Stories


Below you will find stories of people affected by civil commitment:

If you would like to share your story, please contact us.  We will keep your information anonymous if you'd prefer.

Human Rights Violations

  • they took my unopened mail and never returned it to the sender
  • they read my mail when I was not present
  • they've retaliated against me for not speaking with criminal investigators employed by VCBR
  • they continued to try to question me without my lawyer present
  • they've reported and written infractions from up to 2 months prior
  • I have no preference or choice in my housing standards
  • they pressed charges against me and found me guilty, but waited 7-8 months to take me in for my violation after I was doing well in treatment. When I returned I started treatment from the beginning
  • they've cancelled my visitation
  • they've taken property and not returned it
  • they've knowingly violated confidentiality
  • they listen to my phone calls
  • they stereotype me
  • they've tried to stop me from practicing religion

Anonymous

Conditional Release Struggles 

March, 2019

One of Adam's friends, a former resident of VCBR, contacted me. He is having a very hard time living on "the outside." He told me issues that reminded me of a story I believe I heard on a phone conference of Virginia parole officers being ordered to round up released offenders for "parole violations." Adam's friend, John feels that he has been "set up to fail," (his words). He feels that while he's doing all his parole requirements, he is being set up with things to violate him and re-incarcerate him. I do not know what town he lives in but it is in Virginia.

Secondly, the security chief of VCBR told me on the phone that residents are not allowed to communicate with ex-residents. This happens all the time via phone and mail. For instance, Adam has been in touch with a few discharged residents in the past and never received an observation note or been reprimanded ever before. So within a 48 hour time span of my call, two ex-residents whom Adam has stayed in touch with, including the above John, were contacted or visited by their POs about this issue. Adam spoke to his therapist today and she knows of no such rule.

It is beyond coincidence that Adam and the two ex-residents he communicates with were all suddenly investigated about the same topic.

*names have been changed

**we contacted VCBR and there is no rule that disallows former residents from communicating with current residents. A trusted therapist at VCBR told Adam that those rules must have been "made up" by the POs and oftentimes former residents are part of the support team for current residents so communication is encouraged. Apparently, the security chief at VCBR has "made up" rules on more than one occasion.

Why bother getting out?

VCBR gives residents conditional release and then brings them back for little or no reason, for minor charges, like not being able to pay rent or for drinking a beer.

Dr. Dennis is doing all he can to keep many of us here. He lies and falsifies data to confuse and manipulate the courts.

The psychologist who sent a lot of us here from Sussex I is Rex Miller.

Anonymous

Charge or no charge

No distinction is made whether a man is sent back for a technical probation violation or for a new charge. I had a technical violation. In prison every year I had to explain this to the counselor in order to keep my security level down. My probation violation time was to be counted as a "new" offense.

Anonymous

Haven't I received enough punishment?
January 10, 2019

I want my name to be used with this story so that people can know that we in VCBR are humans and have unbelievable stories to tell. I came to VCBR from prison where I lived for 45 years. When I was 15, I raped a school teacher. I was given a sentence of life for that crime. I went before the parole board 32 times before they decided to give me parole. They did this in June 2017. They told me in March 2018 that I had made it. Before I was released, the DOC told me that I would be committed to VCBR. I refused to be evaluated by Dr. Rex Miller unless I had my attorney with me. The attorney advised me not to talk to Dr. Miller. I asked the attorney if I could beat Civil Commitment in court. He said I couldn't.

I agreed to come to VCBR because I was being held at Red Onion State Prison and didn't want to stay there for 2-3 years more awaiting a trip to VCBR then. On October 3, 2018 the parole board said it was going to rehear my case because I had agreed to come to VCBR instead of fighting Civil Commitment. They would possibly take my parole away and return me to prison for the rest of my life.

I feel it is wrong to bring me to VCBR after 45 years in prison. In prison I worked around women the entire time and had no type of sexual acting out toward any woman. Since being here, I went almost 3 months with no shoes because they had none that fit me. My health has deteriorated here also.

Robert Saunders

The system here is rigged
January 15, 2019

I am a resident at VCBR. I have been here since November, 2009. I was arrested in 1999 and supposedly released from DOC in 2008. BUT..I was held at Sussex I State Prison waiting to enter civil commitment at VCBR.
I have been to court many times, first waiting to be committed and then every year since being committed fighting for my release. I am now dealing with my second court appointed lawyer.
I have witnessed so many things here at VCBR that are biased, unfair and possibly illegal and unconstitutional. We are sex offenders, released from prison, yet still incarcerated as inmates, hidden from the public's view.
The community does not care or know. We are truly being treated as prisoners of war. The residents here only want fair treatment and a chance to earn our freedom. BUT....this system is rigged. VCBR finds ways and reasons to keep us here. For the lucky ones that are released, the system finds a way to drag them right back here. Where is the justice?

Dave

My fight for release
December 14, 2018

I have been at VCBR for over 7 years. I made Phase 3 in 2012 with a recommendation for discharge. However, for some reason, I was put on phase probation. False information was put in my record. In 2014, I was demoted again to Phase 2 because I complained about clinical misconduct. In 2017, I was once again in Phase 3 with a recommendation for discharge. However, a new therapist joined our group besides the then current one. These 2 therapists undid all the accomplishments I made with my previous therapist who left.

I complained about Ms. G. making fun of me in group due to my being sick. Even though I did the phase assignments, they wouldn't let me present them, telling me I could during winter quarter 2018. On Jan. 8, 2018, I read my progress report and they had demoted me back to Phase 2, saying that my assignments were not good enough and that I didn't deserve any extra time to redo them. Every quarter they put me on phase probation, most likely because I have filed complaints about the incidents.

The therapists call me names, encourage other group members to call me names, yell at me, frown at me, roll their eyes at me. When I raise my hand, I am ignored. They put false information in my treatment record. All other therapists give me a good review , but these 2, Ms. G and Mr. K put negative things in my record which are false. Recently Ms G. lied to have me removed from group, accusing me of interfering with therapy. She has told other residents to say that I stalk her in the halls. It is untrue but goes in my record. No camera footage supported the claim against me.

I reported that Ms. G played favorites and exhibits inappropriate behavior between her and a resident. She is taking revenge for that. One of the members of my group is a bully who is allowed to do or say what he wants to other group members because Ms. G never criticizes him or brings a charge. Ms. G. often visits this resident alone in the living unit. The facility sweeps under the rug romantic relationships between staff and residents. I can name 4 staff members who have been caught recently in a relationship with a resident.

Staff bring in contraband, mostly cigarettes and drugs. Most of the therapists are not licensed or certified. Ms. G isn't. She is called a "Resident in counseling." Money given to the facility for the residents' needs is used for other purposes. Vehicles were purchased for staff while the ceilings have holes and leak, the showers have mold, and the residents are double-bunked in single rooms. Those in wheelchairs get no help moving around. I don't get my medication on time. I have gone for days without it. Sometimes they give me medicine belonging to someone else. If I had refused, I would have been penalized. Most of the qualified therapists have left so now there is no good treatment going on. Professionalism is lacking. Trash cans are right beside our eating tables in the dining room.

The bottom line is that the facility is being run improperly, and there is a lot of mistreatment that is not being dealt with.

Clem

Thoughts from VCBR
December 1, 2018

Some days I feel like I am walking on eggshells, 3 feet thick! We are definitely "under the microscope" 24/7. Often I view the treatment process as being a brain-washing pattern where they want to lay you down, cut you open, scrape everything that's inside out. They want to put back in what they want to be there. I fight mentally to retain "me", my identity, my personality. Worst of all (for me), is that many parts of treatment go against my walk with God , opposite to the Scriptures and contrary to the way I was raised, that is taught at home and church. It's a challenge. I stay in prayer 24/7. I try to stay focused. There are so many hurdles to try to get over.

Reg

Restrictions on religious rights
December 1, 2018

We are two Christian young men at VCBR. One day we asked the religious volunteer if he could add communion to our worship/fellowship services. The volunteer checked with the administration, saying that he could bring everything in himself with no cost to the facility. The administration gave the two of us greater restrictions because we are not supposed to ask a volunteer for anything. One of us was given 30 days and one 60 days restriction of not attending Bible study or church services. When we complained, we were told that we could worship by ourselves. (The Catholic service does have communion.) The volunteer was told that he would have to wait to do communion until the new facility is built. That will be in about 18 months. A reply from administration to our request to remove the restrictions, "Directly petitioning for services from an approved volunteer may create a threat to the secure operations of the facility and is prohibited."

Reg and Bob

Punishment or Treatment?
December 1, 2018

I wanted to join with several other men to make a special meal using what we had from commissary. We had done this before. One particular day, an "investigator" came along and said that this process was against the rules. The investigator wrote us up. I was put back 9 months in my treatment program. That is certainly punishment. They call it treatment because the men are not allowed to share, give, barter, or trade anything, even to help another, just like in prisons.

Greg and Bob

Total visual control
December 1, 2018

Cameras roll all over the facility. As I was talking to a friend on the phone, I could see 6 cameras from where I stood. Employees walk around writing down any little thing they can find which can be categorized as against the rules and write the infractions in our files.

Greg

Efforts to bring about changes rebuffed
December 1, 2018

In July, I sent to a state legislator a list of conditions in the facility which were less than acceptable. This resulted in a return letter to the facilities manager at VCBR by the delegate. The facilities manager (warden) then wrote to me. He rebuffed all of my statements as incorrect. I noted that there was no AC in rooms, black mold was growing in the showers, massive amounts of food were going in the trash, guards were using metal handcuffs and orange suits (like in prison) when the residents are taken off the campus, and we have restricted physical activity/ lack of outdoor recreation (due to under staffing).

Reg

Canceled performances
December 1, 2018

I wrote a very successful play. We held two performances. Everyone loved it. Soon after, I wrote another one and gathered together about 40 men to participate. Some of these men were those who needed serious treatment. They were so excited to be in the play. The administration found that our prop man had made cardboard guns to use in the play and shut down the whole endeavor, disappointing many residents.

Reg

Marking time
December 1, 2018

I have been at VCBR for 4-5 years. At this point I am still in Phase 1. I have learning disabilities in writing and reading and haven't been able to do all the work for the classes. I got a tutor myself recently. Another reason I am not progressing is because I shared food with another resident and was put back in my treatment. This usually is for many months.

Anonymous

Guilty but innocent
December 1, 2018

I had surgery and was on pain medication. It was finished. I had no more. Staff said I gave the rest to another person. I did not. I was made to retake a class because of an infraction.

Bill

Physical abuse
December 1, 2018

A guard at VBCBR verbally abused me. I brought the incident to the notice of the administration. It was under investigation according to a written document which I received from the Director's office. While a case is being investigated, the 2 parties are not to communicate at all. The officer named in the accusation came to search my room. I told him he shouldn't be there. When the guard noticed me leaning against the door frame as he talked, the group of officers "took me down." I was put in isolation for a week and incurred a very serious finger infection which the doctor said couldn't have occurred just from banging it against the room's lock (as the guards said.) I was told there was no investigation. However, my fiancé, had a copy of the document and faxed her copy back to VCBR to show proof.

Anonymous

Shackled and humiliated
December 1, 2018

I am taken to VCU Medical Center often for treatment. As a resident of a treatment facility, not an inmate in a prison, I should not have to wear a jumpsuit and wrist and leg shackles. Yet I must do this each time I go to the hospital. I am also not supposed to be within sight and sound of inmates from the department of Corrections who are held in a "holding cell" before their appointments. I am usually within sight and sound of them.

Jay

Watched all the time
December 1, 2018

A monitor sits at a table in each pod at VCBR watching us and trying to catch us in a violation of any kind.

We at VCBR are about to get new ID cards which will have a GPS chip so that the administration can keep track of us at all times.

Reg


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