Attorney General Jason Miyares is declaring a ceasefire in Virginia. Operation Ceasefire, that is.
It's a $5 million program that includes everything from group violence intervention coordinators to working with federal prosecutors to go after repeat offenders.
Republican Delegate Tony Wilt of Rockingham County says Operation Ceasefire helps give young men caught up in the gang lifestyle a way out. "Predatory people and predatory organizations prey on vulnerable people, be it a religious organization or whomever. And gangs target our young people who are at vulnerable points in their lives and they suck them in and then they don't have a way out."
Today, I announced Operation Ceasefire - a proven, comprehensive strategy to combat violent crime by investing in gang intervention, supporting victim witness protection & getting the most violent, repeat offenders off our streets. pic.twitter.com/RUr5BI5nWl
— Jason Miyares (@JasonMiyaresVA) October 17, 2022
Shawn Weneta at the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union says the attorney general's approach to spending the $5 million is too heavy on prosecution and too light on intervention. "What we don't support, what we don't think is the proper technique, is focusing the money on law enforcement and prosecutions," Weneta says. "The bulk of the focus of this should be intervening prior to an event happening."
The attorney general is focusing his attention on 16 partner cities, including Roanoke, Richmond, Norfolk, Hampton and Petersburg.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
