Thread by @JusticeFwdVa

2021 was a year of meaningful comprehensive changes to VA’s criminal justice system. As it comes to a close we’re taking a look back at what we’ve accomplished together, adding highlights to the thread throughout the day. Thanks to everyone in the movement—justice forward! 1/

Incarcerating someone for 5 yrs for stealing something worth less than $1K is facially unreasonable, but that’s exactly what VA’s Petty Larceny three strikes rule did. @KenPlum1’s HB2290 ELIMINATED the enhanced policy that put Virginians in a needless cycle of systemic abuse. 2/

With broad support, @delegateaird’s HB1990 Racial Impact Statements allowed Virginia to join a host of other states— IA, CT, FL, OR, NJ, MN, & CO—in creating mechanisms to help prevent seemingly neutral criminal justice policy from having harmful outcomes. 3/ #justiceforwardva

The scale of mass incarceration & supervision in VA is staggering. @MeekMill joined our advocacy efforts to advance Delegate @DonScott757’s HB2038. The new law corrects an egregious policy failure and helps to remove “the proverbial knee on the neck of marginalized communities.”

https://twitter.com/BradleyRHaywood/status/1403012053183303694

VA lacked unified data collection. @SenLouiseLucas @C_Herring’s SB1391/HB2110 Pretrial Reform: Data Collection now helps us make informed decisions on how to minimize unnecessary pretrial detention, while ensuring community safety, and the timely disposition of criminal cases. 5/

“Part of our challenge in protecting public safety is the Code itself,” in this case, VA had only one punishment for robbery: 5 YEARS TO LIFE in prison. Del. Watts’ HB1936 removed the “5 to Life” range, replacing it with degrees based on the seriousness of the offense. 6/

Expungement, period. After the tireless and many years work of @LegalAidJustice & @nolefturnsinc, @C_Herring @surovell’s HB2113/SB1399 came to pass—for the first time, Virginia would secure a good start at creating a system of automatic record sealing. 7/

https://twitter.com/rpogge/status/1365049869417775105

Although the Constitution requires presumption of innocence & bond unless a person is determined to be a risk, VA Code flipped the script with presumptions against bail. @CreighDeeds SB1266 ended presumptions—creating a big step for reducing unnecessary pretrial incarceration. 8/

It took countless years & advocacy orgs, but VA became the first in the South to legalize Marijuana. @C_Herring @AdamEbbin’s HB2312/SB1406 created an authority to regulate, & legalized simple possession & home cultivation for adults 21 yrs & up. MAJOR shouts to @thcjusticenow! 9/

Every bit of relevant info should be allowed at trial, yet those accused of crimes in VA were prohibited from submitting evidence of mental illness due to 1985 VA Supreme Crt decision. @BarbaraFavola @JennMcClellanVA @JeffMBourne’s HB2047/SB1383 changed that. Justice forward! 10/

Some spent entire careers placing demands on themselves unlike any reformer—advocating to abolish the death penalty, 3 bill filings @ssurovell @mikemullin4VA @carterforva, & a Governor’s commitment, and 2021 finally became the year VA gave up the power to kill its own people. 11/

VA was one of TWO states that maintained entirely mandatory jury sentencing. Morrissey’s SB5007 enacted in 2021 gives defendants who elect jury trial a choice of judge or jury at sentencing—helping Virginians avoid the jury penalty, a driving force behind mass incarceration. 12/

In the months following the murder of George Floyd, public defenders in VA drafted legislation to address racial disparities in pretextual policing practices. In March, VA became the first state to eliminate many pretexts—serving as a model for reform 13/ nbcnews.com/news/us-news/t…

70% of the VA Crt of Appeals bench spent careers locking people up & defending police, none fought for rights of indigent defendants. In 2021 the GA appointed public defenders/legal aid to the bench—the diversity of perspective that’s essential to equal justice under the law. 14/

https://twitter.com/justicefwdva/status/1426574946176733190