RICHMOND, Va.— VADOC Director Chad Dotson announced on August 1 a major expansion of the agency’s innovative Virginia Model. Starting September 1, 2025, the model will extend beyond Lawrenceville Correctional Center to three new sites: Buckingham Correctional Center, Dillwyn Correctional Center, and Cluster S1 at Greensville Correctional Center.
This milestone announcement comes as the Virginia Department of Corrections celebrates one year since it resumed control of Lawrenceville, which had previously been run by a private company. Upon reassuming operations, the VADOC launched The Virginia Model at Lawrenceville as a pilot program.
Designed as a transformative approach to corrections, The Virginia Model focuses on elevating safety and security by encouraging inmate accountability, personal growth, and community-building. It pairs meaningful incentives with consistent, fair sanctions to reshape the experience within VADOC facilities.
Under this framework, inmates across Virginia are empowered to shape their experience based on behavior. Those at Lawrenceville who showed consistent accountability gained access to expanded privileges, including:
- An expanded food menu
- Upgraded mattresses
- Additional programming opportunities
- Inmate-led workshops and groups
- Extended visitation
- Access to additional resources
To qualify for transfer to Lawrenceville, inmates needed a clean record of 100-series institutional convictions for four consecutive years, along with no recent incidents of drug abuse, violence, or unsafe behavior. Those with 200-series convictions were considered on a case-by-case basis.
Even after arriving at Lawrenceville, inmates were required to maintain their positive behavior to remain eligible for these benefits.
“Accountability is crucial for everyone at our Virginia Model facilities,” said Director Dotson. “By continuing to demonstrate positive behavior, these individuals earn meaningful benefits that improve their time in custody. This improves safety for both our dedicated corrections professionals and our inmate population, and provides an environment where everyone can thrive.”
Since the program’s implementation at Lawrenceville on August 1, 2024, significant safety improvements have been reported through June 14, 2025:
- 100% reduction in confirmed drug overdoses and overdose deaths
- 100% reduction in serious assaults among inmates
- 100% reduction in total fights
- 94% drop in positive drug tests
- 75% decrease in cell phone seizures
“The safety of our corrections team and inmates is the VADOC’s top priority,” said Dotson. “This is why it was important for Virginia to try an innovative model to create real change for both our team and the inmate population. I thank Warden Mike Seville, Assistant Warden Amber Leake, our entire team at Lawrenceville, and the inmates who have greeted this opportunity with open arms.”
Building on Lawrenceville’s success, the model is being rolled out to Buckingham, Dillwyn, and Cluster S1 at Greensville. Because of Greensville’s size, each cluster operates similarly to a standalone institution. Inmates eligible under Virginia Model criteria are already being transferred in preparation for the September launch.
“Every facility within the VADOC makes up The Virginia Model in some capacity,” Director Dotson said. “I want as many inmates as possible to strive to become eligible for these benefits, so that we can continue to create incentive-based facilities throughout the Commonwealth. That would be a continued win for our corrections team, a win for our inmates, and a win for public safety all across Virginia.”
