary that is being used," said Seibold. "The minute you walk in, you just see cages outside. And those cages have men in them." The issues shared by Jones and Seibold have also been the driving force behind lawsuits that nonprofit civil rights organization, American Civil Liberties Union, has filed over the last several years. VADOC officials have maintained that their "top priority is the safety and security of our corrections team members and inmates,” Holloway said. “We take our job very seriously and we have a zero-tolerance for inhumane treatment of inmates.” In November, the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus called on Gov. Glenn Youngkin and VADOC Director Dotson to launch an independent investigation at Red Onion and other facilities with similar complaints. The Office of the State Inspector General tells 8News the office has hired five corrections oversight specialist. Prison ombudsman, Andrea Sapone says these positions needed to be filled before an investigation into these allegations at Red Onion could be investigated. The state tells 8News they are now prioritizing this investigation. (Photo Courtesy: Virginia Department of Corrections) The General Assembly passed two bills that address conditions in state facilities. One spearheaded by Seibold addressed temperature regulation, stating facilities should not be less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit or more than 80 degrees. Youngkin recently vetoed that bill, stating the "bill imposes a costly mandate without assessing the financial and operational burdens on the Department of Corrections. Furthermore, existing Department of Corrections data does not substantiate the claims of extreme temperatures or health risks used to justify this legislation." Youngkin approved a bill introduced by Republican Delegate Hillary Pugh Kent to promptly report acts of violence to law enforcement and adopt policy procedures for investigations identifying the roles of staff and law enforcement. “This isn't a Democrat issue," said Jones. "This isn't our mantle to go and run with and own. No, we all got to get around get around this table and figure it out." ...read more read less