A recent report on hypothermia hospitalizations and poor conditions at a Virginia prison has prompted Democratic state lawmakers to call for further investigation. The Associated Press report uncovered at least 13 hospitalizations for hypothermia over three years at the Marion Correctional Treatment Center, as well as concerns expressed by medical providers about temperatures at the prison. Records showed allegations of poor conditions, including toilet water freezing over. The Virginia Department of Corrections has declined to answer questions about the prison, citing pending litigation over an inmate’s death. Lawmakers are demanding answers and seeking accountability from Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration.
Senator L. Louise Lucas and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell expressed deep concern over the conditions at the Virginia prison system, with Surovell calling the findings of the report “disturbing.” Surovell likened the conditions described to a Soviet gulag rather than a prison in America. They, along with other lawmakers, are calling for the newly created Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman to investigate the temperature- and hypothermia-related concerns. Questions about conditions at the facility arose following a lawsuit over the death of an inmate and the findings of a special grand jury that concluded conditions at the prison were “inhumane and deplorable.”
The press secretary for Gov. Glenn Youngkin called the AP report’s findings “incredibly troubling” and confirmed that no one has been treated for hypothermia at the Marion prison since 2021. However, the DOC declined to provide further comment on the lawmakers’ remarks, and the attorney for the inmate’s sister who filed the lawsuit also declined to comment due to pending litigation. The office of the Ombudsman will consist of six employees, including an ombudsman and five specialists, providing independent oversight of the DOC, which proponents say is long overdue.
Democratic Sen. Dave Marsden, a sponsor of the ombudsman bill and former head of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, raised concerns about inmates exaggerating complaints but acknowledged that the AP’s findings warranted investigation by the ombudsman’s office. Del. Holly Seibold, who has focused on prison reform, expressed outrage at the AP’s findings and plans to formally request more information from the DOC. Republican lawmakers in the district where the prison is located did not respond to requests for comment. With bipartisan support for further investigation into the conditions at the Virginia prison, lawmakers are seeking answers and accountability for the reported hypothermia hospitalizations and poor conditions.
