FLUVANNA REVIEW STAFF
A federal class-action lawsuit over medical care at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women has ended after 14 years, closing one of the longest-running challenges to conditions at the Troy prison.
Scott v. Clarke, filed in 2012 by women incarcerated at the facility, alleged that the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC), prison officials, and a private medical provider failed to provide adequate medical care, a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
The lawsuit led to a 2016 settlement agreement and nearly a decade of court-ordered monitoring by an independent medical monitor.
Under the agreement, the prison was required to follow generally accepted national clinical guidelines for treating chronic illnesses and other medical conditions. The settlement also set standards for staffing and response times for nonemergency and urgent care requests.
Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC), one of the organizations representing the plaintiffs, said the lawsuit led to several lasting changes, including the adoption of electronic medical records at Fluvanna and other VADOC facilities, improvements to medication-assisted treatment for substance use, better dental care, a physical therapy program, and improvements in mental health care.
Dr. Homer Venters, former chief medical officer for the New York City jail system, served as the court-appointed federal monitor overseeing health care reforms at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women.
The case was dismissed after Venters found that the prison had met the medical goals and standards in the settlement and maintained full compliance for one year.
“I’m sorry that it’s coming to a close,” said plaintiff Toni Hartlove. “Dr. Venters cares about the welfare of the people here.”
Advocates stressed that the end of court supervision does not mean all concerns have been resolved.
“Regardless of if the lawsuit has ended, I’m still advocating for the ladies here. A lot of us are afraid that the care will go downhill from now. I hope and pray that doesn’t happen. If something falls through the cracks, that could be their life,” Cynthia Scott, a named plaintiff in the case, said in a statement.
LAJC said problems remain in the prison infirmary, where isolation is a serious concern, and in the handling of chronic care, where regular coordination is needed to prevent serious complications or death.
