The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police supports HB 70..

Please move to report HB70, HB509, HB1078, HB1339. Thank you.

HB1197 Please support this bill. Judy Clarke, Founder Virginia Center for Restorative Justice 804-316-0112 VCRJ.org

I oppose HB 70 just as I do HB 110 and HB 1000, because any impediment in establishing an authentic citizen oversight board that is fully funded, free of police infiltration & allyship, risks public welfare and safety. On site during the protests and carrying significant age and experience, my knowledge allows solid understanding of what is The Truth verses other truths that spin and shine and hide. Every city and county, no matter how fine the police department visibly is and believed to be, must have an authentic civilian review board with investigative freedom and power to compel. Many groups are being infiltrated by police officers. An embarrassing moment came when I had to call out an RPD officer who was lying and requesting membership in an oversight volunteer group in Richmond. I did this quietly at first and then firmly. Dishonesty, I can't abide by and there is quite a lot of it and extreme pressure to ensure non disclosures. Changing the culture within PD leadership is essential. Corrupt leadership trickles down. Col. Durham was a good person and a good chief. Richmond's excellent work on homicide rate & clearance was recognized nationally. Friendship must not matter. Membership must not matter. The truth saves lives and welfare in a ripple. Thank you.

HB 70 must be defeated. Officers must be limited to the municipal procedure provided to every other public employee so that the appeal of any misconduct investigation and corresponding discipline is not placed back into the hands of the police. Police brag openly about "the blue line", and covering for each other's misconduct. LEOPGA affords procedural privileges (not rights) to officers who are being investigated for misconduct or who have been found to have engaged in misconduct. It thus doubly harms the community to reward such officers who have hurt these communities with greater privileges than the ordinary public employee. To ensure meaningful oversight of the police, the municipal grievance procedure alone should be afforded to officers found to have engaged in misconduct.

The current state legislature should support the new regulations regarding Police Citizen Oversight Boards and not pass HB 110, HB 1000 or HB 70. On January 27, I observed Charlottesville Citizen Oversight Board’s (COB) Mock Hearing. What became clear to me was the value of a COB not only for the citizens of a community, but also for the Police Department. By going over a case investigated by the PD, the COB was able to analyze the procedures taken and give constructive feedback. It is clear PDs benefit from the suggestions and will improve any future investigations. It also gives the community an opportunity to understand the workings of their PD. The COBs must have clout, so their recommendations and feedback are respected and given serious consideration. The benefits of a well-run COB were greater than I anticipated. The PDs will benefit and become better at serving their communities and the vital partnership between PDs and communities will strengthen. Please do not dilute the impact of COBs with any of these bills.

HB1197 Please support this bill. Judy Clarke, Founder Virginia Center for Restorative Justice 804-316-0112 VCRJ.org

I SUPPORT HB 543, 683, 801, and 908.

HB1197 Please support this bill. Judy Clarke, Founder Virginia Center for Restorative Justice 804-316-0112 VCRJ.org

The use of attack dogs against human being (prisoners) is draconian behavior and inhumane. Vote to put an end to the use of attack dogs. Respectfully, Lillie Branch-Kennedy RIHD

Delegate Kory: On behalf of SALT’s 1300 members we urge SubCommitee #2 Chair & members to vote for HB 638 by Delegate Kory which would prohibit, in many cases, the use of canines against VDOC incarcerated individuals. We agree with Interfaith Action for Human Rights Director Rabbi Feinberg when he said: "It is long past time to put an end to this horrific practice.” SALT urges the General Assembly to pass this much needs legislation as soon as possible." For many years, the Virginia Department of Corrections have used canines to intimidate, coerce, and attack incarcerated individuals – often without good cause. Letters from inmates sent to a human rights organization and The Washington Post and the Richmond Times Dispatch describe Virginia’s maximum-security prisons as regularly using “unmuzzled canines to terrify and attack prisoners.” What we should not do is ignore these claims. Using dogs as weapons against prisoners has been prohibited by many states and even the U.S. military. The use of attack dogs poses the question: Is this who we are? Are we okay with a state’s prison system maintaining a practice that has roots in the most shameful moments of our Virginia history and that other places have already determined is not acceptable? To Us at SALT, the ongoing problem with attack dogs used in our criminal justice system--is a shameful and terrifying part of our criminal justice system that must be ended. Furthermore, Using dogs as weapons against prisoners has been prohibited by many states and even the U.S. military. This draconian practice violates policies and laws in many other states, including Virginia’s neighbor, North Carolina as well as Oregon. Submitted by: John Horejsi, Coordinator, Social Action Linking Together (SALT) Additionally: Below you will find coverage that has appeared in the press—just click on the links for details. Use of Attack Dogs in Virginia State Prisons - Interfaith Action … Feb 15, 2021 — The plaintiffs contend that "the use of unmuzzled canines by prison officers as a means of forcing and intimidating a prisoner to voluntarily … Virginia is using dogs to 'terrify and attack' prisoners, say …Mar 6, 2021 — Virginia is using dogs to 'terrify and attack' prisoners, say lawsuits that describe one man as mauled in his cell. Prisoners Sue Virginia Department of Corrections Over … November 22, 2021--The use of dogs against unarmed and compliant prisoners should be treated as a crime. If police dogs are considered "officers," then their... Virginia Prison Guards Attack Prisoners with Dogs Two prisoners recently filed suit against the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC) alleging that guards used unmuzzled dogs to attack Lawsuit: Virginia Uses Dogs to Attack, Intimidate Inmates ...

I SUPPORT HB 543, 683, 801, and 908.

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HB1197 Please support this bill. Judy Clarke, Founder Virginia Center for Restorative Justice 804-316-0112 VCRJ.org

Concerns with the lack of variety of classes in each division in VDFP Lack of training classes that work for volunteer schedules ( Nights, Weekends) The committee would allow better communications with VDFP Increase in funding for VDFP, hopefully allowing more training opportunities

RIHD supports the end in use of deceptive tactics during interrogation. The use of deceptive practice leads to false information during interrogation, coercing children into making statements that are not in their own best interest. This is wrong and should be unlawful. In the best interest of public safety, vote to end said practice. Respectfully, Lillie Branch-Kennedy Executive Director

Thank you for taking the time to consider this initiative to improve the quality of volunteer firefighter training in the state. The creation of a working group to ensure the cost-effective and accessible training is available to volunteer fire departments throughout Virginia will be incredibly helpful and have far reaching effects to every corner of state. This working group will assist our state representatives in Department of Fire Programs with effectively and efficiently supporting volunteer fire departments and increase the safety of citizens in those localities. Additionally, having a fund from which volunteer departments can request monetary support will elevate the level, frequency, and accessibility of many types of training previously unavailable to them. As fire departments transition to all-hazard public safety entities, these new types of training are absolutely necessary in the effective protection of citizens, property, and the environment. The passing of this bill will have far reaching effects across almost every community in Virginia, most of which are served by volunteer fire departments in many aspects. Thank you for your time.

HB1197 Please support this bill. Judy Clarke, Founder Virginia Center for Restorative Justice 804-316-0112 VCRJ.org

I SUPPORT HB 543, 683, 801, and 908.

HB1197 Please support this bill. Judy Clarke, Founder Virginia Center for Restorative Justice 804-316-0112 VCRJ.org

Delegate Kory: On behalf of SALT’s 1300 members we urge SubCommitee #2 Chair & members to vote for HB 638 by Delegate Kory which would prohibit, in many cases, the use of canines against VDOC incarcerated individuals. We agree with Interfaith Action for Human Rights Director Rabbi Feinberg when he said: "It is long past time to put an end to this horrific practice.” SALT urges the General Assembly to pass this much needs legislation as soon as possible." For many years, the Virginia Department of Corrections have used canines to intimidate, coerce, and attack incarcerated individuals – often without good cause. Letters from inmates sent to a human rights organization and The Washington Post and the Richmond Times Dispatch describe Virginia’s maximum-security prisons as regularly using “unmuzzled canines to terrify and attack prisoners.” What we should not do is ignore these claims. Using dogs as weapons against prisoners has been prohibited by many states and even the U.S. military. The use of attack dogs poses the question: Is this who we are? Are we okay with a state’s prison system maintaining a practice that has roots in the most shameful moments of our Virginia history and that other places have already determined is not acceptable? To Us at SALT, the ongoing problem with attack dogs used in our criminal justice system--is a shameful and terrifying part of our criminal justice system that must be ended. Furthermore, Using dogs as weapons against prisoners has been prohibited by many states and even the U.S. military. This draconian practice violates policies and laws in many other states, including Virginia’s neighbor, North Carolina as well as Oregon. Submitted by: John Horejsi, Coordinator, Social Action Linking Together (SALT) Additionally: Below you will find coverage that has appeared in the press—just click on the links for details. Use of Attack Dogs in Virginia State Prisons - Interfaith Action … Feb 15, 2021 — The plaintiffs contend that "the use of unmuzzled canines by prison officers as a means of forcing and intimidating a prisoner to voluntarily … Virginia is using dogs to 'terrify and attack' prisoners, say …Mar 6, 2021 — Virginia is using dogs to 'terrify and attack' prisoners, say lawsuits that describe one man as mauled in his cell. Prisoners Sue Virginia Department of Corrections Over … November 22, 2021--The use of dogs against unarmed and compliant prisoners should be treated as a crime. If police dogs are considered "officers," then their... Virginia Prison Guards Attack Prisoners with Dogs Two prisoners recently filed suit against the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC) alleging that guards used unmuzzled dogs to attack Lawsuit: Virginia Uses Dogs to Attack, Intimidate Inmates ...

I SUPPORT HB 543, 683, 801, and 908.

The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police supports HB 1000.

HB1197 Please support this bill. Judy Clarke, Founder Virginia Center for Restorative Justice 804-316-0112 VCRJ.org

I support this bill. Any person involved in the disciplinary action against a sworn officer should be required to have additional knowledge of the duties of an officer. In addition to this bill I would encourage adding a minimum number of hours for a ride along. As a police chief, I believe if a recommended discipline is not accepted, that the committee should learn from the chief executive officer why it was not. Having a retired officer on the committee also give more balance and provides a SME within the group to have voting authority.,

I support this bill. Any person involved in the disciplinary action against a sworn officer should be required to have additional knowledge of the duties of an officer. In addition to this bill I would encourage adding a minimum number of hours for a ride along. As a police chief, I believe if a recommended discipline is not accepted, that the committee should learn from the chief executive officer why it was not.

The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police supports HB 1000, The amendments call for civilian review board members to have familiarity with police practices which hopefully will bring more balance and knowledge to the CRB review process. We support having a retired law enforcement officer having a vote on a CRB.

HB 1000 should not be passed. Any police officer who sits on a civilian oversight board absolutely should not be a voting member on the Board. This is a civilian oversight board, emphasizing the word civilian. A police officer, even a retired police officer, is not a civilian. Police are proud of "the blue line" and are open about covering for other police officer's acts of misconduct. For an oversight board to have any credibility with the community members who are the most often subject to over-policing and police misconduct, it cannot have a police officer member who is given a vote. Also, the enabling legislation for oversight boards already passed by the General Assembly should in no way be watered down by reducing the oversight board's disciplinary power to advisory only. Each locality can decide for itself how to create its civilian oversight board. The General Assembly should do nothing to tie a locality's hands in this regard. For these reasons it is imperative that you vote against HB 1000. Thank you.

The current state legislature should support the new regulations regarding Police Citizen Oversight Boards and not pass HB 110, HB 1000 or HB 70. On January 27, I observed Charlottesville Citizen Oversight Board’s (COB) Mock Hearing. What became clear to me was the value of a COB not only for the citizens of a community, but also for the Police Department. By going over a case investigated by the PD, the COB was able to analyze the procedures taken and give constructive feedback. It is clear PDs benefit from the suggestions and will improve any future investigations. It also gives the community an opportunity to understand the workings of their PD. The COBs must have clout, so their recommendations and feedback are respected and given serious consideration. The benefits of a well-run COB were greater than I anticipated. The PDs will benefit and become better at serving their communities and the vital partnership between PDs and communities will strengthen. Please do not dilute the impact of COBs with any of these bills.

H. Any person serving as a voting member of a civilian oversight body shall be required to observe a law-enforcement officer as defined in § 9.1-101 who is employed by a law-enforcement agency established within the boundaries of the locality that established such law-enforcement civilian oversight body while such law-enforcement officer is engaged in his official duties. Such observation shall (i) occur within 90 days of the member's appointment to the civilian oversight body, (ii) total no fewer than 24 hours, and (iii) include a ride-along with a law-enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties. There should be a requirement that the law enforcement officer actually have been a police officer, not a resource officer, or a security guard, or an analyze who observes police offices.

HB1197 Please support this bill. Judy Clarke, Founder Virginia Center for Restorative Justice 804-316-0112 VCRJ.org

The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police supports HB 1191. We do not currently have the law enforcement or mental health resources statewide to stand up Marcus Alert programs. Localities and college campuses should have the option to adopt alternative programs that are in line with resources and best practices. We cannot put mental health workers at risk if resources are not sufficient to respond to a crisis in the safest possible way.

HB1197 Please support this bill. Judy Clarke, Founder Virginia Center for Restorative Justice 804-316-0112 VCRJ.org

I may be a bit late for your 7:30 meeting today, but I hope the decision will be made to convene the workgroup to study the transfer of DJJ to the Secretary of Health. Children and adolescents do not belong in lock up. They belong in caring and nurturing environments and relationships where they can grow and heal from whatever is causing the behaviors creating system involvement. We (child development professional) know that, often, the risky behaviors of youth stem from missed opportunities along the course of their development. These missed opportunities could relate to lack of adequate health in utero, lack of attachment as an infant, lack of interaction to build cognitive and emotional skills in the toddler years and early childhood and beyond. Worse yet, much of this is not only missed opportunity, but situations of direct abuse and neglect. This is even more of a reason to ensure that ALL our children and youth who become system involved are supported from the priorities of health and healing instead of punishment and incarceration. Human brains are growing at warp speed up until our mid-20's. There is so much opportunity for health and healing if our intervention focuses on building health vs. punishing misguided behavior or under-developed cognitive, emotional and social skills. I hope you will move forward with HB1197 and begin the important work of shifting DJJ over to the Secretary of Health. Thank you.

Please vote YES to convening the work group that will study how best to transfer the Department of Juvenile Justice to the Secretary of Health. Taking these steps will get us closer to disrupting juvenile recidivism. Often, the factors that play a role in youth engaging in offending behavior stem from inaccessibility to resources and support, including health related resources and support. Virginia needs this study to better our community, especially for the next generation.

As a member of the Board of Juvenile Justice, I oppose HB 1197. The Department and the Board have worked diligently to create therapeutic communities in our juvenile detention centers to offer holistic and comprehensive mental health, medical and educational services for the young people in these centers. We have seen them thrive, many of them receiving their high school diplomas and advanced education and training to help them transition back into the communities. Any study should focus on how to leverage more treatment and education resources into the current assignment under the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Currently, the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is housed under the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. This structure reinforces the harmful narrative that children are threats to their community and in need of punitive, rather than rehabilitative treatment. The DJJ should be relocated to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to reinforce and support the purpose and mission of the DJJ to protect the public by preparing court-involved youth to be successful citizens. Moving away from punishment and embracing rehabilitation. For every year spent in a youth prison in Virginia, a young person’s probability of being arrested for another crime increases by nearly one third. Virginia’s most recently published 3-year re-conviction rate for youth committed and released from a juvenile prison is 73.5%. Youth engagement in criminal behavior often stems from living in environments profoundly overburdened with lack -- a clear public health issue. Approximately half (48.5%) of all commitments to the care of DJJ in FY2021 were for crimes related to stealing. (burglary, larceny, robbery) In some communities, overwhelmingly communities of color, policies and practices rooted in systemic racism have limited access to robust education, living wage jobs, appropriate healthcare, and other supports key to creating and sustaining healthy and safe communities. As of 2020, over 90 percent of youth incarcerated in Virginia required mental health services, and more than 70% of youth entering youth prisons demonstrated significant symptoms of a mental health disorder at the time of admission. An overwhelming majority of incarcerated youth are from communities living well below Virginia’s poverty line. For young people to learn and recover from even their worst mistakes, we must address the root causes of their behaviors. We must increase investments into creating healthy communities and decrease spending on the carceral system. For a continuum of alternatives to incarceration to be successful, it must provide culturally-competent services and supports administered by individuals who know and understand the situations and environments youth in trouble come from; and who are invested in helping youth and communities transform together. Everything must be on the table: housing and community revitalization projects in under-resourced neighborhoods, job and skills programs, counseling, meaningful relationships with caring adults, restorative justice practices, and other healing-centered interventions proven to help youth and families thrive. Moving DJJ to the Public Health Secretariat is a necessary step towards positive change. A paradigm shift that helps us continue building a youth justice system that serves youth and keeps families and communities safe by addressing the needs of the whole youth and not just the behavior that led to justice system involvement.

RIHD supports a study to transfer the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) that is currently under the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to the Secretary Health and Human Resources. We believe an environment relocation to Secretary Health and Human Resources, would change the mindset of our youth and prepare them to be successful citizens, while supporting the mission to protect the public. Please cast your vote in favor of a study. Respectfully, Lillie Branch-Kennedy RIHD

Please vote YES to convening the work group that will study how best to transfer the Department of Juvenile Justice to the Secretary of Health, which has the needed supports for every child DJJ serves! DJJ should be under the same division as all of the other child programs for a multitude of reasons. This bill provides the mechanism (workgroup) to figure out how best to make this transition.

I ask that you vote Yes on HB1197. By moving the DJJ to Health and Human Services we can better help our communities and young people succeed.

To the Public Safety Committee - I respectfully urge you to vote YES on HB1117. This bill will provide for a study to move the Department of Juvenile Justice from Public Safety & Homeland Security to Health & Human Resources. I support this important bill because the very significant 70%-plus recidivism rate of youth released from DJJ indicates that current best efforts by DJJ are helping only 1 in 4 youths to regain their footing. This very high recidivism rate hasn't changed in decades. Therefore, something really crucial is missing. Due to the fact that most kids come from neighborhoods suffering from poverty and trauma, it is overdue to try something different. Transferring DJJ to Health & Human Resources could help and a study is important to explore this option. Virginia is investing actually quite a bit of money in each youth in their jurisdiction. The high failure rate means these young people aren't being helped back onto a successful path . It is time to review another positive alternative. Please vote YES. Thank you.

Good morning, my name is Sonnja Bennette-Brown I am speaking today as a private citizen with lived experience as a Grandmother of a youth that was committed to Bon Air Detention Center as a 14-year-old. He like 90% of the youth in DJJ suffered from serous mental health illness, in addition to Trauma from child abuse and a learning disability. Access to a treatment program within the community wasn’t considered for him by the legal system. Had the agency been under Health and human Services he would have received the needed interventions based on his mental health and extenuating circumstances of abuse and trauma. DJJ is a child serving agency updating the way it does business requires a complete change of how Juvenile Justice is administered in Virginia. “A trauma-informed service system and/or organization is one in which all components of the system have been reconsidered and evaluated in the light of a basic understanding of the role that violence and trauma play in the lives of youth.” Changing the outcomes by addressing the underlying issues of criminal behaviors. I am in full support of the HB1197 and hope that each person here considers the youth with the same grace and humanity you want for your own child. Image our State leading the way to safer communities and youth that are mentally stable able to work and give back to society that showed them value by giving them voice in the future. Thank you for your time in reading my statement.

Offering support for this bill to advance.

Please move to report HB70, HB509, HB1078, HB1339. Thank you.

AFP is generally supportive of law enforcement utilizing innovative technologies to encourage public safety. However, the bill as written can lead to broad "fishing" violations that drive revenue more than public safety, and it could also be used for authorities to enforce burdensome mandates, as has been used with identifying those who were not wearing masks. For example, London has broadly embraced facial recognition and it was cheered for identifying mask mandate offenders. For this reason, the bill should be reworked into a more restrictive use so that citizens identities are not consistently being scanned and ensuring this policy could not be expanded into more egregious violations of civil liberties in the name of public safety. We hope the patron will reconsider this bill - as the precedent here will likely end up being expanded for broad surveillance of citizens who are presenting no risk to public safety.

HB1197 Please support this bill. Judy Clarke, Founder Virginia Center for Restorative Justice 804-316-0112 VCRJ.org

I support this bill. The need for facial recognition technology in the use of crime fighting is necessary to protect our communities. Just as DNA, fingerprints, and other traditional tools assist LE in their job of keeping communities safe, so does facial recognition technology. LE should be required to operate under approved policy and should be required to keep records regarding the use of this technology.

The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police supports HB 1339. Facial recognition technology is a tremendous technology tool that can strengthen a law enforcement investigation. We support the limited use of this technology and the development of model policy. We would request that DCJS develop model policy, as that is that agency's Code mandate. The other option is to request that the Department of State Police engage with local and campus law enforcement in the development of any model policy.

The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police supports HB 1339 that allows the use of facial recognition technology as an investigative tool for criminal and administrative investigations. We understand this bill would not allow us to use this technology as the basis for probably cause for arrest. But the overabundance of video footage and cameras present in our society, both public and private, make this tool a highly valuable asset in developing investigative leads to solve crimes. We support responsible use of this technology and it is far beyond time to allow law enforcement to incorporate this into our toolbox. It will assist us in solving future crimes as well as those that have gone cold. Cases exist throughout the commonwealth where agencies have pictures involving suspects and persons of interest that have no leads. This technology could be the one tool that leads to successful closures.