This year, we are participating in many work groups, coalitions, and working with local and national organizations to bring change in Virginia, to those who have been behind bars for far too long.
This year, we are participating in many work groups, coalitions, and working with local and national organizations to bring change in Virginia, to those who have been behind bars for 10+ years, and done the work to earn their second chance. We believe this should not be limited to those with specific crimes, and should be about the people themselves, and how they’ve rehabilitated and educated themselves in the toughest part of their lives.
This page will be updated as the legislative session continues.
Second Look (Reconsideration)
‘Second Look’ is a reconsideration concept that would allow the currently incarcerated to petition the courts for a reduced sentence after they have spent 10+ years behind bars. They must also have noted good behavior, and completed programming that is available to them.
In Virginia, we are proposing the right to petition the courts after 15+ years for sentence reduction.
UPDATE 2024 GA:
SB 842 passed the senate, but was PBI in the house in 2023. In 2024, we will be submitting the bill again with all new patrons in the senate and the house. The first order of business is the lobby day on 1/16/24. More information to come.
Last Year’s Bill Link for reference: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+ful+SB842E+pdf
Free Prison Communications/Profiteering
Profiteering is a huge problem in Virginia prisons – where corporations and the state are taking away from the families. Sistas in Prison Reform is working on reducing costs of commissary, fees, and communication costs to help keep money in the pockets of the families of the incarcerated.
Communication with family members reduces recidivism and promotes positive interactions for families and children.
UPDATE 2024 GA: We are working with a coalition that is working toward free video visits, JPay messages, and phone calls for all facilities in Virginia. Bill numbers coming soon.
Repealing All Mandatory Minimums
We support repealing all 200+ mandatory minimums in Virginia. Ideally, this would be retroactive, to allow people who are serving time on these sentences a chance to be reconsidered.
We have been working on this issue for the past 2 years, speaking on our impacted loved ones. http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2021/apr/08/rally-calls-end-mandatory-minimum-sentences/
UPDATE 2024 GA: We are in initial discussions with organizations to see if this will be possible for 2024 session.
VADOC Oversight
We support expanded oversight of the Virginia Department of Corrections. Currently, they are one of the only government agencies that have not previously had a structured oversight method. In 2023, a budget amendment was passed creating an ombudsman. There will be more work done to continue to codify and develop this policy.
“The Virginia Department of Corrections has an annual budget of $1.4 billion, employs more than 12,000 individuals, and is responsible for the health and safety of more than 25,000 Virginians in its custody,” stated a letter written by ACLU and other organizations in early 2021. “Yet its operations are largely hidden from public view and scrutiny, and the job of monitoring VDOC falls largely to VDOC itself. Legislators, advocates, and the public rely largely on VDOC to publish accurate and reliable information about the Department’s compliance with laws and best practices, and its treatment of people in its custody. This presents a significant conflict of interest, as the Department has a strong incentive to present information that is self-serving rather than conduct an honest accounting of its successes and failures.”
UPDATE 2024 GA: Bill numbers for 2024 to come.
The SIP 