The only kiosk in C-1 housing unit at Red Onion State Prison is down—cutting off tablet charging access for many incarcerated people. This means no e-mail with family and advocates and journalists, and no digital education access for those without cell outlets. The outage comes amid a deepening human rights crisis inside Red Onion: multiple confirmed self-immolations, frequent & repeated hunger strikes, racial and sexual harrassment, retaliatory solitary confinement and transfers, and rampant medical neglect.

Communication access isn’t a luxury—it’s a constitutional right and a lifeline during abuse. VADOC’s own contract with JPay/Aventiv requires kiosk repairs within 72 hours. That time has passed. In the middle of a statewide prison abuse scandal, this outage looks less like an accident—and more like suppression.

We must demand that the Virginia Department of Corrections restore access, uphold its own policies, and stop disappearing the voices of people inside. If we don’t act, the silence will spread.