*Note from Gin ~ Sorry for not editing. This came from the guys who have started an organization called P.O.I.N.T. (Positive Offenders Implementing New Thinking) up at State Farm Enterprise Unit over email (they have to type on these teeny-tiny-ipod-like things) and I wanted to get it up so I didn’t take the time to copy edit. Any questions, let me know.
The changes we want are being proposed already they’re just not passing….
In 2018, 2 helpful CJ bills passed…
1) value for felony grand larceny raised from $200 to 500
2) guaranteed video visits kept as cheap as possible and can’t replace in person visits
Likewise, a couple small things in 2019
but many, many more were proposed the last two years by Democratic lawmakers, but failed. aimed at many things–
get locked up less- grand larceny up to 1000 and first time misdemeanor, juveniles sentenced less harshly
have better treatment here- no solitary past 15 days, must track solitary with oversight, better healthcare with oversight
get folks out- make 3 strikes require at liberty for guys in already, new sentencing or parole for Fishback, parole easier and considers only behavior since crime, resentencing chances for time past guidelines, appeals for new evidence, even to consider bringing back parole
help with reentry- restores food stamps for drug offenses, civil rights restored, records expunged easier, no interest on fines, community service counts for fines
…But they are really close to passing! All we need is a few seats changing in our favor.
Not everywhere or always the case, but these days in VA, CJ reform is a partisan issue. Republicans nearly always oppose it, period, and they have a slight majority.
Senate, they are up 21-19. House of Delegates, 51-48 (1 open seat).
This means only two seats switching in each chamber of the legislature would give Democrats majority.
Important because most proposals don’t even get full votes because the party with the majority is in charge of each committee.
to become law, after proposal, has to pass sub committee, then committee, before being voted on by full chamber (house or senate). R’s have been blocking all proposals in committees from even getting votes. thus, need Dems to have majority in both chambers to control committees and get proposals to floor votes. then the politicians can be held accountable for how they vote.
Already, Va has shifted way more in the direction we need to go.
In 2017 elections, Dems gained around 17 seats to get this close.
The state is getting more urban and more diverse.
And if those same patterns continue, this year we should pick up at least 4-6 seats and take both majorities
Plus, the votes of our loved ones matter more this year than ever before in Va
racial gerrymandering has now been stopped in this state. federal courts a couple years ago ruled that Republicans here made districts specifically to reduce the power of minority voters. thus, they had to be remade to fix that. the new districts take effect this election.
these new districts aren’t perfect but first time VA has districts not designed to reduce the voting power of poor, diverse communities.
now, if everyone in the new districts goes out and votes, projections say they will shift the balance in the whole state easily.
so if they turn out now, our loved ones votes will actually change state politics here.
governor already wants people out and getting less time, but he just needs the support of the legislature. this year, thanks to those changes, this can happen if we rock the vote.
And, what happens this year will set the tone for the next 10 years, too
every 10 years, after the US Census, state legislatures get to make new districts to reflect shifting populations. that will be done in VA by the winners of this election.
gerrymandering specifically by race is outlawed, but the courts said last year that political party gerrymandering they can’t control. thus, if the Dems get control this year, they will be able to make districts that ensure fairness. that means more CJ reform for the next ten years!!!
but if we don’t get out to vote and R’s keep control, they’ll make districts that make real reform nearly impossible for at least a decade.
Websites to find your polling place and who is on your ballot by address:
https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/
https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_elections,_2019https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_elections,_2019
https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_House_of_Delegates_elections,_2019
https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_State_Senate_elections,_2019
Delegates Unopposed by Opposite Party
Last name/party (district)
Kilgore/R (1), Morefield/R (3), O’Quinn/R (5), Poindexter/R (9), Rasoul/D (11), Head/R (17), Austin/R
(19), Ridgeway/D (30), Reid/D (32), Keam/D (35), Plum/D (36), Bulova/D (37), Kory/D (38), Filler-Corn/D
(41), Sickles/D (43), Levine/D (45), Herring/D (46), Hope/D (47), Sullivan Jr./D (48), Simon/D (53),
Hudson/D (57), Aird/D (63), Delaney/D (67), Carr/D(69), McQuinn/D (70), Bourne/D (71), Bagby/D (74),
Hayes/D (77), Leftwich/R (78), Heretick/D (79), Samirah/D (86), Jones, J/D (89), Lindsey/D (90), Ward/D
(92), Price/D (95)
Democratic Delegates to Vote for:
Carol Foy/D /2/Woodbridge; Kiser/D/4/Abingdon; Barker/D/6/Marion; Seltz/D/7/Riner;
Lewis/D/8/Salem; Gooditis/D/10/Boyce; Hurst/D/12/Blacksburg; Roem/D/13/Manassas;
Stamps/D/14/Ringgold; Harrison/D/15/Woodstock (running against Gilbert); Evans/L/16/Blairs;
Galante/D/18/Marshall; Lewis/D/20/Waynesboro; Convirs-Fowler/D/21/Virginia Beach (running against
Kane); Woofter/D/22/Lynchburg; Zilles/D/23/Lynchburg; Worth/D/24/Lexington OR
Fishpaw/I/24/Lexington; Allen/I/25/Rockingham; Finnegan/D/26/Harrisonburg;
Barnett/D/27/Midlothian; Cole/D/28/Stafford; Khanin/D/29/Winchester; Guzman/D/31/Woodbridge;
Taintor/D/33/Hamilton; Murphy/D/34/McLean; Watts/D/39/Annandale; Hugo/D/40/Centreville;
Tran/D/42/Springfield; Krizek/D/44/Alexandria; Lopez/D/49/Arlington; Carter/D/50/Manassas;
Ayala/D/51/Woodbridge; Torian/D/52/Dumfries; Canahui-Ortiz/D/54/Spotsylvania;
Goodma/D/55/Mechanicsville; Matkins/D/56/Louisa; Alcorn/D/58/Charlottesville;
Hickey/D/59/Batesville; Zimmerman/D/60/Phenix; Berry/D/61/Victoria; Dougherty/D/62/Chester;
Joyce/D/64/Smithfield; Asip/D/65/Powhatan; Bynum-Coleman/D/66/North Chesterfield OR
Harris/I/66/Richmond – North Chesterfield; Delaney/D/68/Centreville; VanValkenburg/D/72/Henrico;
Willett/D/73/Henrico; Tyler/D/75/Jarrett; Jones/D/76/Suffolk; Scott/D/80/Portsmouth;
Myers/D/81/Virginia Beach; Johnson/D/82/Virginia Beach; Guy/D/83/Virginia Beach;
Mallard/D/84/Virginia Beach; Askew/D/85/Virginia Beach; Subramanyam/D/87/Ashburn;
Foster/D/88/Remington; Mugler/D/91/Hampton; Mullin/D/93/Newport News; Simonds/D/94/Newport
News; Downey/D/96/Williamsburg; Washington/D/97/New Kent; Webster/D/98/Hayes;
Edwards/D/99/Kilmamock; Hernandez/D/100/Norfolk