Physical Abuse at Red Onion State Prison Increases with New Assistant Warden – Rowlette

---the following information has details of abuse and may be triggering--

 

            The Human Rights Coalition received alarming news this morning that several people incarcerated at Red Onion State Prison(ROSP) were being abused by correctional officers.   This information is paraphrased and being sent out because the people in prison are in fear for their safety. We will have a more detailed report in the next couple of weeks.

Over the last month, prisoners report the atmosphere at ROSP has intensified in regards to racial harassment of prisoners as well as physical abuse. It has become a regular occurrence for prisoners to be called racial slurs when receiving food. If the prisoners responds in anyway their food is taken from them and the Sergeant says the prisoner refused the meal. Personal property of the prisoners is also being destroyed. Prisoners believe this upsurge in abuse is related to the reinstatement of Assistant Warden Rowlette. Richard Rowlette was a Major at Red Onion State Prison when it was first opened and sited for extreme acts of abuse by the Human Rights Watch. ( http://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/redonion/)

On November 8^th, Kevin Johnson was maced for holding the slot in his solitary confinement door open. This act of defiance, holding the slot open, was in response to a prisoner being assaulted on his block. On November 20 ^th, his hand was slammed in the slot twice. Prisoner's hands and arms have been broken in the past from being slammed in the door slots.  

On Saturday, November 10, 2007 , Corderio Carter alleges he was attacked by Correctional Officers when he was taking a shower. The prisoners in solitary confinement are led to the showers in handcuffs and shackles and made to kneel before restraints are removed for shower. There was some confusion and Carter asked to speak to a Sergeant. His request was denied, he was dragged into the middle of the room, and slammed face first into the concrete with handcuffs and shackles still on. Officers involved were Dutton, Taylor, and Brown, and Sergeant Day. Nurse Church refused to look at or aid Carter when asked. Carter has filed a grievance and this is allegedly all on video. (Red Onion is supposed to video everything)

            On November 23, another person was attacked during a cell extraction by the same group of officers.  

            These men are housed at a Super Maximum Security prison. Most of them spend 23 hours a day locked in solitary confinement. This abuse is outrageous and unnecessary. The Department of Corrections in the Common Wealth of Virginia must take responsibility for this violent, racist environment they have created by housing 80% black prisoners from the city who are overseen by 90% white officers from the country.

  

Please contact the following officials to voice your concern for all the prisoners in care of Correctional Officers –Dutton, Taylor, Brown and Sergeant Day. Please voice your concern of the appointment of Assistant Warden Richard Rowlette.

 

Warden Tracy Ray of ROSP – 276-796-7510

Director of the Department of Correction, Gene Johnson – 804-674-3000

Special Investigations Unit – 804-674-3023 (DOC unit that is supposed to investigate these things)