17/07/2015
ACTION ALERT! ACTION ALERT! PLEASE SHARE!
MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR VA FAMILIES AND INCARCERATED PEOPLE!
**OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!**
PLEASE attend if able!
VA's Parole Commission Hearings Begin:
Monday, July 20, from 1-4 p.m. in House Room 3, Virginia State Capitol. 1000 Bank St. Richmond, VA 23219
**GOAL**
The hope of this commission would be attain a recommendation for the General Assembly to take up legislation next session for the reinstatement of parole. Something that is becoming a much more realistic opportunity so calls, emails and citizen representation at the commission hearings are VERY important. This would be a HUGE win for our incarcerated loved ones.
**TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW!**
Call the following people IMMEDIATELY to express support for the reinstatement of parole!
Your State represenatives: http://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security BRIAN MORAN: 804-786-5351, link to email form: https://governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/
Former Attorney General MARK EARLY: [email protected], 703-232-1577 (ask to leave a message for Mark Early)
Secretary of the Commonwealth LEVAR STONEY:(804) 786-2441, [email protected]
**EXAMPLE SCRIPT! SHORT AND SWEET!**
(email and phone calls)
Hello__________,
My name is __________ and I live in ____________. I am contacting you today to please take my opinion, as a citizen of Virginia, into consideration as the Parole commission hearings commence on Monday July, 20th. I strongly urge the commission to consider the high cost that mass incarceration imposes on Virginia citizens and our families. Since the abolishment of parole the tax payer has had to bear a heavy cost for a majority non violent prison population. The board would be misguided if it found that any less than the immediate reinstatement of parole was in order. Incarceration in Virginia is just too costly and it is only further breaking apart Virgnina's families. I strongly believe, through research and statistics, that the abolishment of parole was a terrible decision. Thank you for your time. I expect citizen comments to be passed onto the full commission.
Sincerely,
________
**MORE INFORMATION!**
Governor McAuliffe has issued Executive Order 44 which appoints a parole commission to review "Virginia's approach to parole and recommending any policy changes." We hope this commission decision/recommendation will be to correct sentencing injustices of the past that remain uncorrected. This is a chance for Virginia to bring back parole that was abolished in 1995.
Governor McAuliffe Appoints 27-Member Parole Commission
Bipartisan, Participants Representives of Law Enforcement, Community Groups, Academia
Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the appointment of an experienced group of law enforcement professionals, legislators, community leaders and academics to serve on his Commission on Parole Review. On June 24th the Governor signed Executive Order No. 44 creating the Commission and charging it with reviewing Virginia’s approach to parole and recommending any policy changes that may enhance public safety while protecting taxpayer dollars. The Commission will be chaired by former Virginia Attorney General Mark Earley, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran and Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar Stoney.
“Twenty years after this Commonwealth banned parole, I believe it is appropriate to examine that policy to determine if it’s the best, most cost-effective way to keep people safe,” said Governor McAuliffe. “In Virginia we currently have 30,369 inmates incarcerated in state correctional facilities, at an average cost of $27,462 per inmate, per year. I believe we owe it to Virginians to consider new ideas for keeping people safe, rehabilitating offenders, and spending every single taxpayer dollar as wisely as possible.”
“This bipartisan panel of Virginia leaders will bring an array of perspectives to this important discussion about how our Commonwealth can best keep our communities safe while spending every taxpayer dollar as wisely as possible,” said Governor McAuliffe. “I applaud their willingness to put political dogma and preconceived notions aside and engage in a thoughtful process about how this policy has worked for Virginians over the past twenty years and whether there are any opportunities to improve it going forward. With the guidance of Co-Chairs Moran, Stoney and Earley, I am confident that their final report will represent the best interests of all citizens of the Commonwealth.”
The first meeting of the Commission is scheduled for Monday, July 20, from 1-4 p.m. in House Room 3, Virginia State Capitol.
The Commission will address five significant priorities related to Parole Reform:
1. Conduct A Review of Previous Goals and Subsequent Outcomes.
2. Examine the Cost of Parole Reform/Abolition
3. Evaluate the Best Practices of Other States
4. Recommend Other Mediation Strategies
5. Provide Recommendations to Address Public Safety Challenges
A draft report is due to the Governor by Nov. 2, 2015, with a final report due Dec. 4, 2015.
Justice Policy Institute report on the Cost of Incarceration In Virginia...
http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/va_justice_system_expensive_ineffective_and_unfair_final.pdf
