To Whom It May Concern

Hello, my name is Xavier Murphy. I am currently an inmate incarcerated in the Virginia Department of Corrections. I’m writing this letter with the hopes of receiving the proper help, treatment, and rehabilitation that I have been desperately searching for over the past six years.

My story will explain how I’ve been tormented and failed consistently by the system. This is the same system that is supposed to provide me with transformation and reintegration ultimately.

I’ll start by letting you know that I am a drug addict. I’m addicted to drugs, and I have been battling with this demon for fifteen-plus years. That said, in 2019, I started seeking change and help. I self-admitted into my first drug treatment program. This program was being held at Augusta Correctional Center. I enrolled in the program with high hopes of becoming sober and being successful.

Unfortunately, my hopes were crushed because it was abruptly shut down a few weeks into the program. This was devastating for me, and I ultimately ended up spiraling out of control. As I dove deeper into my addiction, I felt hopeless. So, a few years later, in 2021, I reached out for help again. This time, I was placed into the Drug Treatment Program located at Green Rock Correctional Center.

I can honestly say that this was a huge step in the right direction. While enrolled in this program I was thriving. I had actually become completely sober and was even maintaining employment. Then, things took a wrong turn for me solely based on the housing setup there.

To further explain, the housing situation was broken into two tiers. The “Bottom Tier” was housing for all the Drug Program participants like me, While the “Top Tier” was housing for regular general population inmates. I ended up there. Now this housing scenario ended up presenting a critical issue for me. Unfortunately, I ended up being involved in a physical altercation with a general population inmate which resulted in me being terminated from the program. To be clear, in no way, shape, or form am I trying to justify my actions. Nor am I trying to make any excuses. I was wrong, and I take full responsibility for my actions. Now, what I do feel is that I was failed, cast out, and given up on. This made me realize that if the housing unit was for drug treatment participants only, this situation would never have occurred. Honestly, I was doing so well that I knew I would have fulfilled my goals and would be sober living right now.

Due to that incident, I was transferred to a level four facility, which was supposedly based on my security level points. Fast forward some time while being housed at this facility, and I was still seeking help. So, I was enrolled in a program called (CBISA). I participated in this program, and with all due respect, this program did not help me. I was not able to complete this program, though, because I ended up being involved in a situation that got me transferred to a level 6.5 facility (Red Onion State Prison).

This is the part of my story where I am begging for someone to please help me and hear me out! As of right now (12-16-24), I am being housed at the most violent prison in the state. I am a drug addict. I’ve made many mistakes, and I know I have plenty of growing to do. I’ve utilized all my options, and this is the final way to seek the help I need. I currently only have twenty-seven points security-wise. Being housed at Red Onion has been absolutely detrimental to my well-being, my addiction, and my mental health. The charges that landed me in prison were not violent, but I find myself in a facility where violence is all around me. Punishing addition is not the answer. We need treatment.

This is the mission statement for the Virginia Department of Corrections.

“We enhance the quality of life in the Commonwealth by improving public safety. We accomplish this through reintegration of sentenced men and women in our custody and care by providing supervision and control, effective programs and reentry services in safe environments which foster change and growth consistent research-based evidence, fiscal responsibility and Constitutional standards.”

I am here to tell you today where I stand right now – My addiction is at its worst. I see no hope for my future. If I were released today, I would most likely die from an overdose or come back to prison with a life sentence for a crime I committed high off of drugs. I’m seeking assistance. Is there a remedy for all of this? All I am asking is to be placed into a program either at Green Rock Correctional Center or Greensville Correctional Center, facilities with the appropriate security level and with the treatment programs I need.  I need help, and I want change.

So my question is this: will the VADOC help me rehabilitate and one day become a sober, productive member of society? Or will I continue to be failed, tormented, and punished and just become another statistic?