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Tag: VADOC

Man Killed in Keen Mountain Correctional Center
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Man Killed in Keen Mountain Correctional Center

On Thursday, April 9, a man was killed at Keen Mountain Correctional Center in Oakwood, Virginia. According to the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC), the victim appears to have been attacked by another inmate during an early‑morning incident. Corrections staff reportedly attempted life‑saving measures until first responders arrived. VADOC’s Office of Law Enforcement Services (OLES) has opened an investigation into the incident. Police-Grade Pepper Spray | Belt Clip Included Officials emphasized that this was an isolated event. The facility remained secure, and there was no ongoing threat to staff or other inmates following the alleged attack. Keen Mountain Correctional Center is a Level IV maximum‑security facility with an additional 200‑bed Level II minimum‑securi...
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VADOC Preparing to Roll Out Inmate Tablet Program at Facilities Statewide
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VADOC Preparing to Roll Out Inmate Tablet Program at Facilities Statewide

The Virginia Department of Corrections has launched a pilot program providing inmate tablets at Baskerville Correctional Center, Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, Green Rock Correctional Center, and Lawrenceville Correctional Center. Heavy Duty Steering Wheel Lock | Adjustable | Highly Visible The tablets offer telephone capabilities, streaming music and movies, games, and secure messaging, according to Joseph Walters, the new VADOC director appointed under the Spanberger administration. Walters said the rollout marks an important step in the department’s commitment to improving inmate services through modern technology and infrastructure. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with vendors ViaPath and Abilis. The pilot program is expected to run for several m...
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More Arrests in $1.1 Million Drug Smuggling Case at Virginia Women’s Prison
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More Arrests in $1.1 Million Drug Smuggling Case at Virginia Women’s Prison

As previously reported, this fall VADOC announced a list of arrests and charges linked to a $1.1 million drug smuggling investigation at Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Goochland. Now, VADOC has announced a second round of charges. WATCH: Follow the Watchful Eye on X , Facebook, Instagram, Rumble & YouTubeto keep up with what's happening in Virginia
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Man Arrested for Armed Threats at Central VA Prison
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Man Arrested for Armed Threats at Central VA Prison

A Chase City man is being held without bond after allegedly making armed threats at Baskerville Correctional Center, a rural state prison for men. According to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded shortly after midnight on Friday, November 28, to reports of a man with a gun trespassing in the parking lot of the facility. Charge All Your Devices at Once: 5-in-1 Fast Charging Station w/ Wireless Charging Upon arrival, deputies encountered Donovan Simpson, who was armed with a handgun and reportedly making threats of “suicide by cop.” Entrance to Baskerville Correctional Center View of Baskerville Correctional Center for a side road Deputy Carroll initiated crisis-negotiation techniques while Deputies Towery and Aston provided support. Within minutes, ...
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2 Killed in Virginia Prisons Within Days, Union Points to Staffing Shortages
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2 Killed in Virginia Prisons Within Days, Union Points to Staffing Shortages

Two people were killed in Virginia prisons in less than a week, and the local National Coalition of Public Safety Officers (NCPSO-VA) is pointing to years-long staffing shortages. Correctional Officer Killed On November 17, at River North Correctional Center, just before 8 a.m., inmate John Holomon Russell allegedly attacked Jeremy Hall, a 40-year-old corrections officer who later died at the hospital. VADOC described the incident as “a vicious attack,” though no details have been released about how Hall was killed. Police Grade Pepper Spray | Belt Clip Included VADOC Corrections Officer Jeremy Hall VADOC Director Chad Dodson said Hall, who joined the department in April 2024, was assigned to protect nurses distributing medication and that’s what he did. “More people woul...
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6 Arrested in $1 Million Smuggling Case at Virginia Women’s Prison
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6 Arrested in $1 Million Smuggling Case at Virginia Women’s Prison

Six people, including a former VADOC employee, were arrested for attempting smuggle about $1.1 million worth of drugs (prison value) into Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Goochland, VADOC announced. The department’s Office of Law Enforcement Services (OLES) made the arrests after a months-long investigation followed by grand jury indictments, said VADOC. Charge All Your Devices at Once: 5-in-1 Fast Charging Station w/ Wireless Charging Tara Hedges Catona, of Glen Allen (Current Probationer) was charged with conspiracy to deliver narcotics to prisoner. Brittany Louise Decarli, of Portsmouth (Current Probationer) was charged with 2 counts of attempting to deliver narcotics to prisoner. April Parrott, of Gordonsville (Former VADOC Corrections Sergeant) was charged...
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Virginia AG Miyares Pushing for Cell Phone Jamming in Prisons Again
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Virginia AG Miyares Pushing for Cell Phone Jamming in Prisons Again

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares is once again part of a push to authorize cell phone jamming in prisons. In January 2023, Miyares joined a group of attorneys general from across the U.S. in urging Congress to pass legislation that would allow states to jam contraband cell phones—calling inmate use of these devices one of the most serious challenges facing prison administrators and urging lawmakers to act “quickly.” Charge All Your Devices at Once: 5-in-1 Fast Charging Station w/ Wireless Charging That effort highlighted how smuggled phones facilitate drug trafficking, gang coordination, and assaults. However, legislative momentum stalled amid concerns over signal interference and jurisdictional complications. Now, two and a half years later, Miyares has aligned with a n...
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66 charges returned against gang members in Wallens Ridge prison attack
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66 charges returned against gang members in Wallens Ridge prison attack

Authorities have released the names and the 66 felony charges filed against the six inmates accused in the May 2 attack on corrections officers at Wallens Ridge State Prison, a high security facility in Big Stone Gap.  The inmates— five of them allegedly members of MS-13 and one a member of Sureño 13—were already serving sentences for violent crimes when they reportedly launched a coordinated assault where two officers were stabbed. Norton 360 Deluxe for 5 Devices |Advanced AI Scam Protection | VPN & Dark Web Monitoring A grand jury recently indicted all six. The breakdown of charges is as follows: Jeremiah Larenz Mouzon, age 26 Attempted Aggravated Murder (3 counts) Malicious Wounding by Mob (3 counts) Gang Participation Bodily Injury by Prisoner (3 counts) ...
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Final 2 Officers Injured in Wallens Ridge Prison Stabbing Released from Hospital
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Final 2 Officers Injured in Wallens Ridge Prison Stabbing Released from Hospital

Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) announced the release of the final two correctional officers hospitalized following a brutal stabbing incident at Wallens Ridge State Prison. The violent assault, described by officials as "apparently premeditated," unfolded around 9:45 a.m. on Friday, May 2nd. A total of five VADOC officers were transported for outside medical treatment. Three officers were treated and released later that same day. Two of those sustained only minor injuries while responding to the attack, according to VADOC. PHOENIX Police-Grade Pepper Spray | Belt Clip Included The two officers admitted to the hospital were reportedly in stable condition at that time and have now been cleared to return home. VADOC Director Chad Dotson expressed the agenc...
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Narcotics seized after correctional officer admits smuggling drugs into Virginia prison
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Narcotics seized after correctional officer admits smuggling drugs into Virginia prison

“Is a short-term gain worth potential time in prison? Consider that before you try to bring your poison into our secure facilities,” VADOC Director Chad Dotson said amid the announcement that narcotics were seized from the home of a former correctional officers. According to VA Dept. of Corrections, on April 11, Raekwon Robins, not only confessed to smuggling drugs into Pocahontas State Correctional Center where he worked as a correctional officer, but he confirmed that he planned to smuggle more in the near future. HOLEWAR GUN CASE | Biometric – Pass code – Keyed entry | Portable for car / bedside/ backpack A search warrant was obtained and executed on the 29-year-old's residence, and VADOC said a handgun, $1,000, and narcotics worth over $150,000 "in prison value" was seized. ...
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