December 12 2023, Tuesday
“We do not agree with the authors of the Declaration of Independence, that governments ‘derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.’ All governments must originate in force and be continued by force.”
–George Fitzhugh of Virginia, 1857
This can be seen as the sentiment that pervades all of Virginia’s institutions, most especially its Department of Corrections (DOC). My recent transfer to a low-security prison, so called, has shown a clear consistency of deliberate indifference towards the basic needs of those humans held captive. It is apparent that causing harm is a matter of policy, even if not written blatantly. The lack of useful and up-to-date programs, the lack of proper medical and dental care, the lack of updated and modern mental-health services, and the barely nutritious food are all clear indicators that a doctrine of harm exists.
A key aspect to this doctrine is the complete inconsistency that exists from one prison to the next. Even though the VA DOC has a listed standard operating procedure (SOP), every prison writes an internal operating procedure (IOP), and most often as a means of circumventing the FA DOC’s OP. This is similar to, and very likely modeled after, the way the State of Virginia writes laws to deliberately circumvent United States laws established under federal statutes and codes. To that point, stating that Virginia is in essence “anti-American” and openly violates the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, is simply a matter of citing Virginia laws. I’ll leave it to you the reader to compare and contrast.
Virginia’s entire history is built on tyrannical oppression of other human beings, so there is no stretch in stating its DOC is a destroyer of lives. Pocahontas State Correction Center, where I spent some 6 years of which I have written and documented much, was—and is—a veritable Hell on Earth of abuse and grift. This being the case, and having endured horrific abuses, a transfer to a low-security prison seemed a long-earned blessing. So far that has been far from the case.
It begins with being put into a dormitory, or, to be more concise, a warehouse, quite literally I might add. Row upon row of bunk beds, six people and their possessions crammed into the same 12×8 cell area that two people shared. Harmful, and in no way a benefit of reward for my consistently good behavior. Of course for me, having been wrongfully convicted and not having any history of criminal activity, “good behavior” takes no effort. Much like my need to expose the assorted violent cruelties of A DOC prisons, and to push the much-needed abolition of all prisons, being “well behaved” comes naturally, although I must pat myself on the back for maintaining good form in the face of such anger-inducing abuses under severe duress while overwhelmed by such intensive frustrations.
The dormitory is always loud and always lit. In fact it is by its nature and existence a major human-rights violation as well as a violation of the treaty on the treatment of prisoners, a.k.a. The Mandela Rules. Twenty-four-hour lights is not only a human-rights violation but is also a severe assault on the mental health of anyone—most especially those already under the duress of captivity. Coming from a higher level prison this was a system shock, but it was not the only one.
One of the biggest system shocks was the total disrespect of other inmates towards one another. No respect for one another’s space, and no respect for the volume of voices. At higher level prisons these sorts of acts often lead to tension and fights. It seems that at a lower security prison all considerations go out the window. My stance on abolition does not preclude me from acknowledging just how many of the captives are prime examples of cascading ID-10-T errors. It shows glaringly in the above-mentioned disrespect, and equally in the lack of effort put into challenging prison conditions that never improve.
Another great shock was the general attitude of the guards, which is sometimes far too friendly and polite. Having come from the always abusive PSCC, Dillwyn’s friendly staff left me in a constant state of anxiety. This, in and of itself, is telling where any concern regarding the psychological damage and harm caused by prisons is brought up. People being polite and considerate should not be a cause of crisis, but it has become one. After yers of abuse and even textbook torture at the hands of the VA DOC, specifically PSCC, all I expect is some type of trap hidden behind the smiles. That may not be all that likely, but it does serve much the same purpose as the abuse at PSCC did.
Laziness and ineptitude are exceedingly widespread among those hired as VA DOC staff. The VA DOC is one degree of separation from being on welfare, so the type of people attracted to the job is exactly that. This is in conjunction with the long-documented statistics regarding the sociopathic tendencies of those attracted to being a prison guard. Lazy and inept sociopaths seem as if they would be more dangerous, at least to my mind they do. That being said, I must admit that, thus far, there is only the petty little power-trip type of guard, as opposed to the full-out sociopath. Again, that, coupled with the general laziness and an inability to do a job, seems to be dangerous.
It calls to mind several of the initial experiences with the counselor and unit manager of the warehouse where DWCC is currently maintaining my illegal captivity. The first of these experiences was regarding my applying for a prison jo. Yes, it is a most abhorrent form of slave labor, but the prison thinks it looks good, and also the pennies paid to add up to a few measly dollars. I put in my applications following VA DOC OP and awaited a reply. The counselor, a flighty and somewhat confused person named Ms. Johnson, informed me that I could not apply for any job that wasn’t posted on an information board. This is not VA DOC policy but is DWCC I OP based on laziness and ineptitude. So I filed a complaint pointing out the clear and obvious problem. Enter the unit manager Ms. Beasley, a cold and somewhat snobbish woman who seems at all times displeased.
Ms. Beasley informs me that DWCC does things its own way. In other words, A DOC policy be damned, which is par for the course at every VA DOC prison. Again, this stems from the inherent laziness and ineptitude of VA DOC staff as well as the doctrine that calls for causing harm. Interestingly enough, and to bring into the conversation another poor quality found all too often in prison staff, one of those jobs applied for was a “houseman” position. This includes several jobs, one of which is the “showerman” position, which as you might guess is responsible for cleaning the shower area. My job applications were returned to me—instead of kept on file, which is the usual response—and I was told none of those jobs, including the houseman position(s), were available. A few short days later, five people were interviewed for the showerman position y Ms. Johnson, the counselor.
Dishonesty, it would seem, is yet another of the poor qualities required as a VA DOC employee. I have numerous accounts of PSCC staff blatantly lying, on the record, as if it is somehow acceptable. I can say the same thing about William Eric Branscom, the corrupt Commonwealth Attorney for Virginia who prosecuted me and rarely uttered an honest statement. Now I have DWCC staff, Ms. Johnson and Ms. Beasley, lying on paper too. Sounds like a bad movie about the Russian court system, doesn’t it? It begs the question: Are all Virginia state employees filthy liars? It would seem to be the case, based not only on my list of experiences but also on mounting paperwork where filthy liars haven’t even the sense to make an attempt to cover up their dishonesty. It is clearly a Virginia way and part of the state culture.
Among the consistent inconsistencies are things such as getting photocopies, where both of the above=mentioned staff have given me erroneous –or deliberately false—information. VA DOC policy lays the responsibility for making legal and other copies squarely on the shoulders of the building counselors, along with notary duties. Ms. Johnson seems to think otherwise, even after policy is cited. This “kick the can and pass the buck” response seems to permeate every VA DOC prison, but even more so Dillwyn.
Dillwyn, being a lower security prison, should be erupting with perks and privileges for these captives who have shown good behavior. If the goal is to help reacclimate captives to the real world while simultaneously getting them out of the total illusion and fantasy land of “prison think,” this would be simple logic. The exact opposite seems to be happening at DWCC, where re-enforcing the prison mindset is part of the unwritten doctrine. High-security controlled movement; very few programs or programs that are the same old well-documented failures of the VA DOC; prison uniforms a must; no better jobs with better pay; less emphasis on social engagement, and so on. DWCC seems to be another example of a deliberate and concerted effort to create and cause scenarios to keep captives longer. The total opposite of “corrections.”
We are also finding the exact same routine where medical and mental-health offices maintain an attitude of “ignore all problems.” This is a frightening irony, given just how extensive the number of problems caused by the VA DOC is. As an example is my father long list of still-untreated medical problems, which include my hands, both of which require surgery. This is noted in my medical record, but, as of yet, the medical staff at DWCC have made no effort to address the issue. They won’t make any effort, either, until I start pushing complaints and have outside advocates calling the prison asking questions. This is, again, par for the course, but even more so it is both deliberate indifference and medical malpractice.
And it gets worse than this. Dillwyn does not provide any advance notice of a captive’s scheduled appointment for a sick call. It is entirely possible to simply miss it over something as simple as going outside for recreation, as I myself have discovered. This is blamed directly on the captive who, having had no foreknowledge of the date and time of the appointment because of not being informed, may have gone outside, or to school , or work, or to pick up his commissary, etc., etc. Meanwhile, the prison staff only announce the call in the pod, so, if you are elsewhere, oh well you will miss your appointment, that you didn’t know you had, and it is considered to be entirely your own fault.
This becomes extra-problematic where mental health is of concern. As an example, I have documented my rather extensive and often unstable state of mental-health issues. Going outside and briskly walking has become as important to my mental well-being as writing has. As I am writing this essay I am in fact also waiting for the dentist to all me over to pull a tooth that has rotted and broken in my mouth, dating back to June of 2022, documented on my record. I had to file complaints just to get in to see the dentist, who claimed I had already missed four appointments, which no one had informed me of. Last Wednesday, a 7-day antibiotic regimen ended, a precursor to having the tooth pulled. That was 6 days ago today. I have deliberately stayed inside, expecting the dentist to call me over after 3 days or so—as proper protocol would dictate—so that 18 months of pain and miserable suffering will come to an end tooth removed. Six days later, not a peep from the dentist.
The anxiety is not healthy for me and it is slowly killing me. The tooth is as much a medical concern as a dental one, interfering with my eating and sleeping, as well as being prone to infection. The anxiety is not the only mental-health concern, as my basic right to humane treatment, promptly, is summarily—and outrageously—ignored. I k now I have rights. The fact that I am wrongfully convicted, proven unequivocally with the state’s own documents, only serves to re-enforce those rights. Yet somehow, in the United States, this criminally rogue organization that has direct ties to human trafficking and slavery, is allowed to usurp those rights….People have been hanged for lesser treasonous offenses.
Everything about the treatment I am receiving is unacceptable. More to the point it provides the right, natural and proper, to secure my life and safety by any means necessary, no matter what acts are required. Self-defense simply cannot be understated, nor can it be ignored. That, by extension, should include acts by family and friends as equally permissible and as bound by a decent sense of honor. Yet we allow this insanity—and flagrant tyranny—to continue unhindered and unchallenged.
Perhaps my state of being has been pushed onto the wrong side of the crazy line. Seven years of torture and abuse—and counting—due strictly to the lies of Virginians and the proven wrongful conviction will have that effect. That being what it is, I am forced—as many Americans are more and more finding themselves to be—to openly declare the desperate and immediate need for armed and open rebellion, as well as the immediate rounding up of all those who choose to oppress their fellow citizens. Anyone, anyone, choosing to willingly participate in this depravity is an enemy of every other citizen, especially those who are being held captie by an illegitimate system.
Rise up and strike out. They are coming for you next.
David Annarelli
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David Annarelli 1853637
Dillwyn Correctional
1522 Prison Road
Dillwyn, VA 23936
Mongoose Distro 