The Virginia State Police investigator seemed puzzled about what the inmate was describing: “unbearable” conditions at a prison so cold that toilet water would freeze over and inmates were repeatedly treated for hypothermia.

“How do you get hypothermia in a prison?” the investigator asked. “You shouldn’t.”

The exchange, captured on video obtained by The Associated Press, took place during an investigation into the death of Charles Givens, a developmentally disabled inmate at the Marion Correctional Treatment Center, who records show was among those repeatedly hospitalized for hypothermia.

After a special grand jury considered the case but opted not to bring criminal charges, Givens’ sister sued in federal court, alleging her brother was subjected to routine mistreatment, including “cold-water torture,” before he was fatally beaten in 2022.

The lawsuit has raised broader questions about conditions at the southwest Virginia prison, which the grand jury described as “inhumane and deplorable.”

      • Coreidan@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        arrow-down
        5
        ·
        6 months ago

        Pretty much. “Doing something” in terms of voting has the same outcome as doing nothing.

        The only way we’ll have any real change is if we roll out the guillotines. Are you willing to go there?

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          7
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          6 months ago

          Why are you asking me if I’m willing to when you clearly haven’t done so yourself?

          You should be asking yourself that question.

          • Coreidan@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            4
            arrow-down
            5
            ·
            6 months ago

            So you won’t answer the question? I’ll take that as a no. You’re not willing.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              8
              arrow-down
              2
              ·
              6 months ago

              No, I’m not willing to commit murder. And clearly neither are you or you’d have done it already. Don’t ask other people to be brave on your behalf. Go start this glorious revolution of yours and stop being an armchair Che Guevara.

              • Coreidan@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                arrow-down
                6
                ·
                6 months ago

                Just pointing out the hypocrisy. You’re quick to put everyone down and blame the American public thinking that voting will solve everything. Every candidate is a screaming dickhead.

                If you’re not willing to actually do anything then you should just stfu otherwise you sound like a hypocrite.

                I’ve been voting my entire life and have yet to see a candidate that will work for the American public.

                Listening to people like you is tiring and doesn’t get us anywhere.

                • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  4
                  arrow-down
                  1
                  ·
                  6 months ago

                  So you are perfectly satisfied with how America is, right? Since you’re unwilling to start cutting off heads? And you never complain about anything, right? If I go through your comment history, I won’t find one complaint about things in the U.S.?

                  • Coreidan@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    4
                    arrow-down
                    6
                    ·
                    6 months ago

                    Complain all you want but trying to convince me that voting is going to save us is a futile effort.

                    People like you just don’t understand how much of a strangle hold the media has on the public’s mind. You just don’t understand how much corporations control us.

                • Cyv_@lemmy.blahaj.zone
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  6 months ago

                  Hypocrisy: saying one thing and doing the opposite.

                  “We should go vote and make a positive change” Proceeds to vote to try to make a positive change.

                  “We should do a full on head cutting French revolution!” Complains on the internet about how people suck and doesn’t do a revolution.

                  Hmm…

        • bane_killgrind@lemmy.ml
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          6 months ago

          There’s some value in bringing some woodworking tools and lumber to city Hall and make yourself one as a performance piece