© 2024
Virginia's Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

What Criminal Justice Reforms Passed Out of the General Assembly This Year?

AP Photo / Steve Helber

Democrats arrived in Richmond for the General Assembly session this year with a long list of agenda items for criminal justice reform. But, many of the more sweeping changes were scuttled.

The Senate approved a number of sweeping criminal justice reform efforts this year, things like expanding the ability of people to expunge their criminal records, allowing parole for people who are terminally ill or permanently physically disabled, giving judges more authority to dismisses cases even when there’s sufficient evidence to convict. All of these ideas got out of the Senate but were blocked by the House.

Senator Scott Surovell of Fairfax County says that’s because of a difference in the temperament between the two chambers. 

“The House, historically for the last 20 years, has had a very different view of criminal justice reform," Surovell explains. "And for some reason the election didn’t seem to change their minds, even the Democrats.”

One of the most sweeping criminal justice reform efforts the Senate passed and the House blocked was introduced by Senator Joe Morrisssey of Richmond. It would have judges – not juries – issue sentences to defendants. 

“Right now 44 out of 50 states have judge sentencing for jury trials. The federal system has judge sentencing for federal trials," he says. "And as long as I’m in the state Senate, I’m going to move for Virginia to move into the 21st century so that we have judges doing the sentencing.”

The House Courts of Justice Committee killed that idea for this year, although it did open up a study on the issue. So that idea will be back before lawmakers next year.

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.

Michael Pope is an author and journalist who lives in Old Town Alexandria.