Do Police in Schools Really Make Our Kids Safer?
In Virginia approximately 55% of schools have police officers assigned to then, about twice as many as in 2020. The increases were implemented with the the hopes that having police in school would make our kids safer, but the real impact seems to be that more and more students are being referred to police for disciplinary problems that could be handled at school. The overreliance of policing in schools has led to victimization and violence against our children, especially Black children, and has ultimately led to children being less safe.
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Mandatory Minimums and Racial Justice
Originally touted as a tool to deter serious crime and eliminate sentencing disparities, mandatory minimum sentences have had no measurable impact on deterrence and have coincided with the mass incarceration of African American citizens.
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Misdemeanor Offenses: Minor Conduct, Major Consequences
A misdemeanor is a criminal offense punishable in Virginia by a fine up to $2500 or jail time up to 12 months. Despite being minor offenses, misdemeanors have impacts on the lives of the individuals charged far greater than the charge implies. From remaining in jail while awaiting trial if bail can’t be procured or accepting a plea just to get out of jail, just the accusation of a misdemeanor can turn a defendant’s life upside down. This is followed by a criminal record that lasts a lifetime (expungement is not allowed) and can prevent a person from getting jobs and housing as well as increase the likelihood of being arrested again.
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Jury Sentencing: Allow Juries to Recommend Treatment & Rehabilitation in Addition to Punishment
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.
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Get Informed Pt. IV: Assault on Law Enforcement and Police in Schools - July 28, 2020
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.
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Get Informed About Police Reform, Pt. III: Civilian Oversight - July 22, 2020
Part III of Justice Forward Virginia’s “explainer” series on criminal justice issues is Civilian Oversight Done Right: Transforming Policing Through Robust Civilian Review. We've assembled almost ALL of the statewide experts on this subject: Fairfax NAACP, Legal Aid Justice Center, and the Richmond Transparency and Accountability Project. Don’t miss this one!
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Reforming Jury Sentencing – Reducing Virginia’s Trial Penalty
Virginia’s current law allows prosecutors to force a defendant into a jury trial, which means a jury sentence, if convicted. Sentencing ranges often require juries to give a minimum sentence that don’t apply to judges and juries are not allowed to be told about or recommend alternatives to incarceration, such as probation, drug or mental health treatment, or community service. A simple change that allows defendants to choose sentencing by a judge is one step toward a more fair system.
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Community Oversight: The Road to Police Accountability
In Virginia, law enforcement operates under a shroud of secrecy with far less democratic accountability than our other public institutions. Civilian Oversight Bodies (sometimes referred to as Civilian Review Boards or “CRBs”) in Virginia are limited in power under current state law. Police departments are able to control the Oversight Bodies’ access to the data, evidence, witnesses, and personnel files that they need for meaningful oversight.
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"I Smell Marijuana": How Virginia Gave Cops License to Harass
“I smell marijuana.”
Three magic words with the power to make constitutional rights disappear.
Merely uttering those three magic words gives any police officer in Virginia the power to search your house, your car, your briefcase, your pockets, or even your body, without a warrant or your consent.
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Stopped for Air Freshener: How Virginia Gave Cops License to Harass
Pretextual policing is the practice of stopping someone for a minor traffic violation in order to conduct investigations unrelated to the reason for the stop. In Virginia, there is an extraordinarily low standard under the law, and it’s often abused.
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Assaults on Law Enforcement - How Mandatory Minimums and Felony Punishments Empower Police Abuse
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.
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Get Informed About Police Reform Part 2 -- July 15, 2020
Join us on July 15 at 6:30 for Part II of our ongoing series when experienced Virginia criminal defense attorneys will drill down on pretextual policing, and will also discuss some of the popular police reforms that do NOT work.
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A Second Chance for Justice Reform in 2020: What to Expect & How to Get Involved
Thankfully, Virginia lawmakers have a second chance in 2020 to make good on campaign promises to make meaningful changes to our criminal justice system. Leaders of both chambers of the General Assembly have confirmed that fundamental reforms simply cannot wait.
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Event: Get Informed About Police Reform! -- July 7, 2020
With police reform in the spotlight, there have been dozens of criminal justice reform events recently. Unfortunately, too few of them help laypeople understand the issues the way advocates do. We’re here to help! Join JFV, Sen. Scott Surovell and Del. Don Scott on July 7.
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Justice Reform Content Creators: We Need Your Help!
Do you have expertise in Virginia criminal law, police reform, or criminal justice reform? Do you have graphic design skills to help attract attention to our important cause? We need your help!
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Demystifying Defunding: Criminal Justice Reform IS Police Reform
“Defunding the police” is much less controversial than the term would suggest. It simply means reducing the role police and prisons serve in society while expanding services that make communities healthier, safer and more equitable. It is a recognition that the traditional model of arrest, prosecution and incarceration simply isn’t working, and that comprehensive reforms to our justice system are imperative.
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How Jails Amplify a Pandemic (and Why Lawmakers Must Act Now)
Public health experts unanimously warn of the potential for jails and prisons to serve as COVID-19 amplifiers and incubators, and the immense risk that entails for correctional employees, detainees, and the general public. Unfortunately, Virginia isn’t doing nearly enough to mitigate these risks.
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NoVa Justice Reform Pep Rally: Dec. 11 in Falls Church
Join Justice Forward on Dec. 11, 2019 for our NoVa Criminal Justice Reform Pep Rally, at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack in Falls Church, VA.
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