Amidst a historic civil rights movement focused on criminal justice reform, we need to know which candidates support the movement & which will allow it to stagnate. Here are the questions we'd like answered from Terry McCauliffe, Jennifer Carroll Foy, Jennifer McClellan, Justin Fairfax, and Lee J. Carter.
Read MoreGov. Ralph Northam’s announcement to repeal the prohibition on simple marijuana possession as of July 1, 2021 is the first step toward ending racist marijuana law enforcement. The ACLU of Virginia, Marijuana Justice, RISE for Youth, and Justice Forward Virginia applaud the governor for understanding that justice delayed is justice denied. We urge the legislature to approve the governor’s amendment, which will legalize possession of less than one ounce and reduce the charge for possession of one ounce to one pound to a civil penalty, effective July 1.
Read MoreStatement of Justice Forward Virginia’s Executive Director, Brad R. Haywood, on Governor Northam signing into law abolition of the death penalty on March 24, 2021
Read MoreGet 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.
Read MoreJoin us Thursday, March 11 at 7pm for our post session roundup, “I Survived Crim Sub,” a discussion about session, success, and where we go next
VIRGINIA POLL: By a +43 point margin, Virginia voters across party lines strongly support allowing Virginia judges and juries to consider evidence about a defendant's mental state and mental illnesses in criminal trials.
Read MoreOn February 9, 2021, Justice Forward Virginia, along with 24 other organizations, sent a letter to Governor of Virginia Ralph Northam and Virginia lawmakers, laying out five criteria for marijuana legalization that will center racial equity and the people and communities most impacted by decades of the War on Drugs.
Read MoreJustice 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.
Read MoreJustice Forward Virginia sent a letter to Senator Edwards and Leader Herring about the upcoming decision of whether to expand the Court of Appeals. JFV supports the expansion and believes that adding seats would present an opportunity to diversify the bench.
Read MoreWe 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.
Read MoreBut 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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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.
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.
Read MoreResearch 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreVirginia 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.
Read MoreLobby 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.
Read MoreJoin 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.
Read MoreSign 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.
Read MoreJoin 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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