PETITION TO ADDRESS CONDITIONS AT THE ACCOMACK COUNTY JAIL

DEMAND SAFE, SANITARY & PROPERLY MAINTAINED CONDITIONS AT THE ACCOMACK COUNTY JAIL

🚨 THE TIME TO SPEAK UP IS NOW

SAFE. SANITARY. HUMANE. ACCOUNTABLE.

To the Accomack County Board of Supervisors

Accomack County must take responsibility for the CONDITION, MAINTENANCE, FUNDING, AND LONG-TERM FUTURE of the county-owned jail building.

We, the undersigned residents and taxpayers of Accomack County, call upon the ACCOMACK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS to ensure that the Accomack County Jail is PROPERLY MAINTAINED and does not present UNREASONABLE HEALTH OR SAFETY RISKS to the people housed, employed, or visiting there.

Although the Sheriff's Office operates the jail DAY TO DAY, the CONDITION, FUNDING, MAINTENANCE, AND LONG-TERM PLANNING of a county-owned facility require the attention and RESPONSIBLE OVERSIGHT OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

Concerns have been raised regarding EXTREME SUMMER HEAT, the ABSENCE OF REGULARLY RECORDED INDOOR TEMPERATURES, SEWER BACKUPS, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, and CHIPPED OR PEELING PAINT in portions of this aging facility.

EXTREME HEAT IS THE MOST URGENT CONCERN.

Virginia regulation 6VAC15-40-1160 requires air conditioning or mechanical ventilation, such as electric fans, when indoor temperatures exceed 85°F.

If temperatures are not regularly MEASURED AND DOCUMENTED, there is no reliable way to determine when that threshold has been crossed or whether the response is sufficient.

FANS CAN MOVE AIR, BUT THEY DO NOT NECESSARILY REDUCE THE TEMPERATURE inside an older concrete building.

The standard for maintaining a SAFE PUBLIC BUILDING should not change because of the population housed inside it.

These conditions affect CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, VISITORS, AND INCARCERATED PEOPLE, including many who are AWAITING TRIAL AND HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME.

WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD:

1. CONDUCT OR COMMISSION A COMPREHENSIVE, INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT of the jail's physical condition, including its COOLING, VENTILATION, PLUMBING, WASTEWATER, ELECTRICAL, AND PAINT SYSTEMS.

2. REQUIRE INDOOR TEMPERATURES TO BE REGULARLY MEASURED, DOCUMENTED, AND REVIEWED in every occupied housing area during periods of hot weather.

3. PROVIDE EFFECTIVE TEMPORARY COOLING wherever fans and ordinary ventilation cannot maintain REASONABLY SAFE INDOOR CONDITIONS.

4. RECEIVE AND PUBLICLY DISCUSS A WRITTEN REPORT identifying the jail's CURRENT CONDITION, RECENT REPAIRS, UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS, IMMEDIATE NEEDS, ESTIMATED COSTS, AND RESPONSIBLE PARTIES.

5. PLACE THE CONDITION AND LONG-TERM FUTURE OF THE JAIL ON A PUBLIC WORK-SESSION AGENDA and develop a CORRECTIVE-ACTION PLAN WITH A REASONABLE TIMELINE.

6. PUBLICLY COMPARE THE SAFETY AND FINANCIAL IMPACT of continuing to operate the existing jail with RENOVATION, REPLACEMENT, REGIONAL COOPERATION, OR OTHER LONG-TERM OPTIONS.

ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT AGGRESSION. CONCERN IS NOT AN ATTACK.

Expecting the county to properly maintain its facilities does not excuse criminal behavior or minimize accountability — it simply reflects a shared standard:

EVERY CITIZEN, WHETHER INCARCERATED, EMPLOYED, OR IN LEADERSHIP, DESERVES A COMMUNITY THAT TAKES CARE OF ITS OWN.

We are NOT OPPOSED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT — we are asking elected officials to fulfill their PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES, which is CIVIC PARTICIPATION.

By signing this petition, we ask the ACCOMACK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS to address these concerns OPENLY, RESPONSIBLY, AND WITHOUT UNNECESSARY DELAY.

RECOGNIZING NICOLE SHRIEVES — AND GIVING A VOICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

Nicole Shrieves deserves recognition for bringing these concerns forward.

I, Shannan Connon, am helping Nicole Shrieves bring these concerns forward because I believe they deserve to be heard and taken seriously.

This petition is NOT ABOUT TAKING CREDIT AWAY FROM NICOLE.

It is about helping make sure NICOLE'S VOICE IS HEARD, ALONG WITH THE VOICES OF ACCOMACK COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HAD A LOVED ONE INCARCERATED OR WHO HAVE A LOVED ONE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED.

Nicole raised these concerns. I am helping her bring them forward so that these concerns can receive the attention they deserve.

If you have ever had a loved one incarcerated in Accomack County, or currently have a loved one there, YOUR VOICE MATTERS TOO.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS

You do not have to be personally affected by these conditions to believe that people deserve SAFE, SANITARY, AND HUMANE CONDITIONS.

If you believe these concerns deserve attention:

SIGN THIS PETITION.

SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.

HELP US MAKE SURE THESE CONCERNS ARE HEARD.

SAFE CONDITIONS.

PROPER MAINTENANCE.

ADEQUATE FUNDING.

RESPONSIBLE OVERSIGHT.

ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT'S TIME FOR ACCOMACK COUNTY TO TAKE THESE CONCERNS SERIOUSLY.

PETITION ORGANIZER

NICOLE SHRIEVES, ACCOMACK COUNTY RESIDENT

I, SHANNAN CONNON, AM HELPING NICOLE SHREVES BRING THESE CONCERNS FORWARD SO THAT HER VOICE, ALONG WITH THE VOICES OF ACCOMACK COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HAD A LOVED ONE INCARCERATED OR WHO HAVE A LOVED ONE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED, CAN BE HEARD.

By signing below, I confirm that I am a RESIDENT AND/OR TAXPAYER OF ACCOMACK COUNTY and that I support the requests stated above.

SIGNATURES MAY BE PRESENTED TO THE ACCOMACK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC RECORD.