NRCAT Press Releases

For Immediate Release: April 2, 2012
Contact: Samantha Friedman, office: (202) 265-3000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NRCAT representative testifies in Illinois in efforts to close Tamms supermax facility

Ullin, Ill. – The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) today joins a diverse coalition to support the closure of Tamms Correctional Center.  The groups are gathered in Ullin as Illinois’ Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, a joint state Senate and House commission, convenes a hearing to discuss the potential closure of Tamms Correctional Center, Illinois’ supermax prison. The planned closure is part of Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed 2013 budget and combined with the closure of other facilities operated by the Department of Corrections, would save Illinois taxpayers an estimated $60 million.

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) has been outspoken in its efforts to end torture in prisons.  More than 200 men are currently housed at Tamms in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, an extreme form of punishment that is known to cause physiological and psychological harm.  Heather Rice, NRCAT’s Director of U.S. Prisons Policy and Program, is presenting testimony at the hearing today to support the prison’s closure, on moral grounds.

For Immediate Release: March 29, 2012
Contact: Samantha Friedman: (202) 265-3000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

U.S. government’s use of torture MUST be investigated
Polish government act stands in stark contrast to lack of U.S. government response

Washington, D.C. – Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, released this statement today responding to reports that Zbigniew Siemiatkowsk, the former head of Poland’s intelligence service, has been charged for his role in allowing the CIA to run a secret "black site" prison in Poland in which the CIA is alleged to have abused prisoners:

"It is important that we applaud Poland for the significant contribution it is making to the cause of human rights by investigating this secret CIA-run ‘black site’ prison and the torture that is alleged to have occurred in it.  Unfortunately, we cannot similarly commend the United States.  Despite ample opportunity to investigate its past use of torture, and widespread acknowledgement that torture was used by CIA interrogators and others, the U.S. government has consistently refused to allow any form of accountability or atonement for its past actions.  This is a serious mistake.

For Immediate Release: March 22, 2012
Contact: Samantha Friedman: office: (202) 265-3000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

TOMORROW: National interfaith coalition against torture to hold briefing

Washington, D.C. — The National Religious Campaign Against Torture, a coalition of 313 religious institutions and organizations, will hold an interfaith briefing Friday, March 23, on two important areas of work: its advocacy against prolonged solitary confinement in U.S. prisons and its efforts to combat anti-Muslim sentiment.  The briefing is happening in conjunction with the 2012 Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice, March 23-26 in Washington, D.C., of which NRCAT is a co-sponsor.

The briefing will include a screening of Solitary Confinement: Torture in Your Backyard, a film produced by NRCAT featuring several former prisoners who have experienced solitary confinement, including Sarah Shourd, who recounts her experience surviving 14 months of imprisonment in Iran.  She is today an outspoken opponent of prolonged solitary confinement. 

The briefing will be Friday, March 23, from 4-5:45 p.m., at the Doubletree Hotel, 300 Army Navy Drive, in Arlington, Virginia.

For Immediate Release: March 22, 2012

Contact: Samantha Friedman: office: (202) 265-3000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MARCH 27: Anti-Torture Leader Rev. Richard Killmer Comes to F&M

LANCASTER, Penn.—Human Rights Week at Franklin & Marshall College continues Tuesday, March 27 with an appearance by the Rev. Richard Killmer, a 1964 alumnus of F&M and executive director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (www.nrcat.org), an interfaith organization of 313 religious groups committed to ending torture in the U.S. and worldwide.

His talk, “A Challenge for Human Rights: Confronting the Culture of Torture–2012,” will be held at F&M’s Wohlsen Center for the Sustainable Environment. It begins at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and is free and open to the public.

For Immediate Release: March 21, 2012

Contact: Samantha Friedman: office: (202) 265-3000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Proposed changes to California’s solitary confinement policy not enough to address concerns about inhuman conditions

Washington, D.C. — On March 9, 2012, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) released its proposed changes to existing regulations regarding solitary confinement in California prisons. Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, a coalition of 313 religious institutions and organizations, issued the following statement in response to the report: 

“While we applaud the CDCR’s recognition of the need for change and its proposed step-down program to provide prisoners a way out of isolated confinement, we do not believe that the CDCR’s proposals go nearly far enough to substantively address our concerns about inhumane conditions that exist in California’s supermax prisons and other isolated confinement facilities. We believe these conditions violate both U.S. domestic and international law prohibiting the use of torture and other cruel and inhumane treatment.

For Immediate Release: March 21, 2012
Contact: Samantha Friedman: office: (202) 265-3000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

National religious coalition sends letter to Virginia governor asking for independent experts to assist in review of state’s use of solitary confinement

Washington, D.C. — After three Virginia lawmakers, state Senator Adam Ebbin and Delegates Patrick Hope and Charniele Herring sent a request to the Department of Justice this week, asking for an investigation into Virginia’s use of solitary confinement, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, a coalition of 313 religious institutions and organizations, sent the following letter in turn to Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, urging him to provide for independent experts to assist in the Virginia Department of Corrections’ review into long-term solitary confinement in Virginia prisons.  Such independent review has been essential for other states in successfully implementing alternatives to solitary confinement.  Click here for the full letter.

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For Immediate Release: February 22, 2012
Contact: Samantha Friedman: (202) 265-3000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

American hiker SARAH SHOURD to join anti-torture group for screening of film on solitary confinement on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, in Berkeley

Washington, D.C. – The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) and the Bay Area Religious Campaign Against Torture will join the First Congregational Church of Berkeley on Tuesday, February 28, to present a screening of NRCAT’s new 20-minute film, Solitary Confinement: Torture in Your Backyard.  Special guest Sarah Shourd, who survived 14 months of imprisonment in Iran and has become an outspoken opponent of prolonged solitary confinement, will discuss her experience being held in solitary confinement.

Shourd is featured in the film, which describes the harm caused by prolonged solitary confinement and tells the story of how the religious community in Maine took a leading role in helping to bring about significant change in Maine’s prison system.

For Immediate Release: February 20, 2012
Contact: Samantha Friedman: cell: (202) 215-9260 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

TODAY (MONDAY) IN LOS ANGELES:
Coalition of organizations against prolonged solitary confinement to unite in national day of witness in support of prisoners

Washington, D.C. – Members of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) will join California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement today, Monday, in front of the Los Angeles County Jail to protest long-term solitary confinement in American prisons, show support for prisoners, and advocate for legislation that would limit the use of solitary confinement.

The protest will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, February 20, 2012, in front of the Los Angeles County Jail, 441 Bauchet Street in Los Angeles, Calif.  Members of the public are invited to join NRCAT and CFASC in a show of solidarity and resistance to acts of torture in our prisons. 

For Immediate Release: February 9, 2012
Contact: Samantha Friedman, office: (202) 265-3000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

People of faith disappointed in Virginia subcommittee’s refusal to protect incarcerated women
Subcommittee shelves legislation that would have limited shackling of pregnant inmates

Washington, D.C. – Today, a subcommittee of the Virginia House of Delegates Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety declined to take up legislation that if given full consideration, could have allowed more humane treatment of pregnant women inmates.

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) has been outspoken in its efforts to end torture in prisons.  Heather Rice, NRCAT’s Director of U.S. Prisons Policy and Program, today presented testimony at the hearing in support of Virginia legislation to limit shackling of pregnant inmates.

In response to the subcommittee’s decision to table the issue, Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, a coalition of 313 religious institutions and organizations, issued the following statement:

"I am disappointed and saddened by the action of the subcommittee.

For Immediate Release: February 7, 2012
Contact: Samantha Friedman, office: (202) 265-3000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Today in Richmond:
NRCAT participates in efforts to limit shackling of pregnant women inmates

Washington, D.C. – The National Religious Campaign Against Torture today joined a diverse coalition gathered in Richmond, Va., at a press conference to support Virginia legislation to limit shackling of pregnant women prison inmates.

During the press conference at Virginia’s General Assembly Building, Delegates Patrick Hope and Jim LeMunyon discussed the dangers of shackling pregnant inmates during labor, transport to medical facilities, delivery, and postpartum recovery.  They were joined by a coalition of groups working together to limit shackling of pregnant inmates. Among many, this group includes the Family Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, Planned Parenthood, Prison Fellowship, Virginia Council of Churches, Virginia Interfaith Center, and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.