Thread by @JusticeFwdVa

False info regarding the “cost” of jury sentencing reform is jeopardizing the passage of SB5007 by @VAHouseDems. We’ve got the data that should put those costs arguments to rest for good. Ready? 1/3 @DelegateTorian @MarkSicklesVA @EFillerCorn @kmurphyva @JeionWard

Acc. to the Va. Crim. Sent. Comm’n, there were 24,648 guidelines sentencing events in 2019. Only 1.2% of those were from jury trials. That means a TOTAL of only 287 convictions resulted from jury trials all year. More than 24,000 were bench trials (8%) or guilty pleas (90%). 2/3

So, generously assuming that around 50% of jury trials result in acquittals, the total number of juries in the entire state is probably around 550 ALL YEAR. FOR THE ENTIRE STATE! About 5 per Commonwealth’s Att'ys Office

Facts, people! You can't ignore them! Pass SB5007 now! 3/3

(Should be noted that these are felony trials, but that’s also what’s at issue with jury sentencing reform, and where the increase in trials was alleged to come from).