Saturday February 27th, lawmakers assigned to reconcile Senate Bill 1443 and House Bill 2331 regarding the Repeal of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing in Virginia, failed to reach a compromise on bill language, and as a result the proposed legislation died in conference. We could not be more disappointed that the legislature failed to repeal mandatory minimums this session, particularly when the proposed legislation had no real opposition. The Virginia Crime Commission recommended the repeal of all mandatory minimums in the Commonwealth. Countless lawmakers, including leadership in both chambers, have campaigned and continue to campaign on a promise to repeal mandatory minimum sentencing for all. Mandatory minimums are a racial justice issue, a human rights issue, they are an insult to civil liberties, and we will not stop fighting until the General Assembly ceases allowing this injustice to exist.
Get the 2021 Legislative Lowdown straight from some our favorite lawmakers. Join Justice Forward Virginia, Senator Jennifer McClellan, Delegate Nancy Guy, and Delegate Jeff Bourne—Monday March 22nd, 2021 at 8PM on Facebook Live.
Justice Forward joined with FAMM, ACLU of Virginia, Americans for Prosperity Virginia, Humanization Project, Interfaith Action for Human Rights, and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance in signing a letter to House of Delegates leadership urging the House of Delegates to follow the state crime commission's recommendation and repeal all mandatory minimum sentences.
We are half way through the 2021 legislative session, and the House and Senate have passed two very different bills. Find out about what’s in each and why Justice Forward Virginia strongly supports the Senate bill. HINT: It gets rid of almost ALL mandatory minimums.
Join Justice Forward Virginia January 7th in preparation for the 2021 Legislative Session at our Justice Reform “Prep” Rally—you’ll hear from legislators and policy makers leading the criminal justice reform charge. During our hour long Facebook Live, the experts will roll out priority legislation being heard in the General Assembly and how advocates can support it most effectively.
Sign the Petition! Virginia has over 200 mandatory minimum sentences that require judges to impose prison terms without considering the circumstances of each case or the needs or role of each person. This one-size-fits-all sentencing scheme is unjust and does not increase public safety. Virginia needs to get rid of its mandatory sentences.
Join FAMM, Americans for Prosperity VA, Ladies of Hope Ministries, and Justice Forward Virginia, December 8th 6:30-8pm, for a virtual town hall discussion on the need to repeal Virginia’s mandatory minimum sentences. Learn and effectively take action ahead of the 2021 legislative session. Hear from state policymakers, impacted families, and advocates working to advance reform.
We made it through the 2020 Special Session and have lots to celebrate. Find out what happened with Justice Forward’s priority legislation: Jury Sentencing, Pretextual Policing, Earned Sentence Credits, Expungement Reform, and Assault on Law Enforcement Officers.
Still have questions about police reform as we approach the special legislative session? Tune in on August 12 from 6:30-8:00pm when we're bringing back some of the most popular guests from our "Get Informed About Police Reform" explainer series!
On August 5, join Vernida R. Chaney (President, NoVa Black Attorneys Assoc.), national justice reform expert Premal Dharia (Defender Impact Initiative) and Justice Forward's own Andy Elders for an expert panel on why mandatory minimums don't work, and why they ought to be repealed -- ALL of them, not just those applicable to nonviolent offenses.
Virginia law limits what punishments jurors are allowed to recommend. They can’t recommend alternatives to jail or fines - including probation, treatment, rehabilitation, or community service. This practice is unfair to both juries and to defendants and should be changed.
On July 28, join Professor Julie McConnell and public defenders Brad Lindsay and Ashley Shapiro for an expert panel on why school resource officers are so problematic, and why Virginia's assault on police statute is much more controversial than the name would imply.
Virginia’s Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer statute makes what is often a minor offense a felony and has a mandatory minimum sentence of 6 months in jail. This statute’s elevated punishment structure has other troubling effects on the criminal justice system: (1) It gives the police officer extraordinary power to punish those who insult or otherwise defy them, including people of color who are victims of excessive force, and (2) It intimidates the accused into taking plea offers in cases where the accused would prefer to take the case to trial.
