RICHMOND, Va. — A federal lawsuit filed by the widow of Virginia Corrections Officer Jeremy Lewis Hall alleges that longstanding staffing shortages, ignored threats and systemic policy failures within the Virginia Department of Corrections contributed to his death at River North Correctional Center.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Hall’s widow, Dawn Hall, and current Corrections Officer Anthony Kellam, does not seek financial damages. Instead, it asks the court to order policy changes aimed at improving staff safety across VADOC facilities, WCYB reports.
Hall was killed in the line of duty on Nov. 17 after an inmate attack at River North Correctional Center.
Allegations of known risks and ignored warnings
According to the complaint, VADOC leadership was aware of “critical vacancy rates” throughout the department and the risks posed by chronic understaffing but continued normal operations without implementing additional safeguards…