On any given day, 80,000-100,000 people are held in Solitary Confinement units in jails and prisons throughout the United States, usually as punishment for some type of infraction – often for infractions as minor as possession of too many postage stamps. People of color are disproportionately subjected to isolation, as are those with mental health needs. The length of time in solitary ranges from a few days to decades. People who’ve been held in solitary have likened it to being buried alive. In 2011, the United Nations declared that Solitary Confinement beyond 15 days constitutes torture. We, the undersigned Helping & Health professionals, question the ethics of health worker participation in the practice of Solitary Confinement. In particular, mental health professionals play a vital role in this practice, as they are routinely called upon to assess the mental status of those held in solitary, to provide psychiatric medication, and to advise correctional personnel as to those at high risk for suicide. Ironically, solitary confinement itself creates and exacerbates mental disorders, yet we are forced to become enablers to this grueling punishment. We call upon the governing bodies of our professions to set mandatory standards for those assigned to these units and to denounce Solitary Confinement in its current form, as it is in direct violation of our Codes of Ethics, which call upon us to uphold the dignity and humanity of all people. For further information on “Dual Loyalty” – the conflict between professional standards & employer expectations please go to: www.socialworkersasc.org Social Workers Against Solitary Confinement

Pilot programs are being conducted in some New York prisons that require inmates to purchase books from approved vendors, and care packages are additionally restricted. Various prisons nationwide are cutting off the option of in-person visitation in favor of online visitation. Despite breaking the law, our prison population is still human. Humans require social contact. We should be opening as many avenues to personalized connection with the outside world as possible for the prison population. We should not be focusing on finances and expedience over the humane treatment of the people under the control of our justice system. Care packages and donated books should be allowed; if contraband is an issue, we should invest in airport-style security screening. In person visitation should never be withheld. We are all personally affected by how we treat those lowest on the rungs of our society.

By being a Moorish-American I can be very well taken hostage by making political alliances, and judged on my past life. I've read the case in it's entirety, this man was convicted with no evidence.

Prolonged solitary confinement is torture. There is a strong consensus among mental health professionals, supported by scientific evidence, that isolation exceeding 15 consecutive days can permanently alter brain chemistry and cause lasting damage to mental health. It often creates illness in those who were healthy before their incarceration and exacerbates illness in those who were already ill. That is why the U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners include a limit on isolated confinement of 15 consecutive days. Most people in prison will return to society one day; they should not emerge from prison worse than when they went in because of the harmful impact of solitary confinement. There is growing recognition that the use of solitary confinement needs to be reduced to an absolute minimum. Several other states have passed legislation that either drastically restricts solitary confinement in state prisons or requires a comprehensive study of potential reforms. Virginia should join the states that are leading the way to reducing the use of isolated confinement to a bare minimum. Although Virginia has reduced the number of men in long-term solitary confinement at Red Onion and Wallens Ridge through its Step-Down Program, serious problems remain unsolved by that program: • Solitary confinement is not being used strictly as a last resort. • Too many people with mental illness and other disabling conditions remain in solitary confinement even though that is virtually certain to exacerbate their underlying conditions. • Prisoners are not given written reasons when they are placed in solitary confinement and have no certainty about how long it will last. • Prisoners do not have unimpeded access to an effective mechanism for challenging their placement or retention in solitary confinement. • There is very little communication with prisoners about why they fail to advance or experience setbacks within the Step-Down Program, or why it takes so long to complete the program. • Even though VDOC operating procedures limit “disciplinary segregation” to 30 days, prisoners are sometimes kept in solitary confinement for much longer periods after receiving disciplinary charges. HB 795 addresses these problems with the following provisions: • Defines “isolated confinement” as confinement of an individual to his or her cell for more than 20 hours a day • With certain exceptions, bars isolated confinement of members of a vulnerable population (including those with mental illness and certain other conditions) and limits isolated confinement of others to 15 consecutive days, or no more than 20 days in any 60-day period • Requires written notification to the individual of the reasons for his or her placement in isolated confinement and a process by which the placement can be contested • Requires certain training for Department of Corrections personnel, including regarding recognition of symptoms of mental illness and the impact of prolonged isolation on mental health • Requires reporting to the General Assembly by the Department of Corrections of certain categories of data about those in isolated confinement • Requires a study of mental health needs and services in state prisons The full text of the bill is available at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?181+ful+HB795.

I'm starting this petition because I know the people of Georgia and the people of the nation are fed up with marijuana being treated like it's some kind of danger. It has countless medical, physical, mental, and economic benefits and there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to reap those benefits in this state or this nation. Marijuana is safe and effective, it would but a huge dent in the opioid crisis and help with the deficit. Its safer than many prescription drugs and certainly safer than alcohol which many turn to, if tobacco and alcohol are legal, then why not weed too?

Adult citizens of Arkansas should have access to buy, sell, possess, and or grow not only this wonderful preventative medicinal herb, but to utilize all the benefits of hemp without threat to their lives from this overreaching government.

Pennsylvania would benefit greatly! The tax revenue and jobs that it would create would be enormous, not to mention the fact that marijuana is significantly less harmful then alcohol and cigarettes, both of which are perfect legal for adults, yet the government tells us that marijuana is a harmful drug. Smoking and drinking has killed countless people every year. Marijuana has never killed anyone. Stop telling us what is good for us and prove to us that your pockets are not being filled by big alcohol or the tobacco industry.

An Innocent man has been in prison for approximately 21 years and is being denied a hearing despite new evidence that can most certainly free him. This is not only unjust to him, but to the victims and victims family members. Grant him a hearing or free him.

Ms Hill and many others are still being held without bail and no court dates for a violation of probation on speeding tickets. Other violent and career criminal on parole or probation are released or given bail reviews, but not non-violent traffic offenders. This must stop!

We shouldn't be confined to abiding by out of date laws enforced by personal opinions of those that have no knowledge of its oppression and we must change for the better of the people

I have seen it’s medical use benefits work wonders, and I have also seen the revenue it brings in for the states that have legalized recreational use. I believe people will gravitate toward marijuana more if it’s not only for medicinal use but recreational as well rather than looking to the heavier substances and opioids they’re currently using to get their high. It’s an all around win for this state, if passed revenue will increase and overdose will decrease significantly

I personally believe legalizing marijuana has been long overdue. It is only beneficial to this Country as a whole. It includes no health risk factors, it will boost our economy, it is something that needs to be done.