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I oppose all these unconstitutional, dangerous, and pointless laws.

A 2023 report based on reviewing public-records requests, court documents, medical records and interviews with dozens of bite victims identified 295 incidents of attack-trained dogs biting incarcerated people over the six years from 2017-2022. Most of those attacks (92 percent) – 271 attacks –were in Virginia! This is barbaric. Virginia, we MUST and can do Better! Please vote YES for HB159.

As a concerned citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia, canine use in a law enforcement or correctional setting is a valuable tool in protecting public public safety and the safety of the officers and inmates in the department of corrections. Our law enforcement and Corrections officers already work in a very dangerous environment. With the elimination of canines will ultimately lead to more staff and inmate assaults due to their current effectiveness of being a good deterrent by their presence alone. I am one hundred percent against this bill due to these reasons. Canines are the only things protecting the officers, staff, inmates and the public. The use of patrol canines is much needed in the correctional facilities that houses the most violent inmates in the state, such as levels 4, 5 and super max prisons and by taking those away you are putting the corrections officers, staff and other inmates in more dangerous and life threatening situations as well as law enforcement. Think of the publics safety and how just having canine in the area helps control the situations, without canines there will be chaos, there will be an increase of violence, there will be extreme staff shortages all across the state worse than it is now, just by having them present protects everyone. This bill must be stopped.

To vote yes on this bill would be terrible. From a citizen standpoint, it would be a huge jeopardy in public safety at every capacity if canines were removed.

The use of canines in prisons is rooted in our racist history, especially here in Virginia. Canines are trained to cause harm, and here in Virginia we have the highest rate of attacks and injuries caused by canine use in prisons. Canines have also caused physical harm to correction officers as well bc they don't always know who to attack. There are correction officers who are just as afraid of the canines as the inmates. K9 handlers, whether in a prison or on the streets, know how to trigger their dogs to attack and cause false positives in the instance of contraband searches. There have been many documented cases here in Virginia of inmates being permanently harmed physically, mentally, and emotionally. Virginia has been sued by over a dozen inmates bc of K9 attacks in prisons, and VA has even settled some of the cases. Reading the comments it's easy to tell they are written overwhelmingly by correction officers. No matter what someone is sent to prison for, we know they usually come out much worse than they went in. The fact prisons create a constant environment of fear and psychological harm, is one of the reasons prisons cause much more societal harm than good. We don't need K9s in prisons, especially not in juvenile facilities. We do need our correction officers to have much better training, higher levels of education, access to mental health resources, and better pay. No, I have never been to jail or prison, neither has anyone in my immediate family. I do however work in the juvenile justice space, and I care. I do have family who works to help provide mental health care in one of our correctional facilities here in VA and the way the correction officers treat the inmates is shameful and just wrong. K9s should not be used to "maintain order". It is wrong and cruel. I strongly urge the passing of HB159.

Good afternoon, This matter pertains to canines in the department of corrections. I understand many want to take it out, but also, let me make it aware of how dangerous the environment is and can be. These inmates threaten staff daily. Weapons are found almost daily. The safety and security of staff as well as other inmates IS crucial. The incident reports written and the charges against inmates due to the behavior and actions should suffice enough evidence to show the danger if anyone should look into it, if anyone has. Many times, canine has responded and stopped staff assaults, as well as other inmates fighting, and or groups of inmates fighting. The things the daily correctional officer observes, sees, and endures daily is not of the normal task one can take on. Anyone can act a part when needed. The inmates are good to portray one aspect when certain individuals are around, but when officers are there doing their jobs, it is a different mindset for inmates. Canines are there to protect and serve, the same as canines in outside law enforcement. There is no deviation. In this case, correctional officers are dealing with the worse type of individual with antisocial type personalities. If canines are taken away, I will guarantee you there will be major disturbances(riots) among inmates, a much high staff shortage, and a higher level of staff assaults and assaults on other inmates. These dogs are the greatest deterrent for inside VADOC. I'm not sure the mission on taking out canine, it is a major mistake and a greater chance of lives being at stake. I think reassessing this decision is a must and to be looked further into. Thank you for your time.

The use of patrol canine is needed in the facilities that house the most violent inmates in the state. They are the only thing protecting staff and inmates. Canines are the only reason there isn't more deaths or serious injuries for staff and inmates.

As a concerned citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia, canine use in a correctional or law enforcement setting is a valuable tool in protecting public safety. They protect the safety of staff and inmates in prison or jail setting, which ultimately leads to the protection of the public. Our law enforcement and corrections officers already work in a dangerous environment, and elimination of canines will ultimately lead to more staff and inmate assaults due to their current effectiveness of being a deterrent by their presence alone. I am one hundred percent against this bill due to these reasons.

This bill will have so many safety effects on the staff and officers. This should be considered along with the concerns of losing employees because the dogs are the most effective deterrent with the inmates. Please don't pass this bill.

On the matter of HB159, I whole heartedly do not support this bill. This bill, if passed will in fact be the end of higher level institutions in Virginia. The only reason the number of serious incidents as far as staff assaults or any assault for that matter has not completely turned into murders is because of the patrol canines. If this bill is passed, the Virginia department of corrections will crumble. If you think you've seen staffing issues, pass this bill and you will see a mass exodus of corrections officers. The corrections officer only guarantee of going home to their family rests solely on patrol canines. The corrections officer is not properly equipped with tools to defend themselves. A simple can of OC nor a projectile launcher does not deter an inmate if they choose to bring harm to another inmate or worse a staff member. If this bill is passed, I whole heartedly hold the founding member of this bill responsible for the repructions this will bring. Extreme staff shortages, and worse, the blood of corrections staff will be on your hands. This bill must be stopped.

HB 159 is highly inaccurate and will undermine public safety for all of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Department of Corrections (DOC) does not use "attack dogs." The K9 units are for protection and safety for staff and inmates alike. There are very highly trained handlers who will only use force if the situation amd circumstances arise. Without K9 units in the DOC, inmates will not adhere to behavior standards and will attack staff and other inmates with very little to stand in the way of stopping violence perpetrated by them. Consequences for inmates are getting lower each year and they are growing more brazen. Staff assaults are increasing. Staffing at Virginia prisons is not increasing. Passing this bill will create a public safety disaster.

Canines are needed in correctional facilities to help maintain security. They control a lot of issues with just being present. If canines weren’t in these high level institutions staff and inmates are more likely to be hurt or possibly worse. Please leave these canines in these prisons so that the staff, public , and inmate safety continues. Those individuals that think they’re not needed should come and walk around these inmates with nothing to protect them and see if they feel safe. The inmates housed in these facilities are known for misbehavior and not complying with rules and procedures or else they wouldn’t be here. Wallens Ridge and Red Onion house the worst inmates in Virginia and most don’t care who is hurt. Staff assaults as well as inmate assaults will go up if canines are removed as well as officers quitting these difficult jobs if their safety is not taken into consideration. The prison system is already having problems staffing and this will definitely not help matters. I wouldn’t want to work around these individuals without canines being present to intervene in bad situations. Things can go bad quickly in a prison and the canines are a good deterrent.

To whom it may concern, Bill HB159 should not be passed period. K-9's are a valuable asset to the correctional setting in the State of Virginia Institutions are safer, the public is safer having these K-9 Officers as a part of the institutions in the state. These animals work hard and deserve recognition, not punishment. Our prison system houses some of the most dangerous inmates in the state as well as inmates from other states and countries and to remove these K-9's is one step closer to losing the structure and discipline that crucial for inmates reform to become productive citizens, and better people. Staff members lives have been saved by these four legged hero's whom this bill is trying to punish by removing them. I ask to to vote NO on bill HB159 so that the Virginia institutions are ran safer and staff members including K-9's are not neglected and made to feel like their voices are not heard. These animals who perform the job duties have no voice and Virginians have to be the voice that recognizes what a blessing these K-9's are the the institutional operations of the Virginia prison system. Thank you, A concerned citizen.

As a sister of a previously incarcerated person, I would like to state that my brother’s life was saved by utilization of a prison K9. I am sure that most of the comments in support have come from staff members inside of the institutions but those dogs help protect and maintain order for the inmates as well. My brother was brutally attacked at an institution and has repeatedly stated that the only deterrence for the aggressor was the K9. He states the aggressor was pepper sprayed, he was shot with the gun and still continued to assault my brother. He only stopped his behavior when the K9 intervened. He has stated more than once that he really owes his life to a dog. I would hate to think what the result would have been otherwise. Let’s not take a chance in seeing someone else possibly lose a life due to not having a K9 available.

As I read the summary of HB 159 the only question that comes to mind is, how can anyone supporting HB 159 actually care about the safety of the public, employees, and those incarcerated. Patrol canines are the main deterrent for assaults. Physical altercations are commonplace in correctional settings. Watch camera footage of what stops the majority of fights. The presence of patrol canines entering a pod is enough. To those who support HB 159, Do you expect staff to physically stop fights? Risk personal injury and possibly injuring the combatants further?

Canines need to be kept in the prisons. There are not enough officers as it is on shifts to handle the mass amount of prisoners. When they get out of control, the dogs are the only thing that stops them. They will immediately stop and lay down. If you have 5 or 10 or even more in a fight with each other or worse, on an officer, it's the only way to stop the fighting. I work in a male prison and I am a female. I cant imagine not having the dogs to help. My son is an officer. He said its dangerous enough to work with serial killers, rapists, and people that are just mean and are not capable of ever living normal and if the dogs go, a lot of people will quit. Then it just makes it even more dangerous for the ones left behind. There are already prisons in VA that are run by the inmates and no one seems to care. I have family that have been made to go work a week in the northern area prisons and inmates are not charged with anything, they are let loose and even have made their way to the main door of a control room which should never happen. If dogs were used, that would never happen. Whose life is more important to you? Your officers/Sgts./Lts. or people that are capable of killing you and your family if they were on the outside? People that want the dogs taken away have never worked in or around 100s of inmates at a time. I would think most may have someone in prison they want to protect; however, if they see how they truly acted in here they may change their mind. Men that like to show their private parts to female workers/nurses and scream and curse and call people names and messages that come through threatening workers lives and their family's lives. The dogs are the only thing left that help control the mass chaos that happens in here!!!! If you dont believe it... well, you should ask for footage of fights and how the dogs control it!

If we lose the k 9 in the prisons I fear for the life's of all staff and offenders inside the prisons the k 9 are there for everyone's safety

The Virginia department of corrections number one goal is Public Safety, also the Safety of the staff members and Inmates. If the K9-units were to be taken from Virginia institutions this would dramatically jeopardize the safety of the general public, staff and inmates inside the Department. You would see an increase in assaults upon staff, an increase the severity of the assaults to staff and inmates. Patrol K-9s are the best and sometimes the only tool we have that can and will prevent minor, serious and potentially deadly assaults against staff and inmates. If they were taken away assaults will happen on a daily basis to the extent of life-threatening injuries. I also know of many employees that would seek employment elsewhere because the danger of the job would increase so much without our k-9 units.

This bill would be detrimental to the safety of inmates and employees at any SL-5 facility. These facilities house some of the most assaultive and aggressive inmates in Virginia and they are housed at these facilities for a reason, you cannot maintain a safe environment without the K-9's in these facilities.

Dear Sir or Madame. Last year in Newport News I was assaulted by a 27 year old black man from Chesapeake because of his road rage.. This was at my local bank 11;30 in the morning. This young man almost lost his life at my hand because you cannot reel in your problem young men. His words feet from me were ' im going to kick your ass and then kill you'. My pistol changed his mind. I saw for myself the woke judges and a woke system that perpetuates the problem. The criminal justice system has been flung far far left which IS causing a public safety hazzard. No new gun control is needed. More jail time for the trash that i dealt with is. My Congressman Bobby Scott and Delegate Cia Price do not represent me.

The People that wear the DOC Uniform and work behind the closed gates that deal with the individuals that society cant handle and are a threat to the general public who do this job with no weapons when the inmates have them, deal with Inmates who have nothing to loose most of which have a vendetta against law enforcement and you are wanting to take the most useful tool away from the that being the k9 and there handler. most issues that arise in the correctional setting are quickly and quietly stopped by a show of force and that being the DOG . it merely being present stops issues before they have a chance to escalated to a more extreme situation. I believe taking away the patrol K-9 or the k9 in general in our higher level facility will be detrimental to the safety and security of both the general public and staff members and thats the DOC"S WHOLE MISSION STATEMENT and with all do respect should be the Delegates main concern.

Canines are efficient in promoting safety within institutions and the community.

I am concerned about the staff in prisons if canines are taken out. Officers are not able to carry guns. They can only carry pepper spray and that does have an effect on everyone. I have seen individuals not even flinch with pepper spray. The canines may not even have to be released, many times once a canine is present, inmates stopped fighting/assaulting staff or other inmates just because of the canine being present. I feel that the state continues to limit officers and staff's safety for individuals who have committed crimes and are in prison for a reason. Indvidual's that want to make these recommendations/decisions have not even worked in a prison. When someone makes these suggestions, they should have to come work a week at a Level 5 or above prison. Also, having a prison located in your community, you want to ensure the community continues to be safe. I feel canines should remain in prisons. It is another safety tool for staff, the community and even the inmates.

Canines help promote the safety of not only staff, but also inmates and the public within prisons in Virginia.

Your average citizen, or politician, will never experience the level of violence that takes place in a maximum-security prison. Inside those walls is another world most citizens, and politicians, know nothing about. Maximum security prisons were built to house convicted felons whose behavior is unmanageable at lower-level prisons. There is danger to prison staff and inmates alike because the majority of violent incidents is inmate attacking inmate. Inside these walls are non-lethal weapons that are meant to deter violence. Most inmates are undeterred by rubber pellets and gas. They are deterred by trained security dogs. When a trained security dog and its handler enter a pod where a violent altercation is occurring, the fight stops. The handling of an altercation is a choreographed event where responding staff, trained security dogs, as well as inmates who are involved and not involved, follow the steps that have been created by politicians and citizen insight in Richmond. The trained security dogs are a necessary part of life inside these walls and have saved many lives, inmates and staff. There is rarely an incident when an inmate or staff member is actually bitten because inmates, security and prison staff all respect the trained security dogs and the role they play. Everyday citizens, and politicians, need to understand these control measures are necessary for this kind of environment and having trained security dogs makes the daily lives of inmates and staff safer. Regardless of what some extremists' opinions would have us believe, inside these walls is an organized, structured environment. Inmates are housed, fed, clothed, receive medical, dental and psychological treatment, as well as educational opportunities and many hold jobs where they earn money and are a vital part of the operation of the institution. When inmates speak out, write grievances, stage protests and hunger strikes, their views are considered, and their needs are addressed. Policy changes all the time to accommodate new issues. But maximum-security prisons exist for a reason. And violence does occur. I think if concerned citizens, family members, and politicians, stopped to think, they would appreciate the fact that an inmate's life was saved because the arrival of a trained security dog immediately deescalated a violent situation and everyone involved was able to walk away. Staff, officers, and inmates need those dogs.

It is unrealistic to remove the dogs from prison facilities. Especially level 5 and 6 prisons. These dogs and the officers that handle them are used as tool and deterrent during serious incidents in these facilities. The dogs are used for the protection of the people working and living at these prisons.

Canine use is very much needed in facilities for public protection. Lives are in danger without them.

HB 159 is proposing to abolish and destroy the canine program for the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC). Even though the bill suggests it is a wonderful idea, the safety concerns for security staff, non-security, and even inmates should not go unnoticed! These dogs are well trained along with their handlers and are a crucial part within the justice system. Imagine a large brawl breaks out within a pod; there can be almost 100 inmates out on the pod floor on certain buildings. What is the likelihood of having the equivalent amount of staff respond to handle this situation-whereas a canine with possibly one or two officers can quail this matter. And in most cases, these canines are there as a show of force as opposed to always taking action. Inmates respond well to canine handlers. This will then prevent inmates from attempting to harm one another as much, and will also assist in protecting staff. In some instances where the canines are utilized, they act as a slight buffer to lower the risk of staff becoming injured or even worse. All in all, canines are a vital part of the VADOC and must be kept to maintain safety and balance within these walls. Doing away with the canine program will also create other problems as well. The State of Virginia will then have more occupational vacancies, injuries will go up, and sadly death rates. With that being said, please allow the canine program to remain in the VADOC; if not for the staff, keep them for the inmates' safety. Don't put blood on your own hands by passing this bill.

As a citizen of the commonwealth, I want to comment on the bill to abolish canines in correctional facilities. Anyone with knowledge of these facilities understands the impact this would have on not only the safety of staff working within, but the public living near and around the prison walls. Canines allow a level of control that would not be possible considering the limited resources available in correctional facilities to protect against combative inmates, escapes, and maintaining order. As a pregnant woman living near multiple facilities, I feel safer knowing this level of resistance exists between my family and myself and those incarcerated in high level security prisons. Those trained to utilize canine intervention exhibit pride in and respect for what they do and are trusted by the community. In a perfect world, such elements of protection would not be needed. Unfortunately, Southwest Virginia has been burdened with the task of housing high-level dangerous members of society that cannot be trusted not only in public, but in lower-level facilities, as well. Please do not take away the relief and comfort of knowing our well-trained canines and handlers stand as a barrier between our treasured home and sense of security and the real and present danger that high-level inmates present.

Hi! As a citizen of Wise County I'm against this law. I'd have some many friends that work for the DOC specifically Wallens Rigde and Red Onion. The use of K9s is necessary for this environment when your dealing with the worse of the worse there's a reason why they are in a level 5 or 6 facility. K9s is no only for the safety of the Officer's, is also for the safety of the inmates population. They help to prevent attacks on staff or inmates. They are use during mass movement ( chows, recreation yard, religious services and more ). K9s help with all this activities along with their handlers. Some people complain about being bit but the reality is if they do what they are supposed to do nothing will happen. Do your time behave yourself but no they don't care. and unless you have worked in a Prison you don't know what's like when u deal with a murderer, rapist, doing life time sentences. They have nothing to lose. Officers get assaulted every day but people don't see it or heard about it. K9s is a tool to provide safety for Staff and inmates.

These officers need some form of protection and the k9s are all the inmates respond to. Removing them would put many lives in danger. Lives of productive tax paying members of society.

If you do not have canine in the prison system you will totally lose what little control you have now over the convicts.It will allow open season on staff and you will be even more short handed than you are now,not to mention paying out death benefits to staff families.

As an employee at a maximum security prison I am able to see that there is a tremendous need for canine support in the prison system. Many times I have witnessed situations in which individual, as well as groups of inmates have become combative and have attempted to cause harm to others in the process. There have been many situations in which staff response, alone, does not resolve the issue. In this case, canine intervention has been proven effective in de-escalating seemingly otherwise uncontrollable circumstances. Removing the canines will not only increase the risk of staff and other inmate injury, harm, or possible death, it also will increase the public's risk for harm due to the possibility of rioting or escape of one or multiple inmates. These canines are the protection of the public, the employees, and the inmates of the prison system. To take away the canines would ultimately cause less structure by, if nothing else, removing that "fear factor" that the canines instill in the inmate population. If there is an issue with the canines, create or update policies on their use inside the prisons. As an employee, local resident, and institutional healthcare provider, I DO NOT think the removal of canines in the prison will be beneficial to anyone. The benefit of removal does not outweigh the risk. Please help keep us protected. Please keep the DOC employees and the public safe!

The presence of patrol canines has a positive psychological impact on correctional staff and inmates. When constantly exposed to potential threats and high-stress environments, personnel's morale and mental well-being often bear the brunt. The comfort and assurance that come from knowing a skilled canine unit is tirelessly working to ensure everyone's safety alleviate stress levels and facilitate a safer working environment for all. Without canines, institutions will see a rise in altercations as well as staff leaving. Those who have never stepped foot inside of a security max prison, should not propose bills they know nothing about.

Canines are a lifeline of the police dept and corrections facility to provide safety to not only inmates but to the officers and public.

the only thing that the inmates fear are the dogs here, they don't have no fear of the officers so if you take the dogs away what's going to stop them from hurting or killing a officer or a non officer .

If this bill is passed, there will be a significant rise in staff assaults, a significant increase in vacancy, a significant rise in injuries, and there will be a significant rise in serious injuries on inmates. The patrol canines in the Virginia Department of Corrections have stopped multiple fights just at their presence. Major injuries, including attempted murders have been stopped at the presence of a patrol canine. I have seen this first hand. For someone trying to pass a bill that has not probably stepped foot inside of a level four or five prison has no clue of how effective the patrol canines. It keeps staff safe and inmates alike. Like I have said if this bill is passed, the department of corrections will have a totally different problem on their hand. They will have an increase in vacancies because many officers said they will quit, they will have an increase in staff assaults, they will have an increase in inmate violence, they will have a increase in serious bodily injury or death.

Canines deter inmates from fighting each other and correction officers. They provide safety for everyone who works inside these institutions. Staff will no longer have control over these institutions. More institutions will close due to staff shortages. This bill goes against public safety.

Being a correctional officer since 1998. I have worked many different institution and agencies. Having K9 is imperative for a safe and secure institution. Agency previous employees for did not have k9. Several incidents I witnessed inmates being fatally assaulted by other inmates. At that time all measures of deterring inmates by staff was to late. Inmates died because of this. One situation led to a major disturbance causing several million dollars in institutional damages. All could and would have stopped with the use of K9. K9 when used accordingly is a tool of law enforcement nationwide. I have a duty to protect life , this will hender my abilities to do that. With the recent retention problems facing corrections nationwide, this will surely be a step in reverse . This will cause more institutions to close , delay programs rehabilitation and re entry efforts. Do we really want to step back in time and allow the violence to affect the ordinary operations of inmates and staff? Nothing about this bill makes sense as a security perspective. This bill is another way to defund the police efforts without publicly saying just that. If this bill passes be prepared to have a staff shortage across the commonwealth of epic proportions.

I don't feel that removing K9s from Correctional Facilities is a good idea. Most people requesting this have never been in or worked in a prison. Many fights are deterred because of the presence of a K9. All Officers, Non-security Staff, and inmates will be at a greater risk of harm with the removal of K9s. When inmates are in transition within the prison, K9 is what prevents many, many fights. When in transition, inmates mix with other inmates from different housing units which causes problems. Inmates are placed carefully in housing units based on gang affiliation and enemies list(keep separate). When certain programs are attended by inmates then the inmates do mix with others from other housing units. When inmates in transition see the K9 it stops them from instigating a fight, even gang fights. When a fight does break out it is usually one inmate mad at another. The instigator is doing the attacking while the other inmate doesn't want to fight. K9 use prevents serious bodily harm to the non-confrontational inmate and keeps our officers from having to engage in combat with an inmates. Other inmates watching may attack the officer if the officer is forced to engage in the fight because inmates want to defend other inmates against the officers. We are having difficulty employing officers and retaining new officers because of how laxed the Correctional Centers have become on inmate accountability. Keep our officers safe by reducing their chances of having to engage in a fight with inmates carrying shanks! Sincerely, Marina Wright, Teacher, Wallens Ridge State Prison

The removal of canine patrol officers from the prison system would not only raise the number of assaults on staff and other inmates, the assaults would be more violent and could have fatal outcomes.

I have worked in corrections for 14 years and I have seen 1st hand how having canines at a corrections facility can drastically reduce altercations between offenders and almost eliminate staff assaults. To do away with canines at a level 5 institution is an open invitation for offenders to do as they please to other offenders and to staff. Canines are the backbone of Wallens Ridge State Prison and I would hope you continue that.... THANK YOU.

I support K9s in all DOC facilities!

This debate over guns was settled in 1791. We have all the laws we need to cover the action of a criminal. Murder is illegal no matter the tool used. Assualt is illegal no matter the tool used. Your ridiculous attack on the rights of all Virginians is just another chapter in the failure our our legislature to deal with the true issues that plague our state. Restore our rights and work to better the state and stop with the petty and vindictive law making that only hurts the innocent. Every day our governing bodies from congress to you become less relevant as a part of our lives, since all you ever manage to do is destroy and steal.

In Ohio one year after constitution carry passed gun crimes went down

I've commend prior on these issue but would like to reemphasize that more laws of these nature only impose on those of us that already obey the law and I think that you could explain this to your constituents demanding more gun control. I always find it ironic and dubious that those wanting more gun control either don't own a gun, have never fired a gun or don't want to purchase one but wish to infringe upon those of us who are responsible gun owners. Many of these bills on gun control shouldn't even be proposed and if you are supporting these bills you're being dishonest to your own base in tell them that this will reduce crime. It can't reduce crime and never has since other cities such as Chicago ,crime ALWAYS increases with more gun control and Always goes down with less in most situations. I have friend who lives in Chicago and had to sue because they outlawed all firearms several years back. The citizens won that case and were allowed to own AR-15's and all various forms of semi automatic fire arms pistol and rifle. According to him and the data CRIME WENT DOWN. The exception to gun laws which are already on the book as always is proper back ground checks so criminals cannot exploit the legal process by purchasing as a felon. As for removing someone's rights to own a gun under a DUI or DWI I fail to see any relevance or correlation and causation to the issue of guns in general. I am apposed to all these gun control bills and support the two pro guns bills being proposed.

I urge the committee to vote in favor of HB159 because it will limit the use of canines which will reduce the strain of incarceration, making it more likely that prisoners will be able to be rehabilitated. It is not a good thing that so many of the total dog bites in prisons in the US are from Virginia prisons. We can do better.

It is my belief and opinion that removing K9 patrol dogs from our correctional facilities takes a huge safety tool from correctional staff as well as inmates. The pure presence of the K9 acts as a deterrent from unwanted behavior from inmates and has prevented an unnumbered amount of incidents than can’t be tracked with data. The only data that is ever mentioned is when there is a required engagement. The use of patrol K9 has prevented serious injury to an unnumbered amount of inmates and staff members during assaults that occur in correctional facilities. The K9 itself along with its handlers are required to submit to very intense training to ensure safe and proper use of this tool. I feel that the removal of K9 will definitely take away from the overall safety and security of all inmates and staff in correctional facilities. I ask that the committee look at the overall picture and the purpose of the use of K9 not just 271 engagements that are being talked about in this bill. If you look at the number of incidents that occur in maximum security facilities this number is very minimal and only show the number of times when inmates refuse to comply and cease the disruptive behaviors. I strongly oppose this bill.

Taking K9 out of our prisons will only hurt the safety of our Commonwealth. It will put out Correctional staff in grave danger at high security institutions plus inmates at risk of serious harm. I have done my research as a concern citizen and that is one piece of data that can not be calculated of how many incidents do not occur because of K9 presence. I think of K9 presence as the 1st deterrent of inmate violence. It is my understanding that K9 are only used at higher security where the threat of death and serious injury are more likely to occur. The bill states at juvenile facilities. I can not find any data as to where a Juvenile facility in Va has used a patrol K9. I feel this was added to the bill as a scare tactic to push for the bill to pass. It is about time our elected officials stand up for voting citizens and law enforcement.

I am a mental health clinician currently employed at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap, VA where canines are used to ensure the safety of inmates as well as employees. This fall, I witnessed a fight among several inmates on the floor of one of our housing units. The inmates were not responding to the directions of the correctional officers in the building at that time, nor did the deployment of pepper spray by the officers deter their fighting. It was then that the officers called for a canine. When the dog entered the housing unit, his presence was announced by the K9 officers handling the canine. It was at that time, the fighting ceased, and all inmates went to the floor, without incident. No one was bitten and no one, inmates nor officers, were seriously injured. The mere presence of that canine restored order to that building. If the inmates had continued to fight, there could have been deaths due to the inmates blatantly choosing to disobey direct orders. I am a female working in an all-male, level 5 maximum security prison, and I provide mental health services to the inmates in their housing units. I usually walk by myself from my office in the administration portion of the prison, and I regularly encounter inmates as I walk around the compound. Many of these inmates travel to their destinations and are not escorted by security staff. There are always officers monitoring movement from the gun posts outside, and there are usually canines present keeping watch as well. They don’t act aggressively, nor do they intimidate the inmates. They just sit and watch. I feel much safer walking solo across the compound knowing the canines are present. That canine is there for my protection and would be able to come to my defense faster than one of the officers in the gun posts if I were to be attacked by one of the inmates. The canines are not used maliciously towards the inmates but are used as another level of safety for everyone, inmates included. I ask that you take my concerns as a prison employee into consideration before casting your vote for this bill. The cornerstone of the VA Department of Corrections is public safety, and I strongly feel that the use of canines in our correctional facilities only contributes to the safety of the public and to the safety of its employees. Thank you for your time.

I am writing to ask you to VOTE YES for HB159 Correctional facilities; use of canines. Most states have eliminated the use of attack-trained canines in handling people who are incarcerated. Virginia is one of eight states that continues to use attack-dogs to “manage” people. A 2023 report based on reviewing public-records requests, court documents, medical records and interviews with dozens of bite victims identified 295 incidents of attack-trained dogs biting incarcerated people over the six years from 2017-2022. Most of those attacks (92 percent) – 271 attacks – were in Virginia. Why is Virginia so far ahead in this barbaric practice? Virginia must do better. Vote yes for HB159. Thank you.

This practice is so detrimental to the well-being of all people. It has been studied and confirmed to cause more harm than good and it is well past time to discontinue. We need oversight of the jails and prisons to assure it stops.

This practice is so detrimental to the well-being of all people. It has been studied and confirmed to cause more harm than good and it is well past time to discontinue. We need oversight of the jails and prisons to assure it stops.

The end of solitary confinement must be done My son was murdered in solitary confinement at Red Onion Prison in Pound Va on 1/3/22.

I definitely support HB159! How many lawsuits does VADOC have to have before they realize the use of canines, by many of their Corrections Officers, is causing more harm than good? Most of these dogs aren't even properly trained. My husband has witnessed men being attacked by dogs (in their cell, and that's against policy), or after the person has retreated or laid down on the floor. These dogs should not maul people! You don't need attack dogs when you already have the pellet guns and mace. Get rid of these dogs. Too many people are abusing their authority and using these animals to instill fear in people. If you need to break up a fight, do it the same way you do when you gang up on men in the prison (5 guards on 1 man). Put your gloves on and break up the fight, don't use dogs because they clearly don't have a kill switch because they aren't obeying anyone's command.

Recently an independent study was conducted, it showed Virginia used their attack dogs 271 times. The highest in the country. The state in second place is Arizona, they used their dogs 15 times over the same period. So, are Virginia prisoners that much worse or does Virginia need to go back to the drawing board? There needs to be accountability and oversight if for this reason alone.

I support these Bills!

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This set of bills came to my attention in an e-mail from King Salim Khalfani who I first met at a summit of leaders noting Harrisonburg's Martin Luther King, Jr. Way street renaming. The renaming and the summit were initiated by the late Stan Maclin, who I assisted with research in the renaming and as secretary in the Harrisonburg Martin Luther King, Jr. Way Coalition. Last Monday, the Coalition celebrated the tenth anniversary of the dedication of that street. Leaders from organizations that had drawn thousands in festivals, advocacy, and service events over the course of the year, braved harsh weather and a pandemic surge to organize and attend this special instance of Harrisonburg's annual celebration known as People's Day. We were led in prayer by the Rabbi from our local congregation on a theme of seeing the humanity of our fellow human beings. The Rabbi's words, in this context, echoed Dr. King's message in his April 4th, 1967 speech, Beyond Vietnam, that to get beyond continually having to protest the brutality of wars over there, our society needed to undergo a radical revolution in values that would lead us to end the systemic brutality to our fellow human beings, starting right here. I thus submit my comments to oppose brutality toward our fellow human beings in our criminal legal system. Harrisonburg's street renaming showed another way. After the street renaming, communities unaccustomed to having a say over their own governance for a time felt represented. Our city bloomed and our incarceration rate plummeted to global levels that neither brutality nor reforms could reach. I tracked these numbers from my position as economic adviser to Judge John Paul's committee on alternatives to incarceration where those results quickly persuaded me that my task was completed: what we were doing, building a better community inspired by the economic vision of Dr. King's final year, was already better than what could be achieved within the criminal legal system. I hope we can reduce the brutality we inflict, and look to reducing incarceration and increasing community resilience to lower the chance of whatever negative events the brutality aspires to counter. I thus write in support of: HB159 and HB726 and in opposition to HB308 .

We must ask ourselves, does committing a crime make us not a human anymore? The use of dogs to attack people is a human rights violation. For those who have been attacked and those who have witnessed attacks, it has devastating long-term implications. Some of these implications include intrusive thoughts and nightmares, not to mention the physical scars. From 2017-2022 there were 295 documented dog attacks nationwide. Virginia is an outlier with being responsible for 271 of these attacks. Canines are not solely being used for the event of imminent danger. They are being used for cell extractions and in situations where no violence is taking place. What is the most disturbing fact about this is that canines are being used to taunt incarcerated individuals. Here is a direct report from a formerly incarcerated individual who experienced a canine attack in Red Onion State Prison in 2017. As he was being attacked by a canine, the handler yelled, "Get 'em, boy!" he yelled. "Get that n—." "I wish I could tie you to my bumper and drag you down the street." Dogs have a long history of being deployed and used against Black people. Attack-trained dogs have helped violently enforce white supremacy. The use of canines also has a negative impact on the canine. The fact that they are being conditioned to such extreme violence leads them into a state of distress as well. There are reports of them biting off their own tails due to the distress. These dogs are not being adopted because they become and remain so aggressive. In Virginia, four dogs were euthanized for aggression, destructive behavior, or liability risk in 2021 alone. The following year, another dog was euthanized after severely biting handlers at Wallens Ridge, Sussex I, and River North, according to an internal email and incident reports. I do not support this bill because it is extremely inhumane on humans and the dogs as well. There are other ways that the VADOC can figure out alternative methods to the use of canines.

Can you IMAGINE being attacked by a dog? What if someone commanded that dog to "get" you? What if you were attacked while in handcuffs with no way to protect yourself? I can't imagine. But there are thousands of human beings that have to live in fear of these trained attack dogs every day. This is a vicious and inhumane form of punishment. We 100% support Del. Seibold! Please stop the use and abuse of attack dogs!

We live in a country where every other day we are outraged and horrified by news of dog attacks on humans. Why does this NOT extend to PEOPLE in prison? The use of dogs to "correct" a person is as INHUMANE and BARBARIC as it gets! Virginia should lead the nation in how it treats it's residents with dignity and keep them SAFE as HUMAN BEINGS. Instead, we lead the nation in using animals to ATTACK PEOPLE! This is appalling! VA it is WAY past time to end this practice! STOP THE TORTURE!

I support Del Seibold’s bill to ban the use of attack K9s in prisons.

There is little justifiable use of attack dogs to deal with most issues with incarcerated. Having been incarcerated myself, I saw dogs used to attack and restrain even after the adult was detained. It is absolutely appallingly there, and does not need to be used on children.

While at Red Onion State Prison, I personally witnessed an inmate assault an officer, but once they were fully restrained in handcuffs and shackles laying face down on the floor surrounded by officers, Lt. Lambert instructed the Canine officers to bring their dogs in and attack the inmate on the ground. While at Sussex 2 State Prison, there was a fight called over the radio in 3-D pod. The pod I was in (1-C) was on the BLVD and coming back from chow and the Canine's were running down the center of the sidewalk and an inmate had his back up against the fence and the dog man didn't have full control while running down the sidewalk, and the dog was able jump up and to the side and bite the inmate in the stomach. Sussex 2 State Prison officials made the inmate agree to sweep it all under the rug. They use the Canines to scare us when we get off the bus at Wallens Ridge State Prison, and Red Onion State Prison. They use them to move us down the sidewalk going to and from chow. If we're fighting, they'll sic them onto us, but have trouble getting them off of us, this is where most of the damage has been done to victims of Canine bites. By: Robert Briscoe Inmate at Keen Mountain Correctional Center

I worked in the VADOC for over 22 years as an Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant and my final six years as the Investigator at Keen Mountain Correctional Center. There were several canine use of force cases that I worked, along with SIU, that were not justified and should have never happened. One of those involved a female counselor that exited the housing unit, as a canine and handler were entering through the same door. The handler failed have control of his canine, resulting in a deep bite on her thigh that left a blood pool on the boulevard. Another was a bite on an inmate that was walking out of the pod going to the dining hall. The canine handler was unaware the inmate was behind him, as the inmate approached the canine turned and engaged, with the handler giving enough lead for the dog to engage. Both were found that the handler was at fault. I am sure the inmate sued and was awarded a settlement as he (inmate) did nothing wrong. VADOC leadership has over-relied on patrol canines to cover security posts in lieu of chronic understaffing. This has increased the number of contacts/engagements with patrol canines. This is detrimental to inmates, staff and the canine program. Handlers are expected to be the first respondents to inmate-on-inmate fights and inmate-on-staff assaults. This mandate puts the handler and canine in harms way as the handler is completely vulnerable if his canine engages. In approximately 2007, I responded to an incident in B-2 pod at KMCC in which approximately 15 inmates refused to lock down in their cells. They planned to take the pod officer hostage, fortunately, there were four officers in the building that were not normally there. We responded immediately as the pod officer recognized that something wasn't right. We were able to foil the inmate's plans and secure the inmates involved. However, the offenders were expecting a canine response and had one inmate that was prepared to take the bite from the canine (his arm was thoroughly wrapped with sheets and a jacket.) Once engaged, the other inmates planned to kill the dog and take the handler hostage. You see, when a canine engages, he is attention is completely on the target. The handler's attention is completely on the canine at that point, leaving the handler vulnerable to attack. VADOC leadership has known this for years and has continued to place the handlers at risk. They have also failed in reigning in unnecessary or unjustified canine engagements as evidenced by Hannah Beckler's recent article/documentary revealing the VADOC had 272 canine engagements from 2017 through 2022, which was the most documented engagements in the country. The runner-up was Arizona with only 15. I was shocked at the comparison. The VADOC has been able to do this, because in reality, they have been accountable to no one. How much money has the VADOC paid out on lawsuits over canine engagements? How much has the VADOC paid out for medical care for inmates and staff that have suffered canine bites? As legislators, you must act on this data. I was never comfortable working around canines and was lucky enough to avoid being bitten, but I did have a few close calls. I do feel, given the chronic understaffing of the agency, the patrol canines can be used for inmate escapes, in a riotous situations (for support) and could man all external security posts and conduct all external security checks. They should not be used inside as they have been for years.

I strongly support HB 159 to reduce the use in canines in juvenile facilities and I believe that most Virginians would also support it if they but knew this bill was being debated.

I am writing on behalf of an inmate at Sussex I - in Summer of 2023 - the dog got loose and bit the trainer on the yard and they had to remove the officer off the yard. In 2021 at Sussex I - this inmate's friend was walking to the recreation yard, and he was walking past the officer with the dog, and the dog jumped and bit him on the arm. The officers tried to write a charge for the inmate saying he provoked the dog, which is incorrect. In 2014, two men were fighting in the rec yard at Wallens Ridge. The dog was let go, to go and bite one of the men who was already on the yard. The dog jumped to bite one of the inmates, and the inmate grabbed the dog to stop him from attacking him and the officer instructed the inmate to let go of the dog. The dog then bit the shoulder of the inmate and dragged him a couple of feet across the yard. The officers with the dog will walk close to inmates as means to intimidate, saying that inmates are the aggressors. They use the dogs to scare us. And they talk to us like we are inhuman and use the dogs to justify and put fear into us.

I am writing this on behalf of an inmate that was housed in 2009 at Wallens Ridge State Prison. On the top tier of the pod, a fight broke out - and everyone was ordered to stop and lay down. A man was in the shower at the time, and the canine unit came in and told him to lay down. He asked if he could get dressed. They declined. He didn't want to let him get out and lay down, and he declined. So they let the dogs on him while he was naked in the shower and he wasn't seen since. He was visibly injured to his arms when he came out of the shower.

This is on behalf of an inmate at Keen Mountain Correctional Center - 2008. The inmates would have a gate break as an opportunity to come off the recreation yard and would be pat down. The dog was doing flips with choker chains on, and eventually came out of the choker chain, and his back was to the dog as the officer was patting him down and the dog jumped at him and was an inch away from his arm. In 2004 - Keen Mountain Correctional Center, a counselor named Mrs. White was coming out of A building, and the dog men were to the side, and the dog took off running and bit her. There has been fights in the pod, and the dog was brought in, and the inmate was shot with the cannon twice and pepper sprayed and was subdued on the ground. When the dog came in, he wasn't aggressive toward the inmate, but the officer took the dog by the head and held him to the inmate's leg until the dog bit.

This is on behalf on an inmate that was housed at Wallens Ridge. As soon as the dog comes into an area, no-one is being violent. Usually once the dogs arrive, people get on the ground. Once you submit, they allow the dogs to bite you and the correctional officers are speaking badly to you. I have witnessed inmates walking past the correctional officer with the dog, on the way to school and the dog randomly attacked him for no reason. To settle this, the inmate was offered $100 in property and a job. The things I have witnessed and seen dogs do has mentally impacted me for the rest of my life. Once a dog is biting, the correctional officers have to use force to remove the dog from the person.

I write this on behalf of an inmate that was housed at Wallens Ridge - in the year 2016. The victim was being attacked by two other inmates. The dog was brought in by the correctional officer, but the dog was directed to attack, Dontae - not the two attacking him. Dontae was already on the ground when the dog attacked him. He was not fighting back at this point; he was subdued on the ground. A second time, the inmate was on the recreation yard at Wallens Ridge - 2010. There was a fight, and all the inmates were directed to lay on the ground. The dog (with titanium canines) came in with the correctional officer, once everyone was on the ground - at this point no one was fighting. The dog went to an inmate by the pull up bar, bit him on the legs and arms multiple times, and pulled him approximately 2 feet, jerking each time.

On behalf of an inmate who was housed at Wallens Ridge State Prison - during mid 2020, the inmate was heading to chow in the chow hall with his entire pod (C4). Once inside the chow hall, he heard a commotion outside of the chow hall, and an inmate barged through the chow hall doors, with correctional officers following him. They wrestled him to the ground, and whilst he was subdued, they were beating him. On the opposite side of the chow hall, the correctional officer with the dog entered the chow hall, and all other inmates were on the ground. Upon entering the chow hall, inmates are scattered on the ground around the door. The dog comes in, in front of the correctional officer, snapping at peoples' legs who were uninvolved in the incident. The dog grabbed an inmate who was not involved's leg and ripped his pants. The officer in control of the dog instructed everyone to move out of the way, and then approached the inmate who was being subdued, and said 'skeet' which is the command to the dog to attack or get aggressive. The dog started biting the inmate in his lower calf and then moved up to his buttocks. While this is happening, the inmate is face down, with his hands handcuffed behind his back and correctional officers are kicking him and punching him in his face. This lasts for 30-45 seconds. The inmate was then taken to medical for treatment of puncture wounds. The cause of this altercation was accusation that the inmate was in the possession of a weapon.