Virginia Prisons Scrutinized Over Guard Brutality and Canine Use of Force

Virginia's state prison system faced compounding scrutiny in July 2023 as two separate investigative reports surfaced allegations of guard misconduct and a disproportionate use of attack-trained dogs against incarcerated people. Axios Richmond reported that the dual disclosures placed the Virginia Department of Corrections under simultaneous pressure from federal investigators and a national media investigation ^[1].

The Federal Bureau of Investigation opened an inquiry into the February 2022 death of Charles Givens, an intellectually disabled man who was serving time for murder at Marion Correctional Treatment Center, according to Axios Richmond ^[1]. Family members said prison officials initially attributed Givens' death to natural causes ^[1]. The FBI later notified relatives that it was actively investigating, the Associated Press reported after reviewing the notification email ^[1].

Separate from the Givens case, Business Insider published a three-part investigative series documenting attack-trained canine use across American prisons ^[2]. The series cataloged hundreds of incidents in which patrol dogs have bitten or mauled inmates inside U.S. prisons, including in Virginia, where the Virginia Department of Corrections deployed dogs 18 times more often than any other state. Business Insider used public records requests, court documents, medical records, and interviews with dozens of bite victims to document at least 295 incidents in which attack-trained dogs bit incarcerated people during the six-year period from 2017 to 2022. Business Insider documented 271 of those dog attacks occurring in Virginia between 2017 and 2022; the next nearest total was 15, in Arizona. Staff most often unleashed dogs on inmates to compel compliance from those who refused to leave their cells.

Inmates told investigators the attacks produced lasting consequences. Prisoners reported recurring nightmares, post-traumatic stress disorder, and in some cases long-lasting physical disabilities. In at least 18 incidents, medical records showed that bite victims in Virginia were wounded so severely they had to be transferred to outside hospitals to be treated for crush injuries, extensive muscle and tissue damage, or septic infections. Civil litigation has followed. Corey E. Johnson, a prisoner serving two life sentences, settled with the Virginia Department of Corrections after suffering a dog attack at Red Onion State Prison in 2020. The nonprofit Rights Behind Bars has represented multiple Virginia prisoners in related civil rights suits. The organization's Litigation Director, Oren Nimni, said clients at Red Onion State Prison and Sussex II State Prison were in submissive positions when attacked, and that dogs "bit down on their legs and arms for extended periods of time and caused significant damage."

Prison officials defended the program. The Virginia Department of Corrections characterized canine use as legal under state law and said dogs are primarily deployed for their "presence" as a deterrent to bad behavior. The reporting nonetheless prompted legislative action. Business Insider's investigation prompted Virginia lawmakers to introduce legislation restricting attack-trained dogs in state prisons; Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the resulting bill into law, dramatically limiting canine deployments and mandating that the Virginia Department of Corrections publish all reports of canine use of force on its website. Despite that reform, the Virginia Mercury reported in December 2025 that public records show canines continue to be a violent presence in state prisons, with dogs engaging incarcerated people, employees, and visitors in at least 33 incidents since the law took effect on July 1, 2024.

References

[1] Axios Richmond. (2023, July 26). Virginia state prisons under scrutiny after reports of guards brutalizing inmates. https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/07/26/virginia-state-prisons-inmates-torture-guards

[2] Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. (2025, August 4). Business Insider investigation into prison attack dogs wins awards, sparks reforms. https://www.rcfp.org/uva-clinic-business-insider-attack-dogs/

[3] Equal Justice Initiative. (2023, October 11). Prison attack dogs have attacked hundreds of incarcerated people and staff. https://eji.org/news/prison-attack-dogs-have-attacked-hundreds-of-incarcerated-people-and-staff/

[4] Courthouse News Service. (2024, February 22). Virginia passes bipartisan bill limiting use of prison attack dogs. https://www.courthousenews.com/virginia-passes-bipartisan-bill-limiting-use-of-prison-attack-dogs/

[5] Virginia Mercury. (2025, December 11). Dog attacks persist in Virginia prisons despite 2024 law change. https://virginiamercury.com/2025/12/11/dog-attacks-persist-in-virginia-prisons-despite-2024-law-change/