Petit Larceny - Ending the Three Strikes Rule
Petit Larceny - Ending the Three Strikes Rule

But people who repeatedly commit Petit Larceny offenses are not thieves looking to get ahead, nor are they master criminals. They are often from Virginia’s most vulnerable communities. They suffer from mental illness, have substance use disorders, and are often homeless. Subjecting people like these to felony penalties is, in many cases, pointlessly cruel. We should be aiming to make our criminal laws more just and rational, and eliminating this enhancement would be a step in the right direction.

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Sentencing, Trial PenaltyGuest User
Abolition of the Death Penalty
Abolition of the Death Penalty


The death penalty is a failure - racially, penologically, financially, and morally. The federal government’s recent killing spree over the last few months was a horrifying reminder that any power we give the government is subject to abuse. It is time for Virginia to give up the power to kill its own people.

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SentencingGuest User
The Urgent Need for Probation Reform
The Urgent Need for Probation Reform

Although probation was originally intended to help people successfully transition from incarceration to the community, it has often served as a no-win situation that ensures their failure, and return to prison, is a burden on an already broken system, and fails to serve as the crutch for re-entry as it was “intended”. Probation is a set up for failure—lengthy supervision, onerous restrictions, constant scrutiny.

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Sentencing, Probation ReformGuest User
Counsel at First Appearance
Counsel at First Appearance

Research tells us that how quickly a person is released after arrest can have a profound impact on the outcome of their criminal case. Unfortunately, in Virginia, our pretrial system leads to people, especially poor people, being held unnecessarily for days before they can be released simply because they are not appointed a lawyer in a timely manner. By allowing and ensuring that individuals have an attorney when they first appear in front of a judge, bail can be considered immediately. And if a person is eligible for bail, they can return home, often within a day of their arrest, while the charges are pursued. Not having access to an attorney who can request bail, either because a public defender or court appointed counsel hasn’t been assigned or because of the jurisdiction’s policy, leads to additional and unnecessary time that a person - who has not been convicted - is being held in jail.

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Bail ReformGuest User
Virginia law bars evidence of mental illness unless an accused pleads Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. That’s wrong, and here’s why. 
Virginia law bars evidence of mental illness unless an accused pleads Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. That’s wrong, and here’s why. 

In Virginia there is a rule that prohibits introducing evidence of mental illness in criminal cases unless the Accused pleads Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (“NGRI”). As a result, the jury is not made aware of mitigating evidence that would allow for a fair trial and appropriate resolution. Currently an important bill is being considered that will change this rule and make the criminal legal system more fair for individuals who suffer from mental illness.

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General, Drug Reform, Sentencing, Trial PenaltyGuest User
Ending Arbitrary Limits on Sentence Reductions
Ending Arbitrary Limits on Sentence Reductions

Virginia law currently allows a defendant to request a modification of their sentence at any time, as long as they are being held within a local detention facility. The very moment an individual is transported from a local jail to a state prison, however, they are completely stripped of their right to request a reconsideration. As a result, an individual’s life can be forever altered, simply due to an arbitrary rule within Virginia’s code.

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SentencingGuest User
Lobby Days - 2021 Legislative Session
Lobby Days - 2021 Legislative Session

Lobby Day for General Session looks a little different in 2021. Join criminal justice reform advocates across the Commonwealth, virtually, to meet with legislators on several select dates. Read more and sign up for virtual lobbying January 8th, 11th, and 12th! Meet with legislators ahead of the GA’s General Session kickoff to discuss the importance of our urgent criminal justice reform legislative priorities.

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EventsGuest User
Justice Reform "Prep" Rally - January 7, 2021
Justice Reform "Prep" Rally - January 7, 2021

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.

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Events, Mandatory Minimum, Bail ReformGuest User
Virginia Criminal Justice Town Hall: Rolling Back Mandatory Minimums and Providing Second Chances
Virginia Criminal Justice Town Hall: Rolling Back Mandatory Minimums and Providing Second Chances

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.

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Mandatory Minimum, Trial Penalty, EventsGuest User