Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow some prisoners to be released early if they can demonstrate good behavior.
Critics of the prison system say mass incarceration has not worked. And they’re pushing lawmakers to adopt a system where inmates can earn credits to get out early if they can demonstrate good behavior and show they’re on a path to rehabilitation.
Republican Senator John Cosgrove of Chesapeake says that’s a mistake. “We are letting violent predators have more time away from their sentences. The juries or the judge gave them the sentences because they wanted them to serve a specific amount of time, and what we are doing as a legislature with this bill is changing the outcome of the sentencing that was provided by the judicial system.”
Senator Jennifer Boysko is a Democrat from Herndon. Boysko says her bill does not apply to people serving time for murder, rape, kidnapping or sexual assault. “This version of the bill excludes violent criminals. I don’t know how much more clearly I can say that. This excludes violent felonies. And again, most people who are in jail will be coming home at some point. This is an incentive to give them the skills so that they are ready to return to society.”
Survivors of sexual assault testified against the bill, raising concerns people serving time for making child pornography would be able to participate in the program. The bill passed a Senate committee on a party line vote.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
