A report by the Associated Press has revealed concerning conditions at the Marion Correctional Treatment Center in Virginia, including multiple hospitalizations for hypothermia over a three-year period. Lawmakers in the state have expressed alarm over these findings and are pledging to hold Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration accountable. Democratic lawmakers are calling for a newly created prisons watchdog to investigate the situation, with concerns raised about the temperatures at the prison and allegations of intentional cold exposure.
The Virginia Department of Corrections has declined to answer questions regarding the prison, citing pending litigation over an inmate’s death that has brought attention to allegations of poor conditions and intentional cold exposure. Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, have described the conditions at the prison as “disturbing” and have compared them to a Soviet gulag. The lawmakers are seeking answers from DOC leadership and are calling for swift action to address the reported issues at the facility.
Questions about conditions at the Marion prison first came to light last year after NPR reported on a lawsuit over an inmate’s death and detailed the findings of a special grand jury. The panel, convened in response to the inmate’s death, described conditions at the prison as “inhumane and deplorable.” Lawmakers have suggested that the newly created Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman should investigate the temperature- and hypothermia-related concerns. The Ombudsman’s office, which will consist of six employees, was established earlier this year to provide independent oversight of the DOC.
The attorney representing the sister of the deceased inmate, Kym Hobbs, declined to comment on the lawmakers’ remarks due to pending litigation. Youngkin’s administration has acknowledged the troubling findings in the AP report but stated that no one had been treated for hypothermia at the Marion prison since 2021. The administration has pledged to cooperate fully with any inquiry from the Corrections Ombudsman. Lawmakers who supported the establishment of the Ombudsman’s office view it as a crucial step towards ensuring accountability and transparency within the Department of Corrections.
Democratic Senator Dave Marsden, a sponsor of the Ombudsman bill, has expressed concerns about the reported conditions at the Marion prison and plans to formally inquire about the findings. Delegate Holly Seibold, who has focused on prison reform legislation, has also expressed outrage over the AP’s findings and intends to seek more information from the DOC. Republican lawmakers representing the district where the prison is located did not respond to requests for comment, highlighting the bipartisan concern over the troubling conditions revealed in the AP report. As lawmakers push for answers and accountability, further investigations and oversight of the Department of Corrections may be necessary to address the reported issues at the Marion Correctional Treatment Center.
