Dear Chairman Hope, and Members of the Committee: My name is Justin Dean English, and I am a Policy Associate submitting this written testimony on behalf of Just Future Project in opposition to HB149 in its current form. I am deeply concerned about the process leading to this bill’s introduction and the lack of transparency presented by individuals testifying to this Committee’s members. The final report from this Youngkin-influenced, Youngkin-packed working group should garner serious consideration from all members of this committee and the public, but this is not possible. Several organizations materially or de facto misrepresented the status and origin of HB149 last Wednesday by referring to an unfinalized, unpublished report in their testimony to the Criminal Subcommittee. As explained below, this working group violated the letter and spirit of the law in testifying without transparency, which should garner massive scrutiny and doubt over the entirety of the language presented before this Committee. HB149 (2026) came from a working group enacted in 2025 by HB2252 (CHAP0657). That working group was legally mandated to submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor by November 1, 2025. As of writing, that report has yet to be submitted to the General Assembly for consideration. Further still, no evidence in support of Governor Youngkin’s holdover language from the original bill was acknowledged by the groups testifying. That said, members of the working group testified that the bill matched their consensus and is consistent with the factual basis of their report. Just Future Project, nor any other organization not represented in the working group, cannot challenge this because the final report is not publicly available. Transparency mandated by law must be followed, not ignored. Rather than advancing fair and transparent policy, the organizations in this working group were willing to let language some members were discontent with go before the Subcommittee without any publicly-available information offering explanation as to why members publicly criticizing the language were ultimately overridden. A lack of controversy stemming from zero transparency and the unlawful withholding of a report should not render a bill non-controversial for the purposes of this agenda. The Committee should refer HB149 back to the Criminal Subcommittee, who should then: 1.) Not move HB149 onto the agenda prior to the official publication of the final report to the General Assembly. 2.) Review the report’s factual basis in relation to the bill language submitted—especially given the lack of transparency thus far. 3.) Allow for further public testimony on HB149. 4.) Meaningfully consider amendments to the existing bill language after said testimony.

The Valley Justice Coalition applauds Del Wren's attempt at incentivizing those who have served their time to continue to improve themselves and meet all the requirements of probation. However, this bill must NOT exclude anyone based on their charges. They must be judged on their present actions; not the actions of the past. Please make the necessary amendments to assure that everyone who completes the PO's requirements are eligible for an early release from probation.

Something’s should have been looked into before and changed way before now.

Women Against Registry (who has many members living in Virginia), believes in a justice system that recognizes people’s capacity for growth and change, and that supports rehabilitation after a person has fulfilled their obligations to society. Policies that extend supervision long after an individual is unlikely to reoffend do not make communities safer; in fact, research consistently shows they can be destabilizing and increase the risk of harm. HB149 undermines its own rehabilitative purpose by excluding broad categories of people based solely on offense labels through its reference to Virginia Code § 19.2-303—exclusions that are not grounded in evidence, but in fear and long-standing bias. It is deeply ironic to incentivize rehabilitation while denying that opportunity to those we most want to succeed. If the intent was for this bill to apply after completion of mandatory supervision, the language must be amended to reflect that; as written, it permanently excludes many people based on past convictions rather than present risk. Additionally, the bill relies on vague “minimal risk” standards that leave too much discretion to probation offices without meaningful guidance from the legislature, inviting inconsistency and inequity. While well-intentioned, HB149 does not yet reflect the values of fairness, accountability, and redemption that should guide our laws, and it requires significant revision before moving forward.

Thank you for considering this important issue that impacts our communities. I support HB149 because I'm aware of the important role played by probation officers, and that this resource is frequently spread too thin. If we allow early termination for individuals who demonstrate sustained compliance, it would allow our probation officers to increase their time and attention on individuals who pose the greatest need and risk. I'm also aware that individuals on probation face obstacles when seeking employment, and research shows that obtaining employment significantly reduces the likelihood of re-offending. If we make it easier for people who have served their sentences to find jobs, our communities will be safer.

HB 149 is a common sense measure that reduces costs, enhances public safety, and most importantly, gives returning citizens the ability to rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities in a positive way. Probation, particularly excessively long probation, continues to punish people who have already completed their sentences in a facility. If someone is complying with the terms of their probation and making sustained progress toward education, employment, and any necessary treatment for substance abuse or mental health, they should be able to EARN early termination. This allows probation officers to reduce supervision of lower-risk cases and focus their attention on individuals who posed the greatest need and risk, enhancing public safety. This bill also reduces costs in a fiscal climate where we should be spending money to give people a hand up, not continuing to push them down. Without the endless restrictions of probation, individuals can be better contributors to our economy, communities, and families. This bill provides courts and probation officers with another tool to improve supervision outcomes and enhance community safety.

Comments Document

I am Scott E. Peyton, Director of Government Affairs at Prison Fellowship, and I am writing to express Prison Fellowship’s support of HB149. With nearly 50 years of experience encountering Jesus with men and women behind bars, Prison Fellowship® is a leading national voice shaping the public debate on justice. We mobilize Christians and equip policymakers to advocate for federal and state justice reforms that advance proportional punishment, constructive corrections culture, and second chances. Our guiding principles are rooted in the biblical call to seek justice, love mercy, and restore hope. Community supervision is a core public safety function. Individuals on probation are serving their sentence in the community, not in custody, and their conduct directly affects neighborhoods, workplaces, and families. Effective probation is not leniency; it is structured accountability with enforceable conditions and swift response to noncompliance. Having served for more than a decade as a probation and parole officer in Louisiana, I saw firsthand that when supervision resources are spread too thin, risk management suffers. The availability of early termination for individuals who demonstrate sustained compliance allowed officers to reduce supervision of lower-risk cases and focus time and attention on individuals who posed the greatest need and risk. This legislation advances public safety by formalizing that common-sense approach. Excessively long probation periods can create unnecessary roadblocks for individuals who are otherwise complying with court-ordered conditions. For example, individuals who remain on probation often face greater difficulty securing employment, as employers may be hesitant to hire someone currently under supervision. Research consistently shows that obtaining employment significantly reduces the likelihood of reoffending and early termination, when appropriate, supports successful reintegration and safer communities. Experience from other states reinforces this approach. At least 19 states, including Texas, Florida, and Missouri, offer mechanisms that allow individuals on probation to earn early discharge based on sustained compliance. After adopting such policies, Missouri saw no increase in recidivism while its supervised population declined by approximately 18 percent. These outcomes demonstrate that early termination can safely reduce caseloads while preserving public safety. A justice system that aligns with mercy acknowledges that transformation is possible, while preserving accountability and judicial discretion. This bill provides courts and probation officers with another tool to improve supervision outcomes and enhance community safety.

Probation has been an issue for years most people who are on probation don't have a license to drive but are forced to be there in other states probation officers come to the home for visits . Also probation can become a problem when you do find employment that you would have to leave during your shift in which can cause a person to lose their jobs there are no offices open over the weekend or late after hours for some who may work second or third shifts . Drug testing should only be done if you have been charged with a crime of drugs . Violations from other counties if you have probation in more then one county it should all be put on one not having multiple counties involved if you violate every county is notified and you are charged by all that it self is double jeopardy.

There are MANY injustices in the criminal justice system. Most of the cards are in the prosecution's hands. As someone unjustly prosecuted and whose conviction was secured by impermissible deceit, I know that reducing time under probation's thumb is the first real step toward getting on with one's life. This is an excellent start, and Del Wren Williams is to be commended for understanding that there should be more discretion in reducing probation, and the outsized control of the DOC and probation officers.