Public Comments for 01/26/2023 Public Safety - Public Safety
HB1654 - Civilian deaths in custody; report.
RIHD Inc. and Rich Mindz Community is in favor of Bill1654. Thank you.
HB1827 - Autopsies; decedents in the custody of Department of Corrections.
Members of the Virginia House: I cannot fully express my absolutely heart-wrenching disappointment in the voting down of bills that are only meant to keep us safer here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Your lack of awareness around how we here in VA feel day in and day out living in the communities you were elected to support is appalling. Guns have no business on our streets. Especially those designed for war and senseless murder. Our children go to school every day and have to practice lockdown drills because mass murders have tripled in this country over the last five years, many taking place in schools where our babies go every day to learn -- not to fear for their lives. Say that to yourself out loud: MASS MURDERS HAVE TRIPLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. In AMERICA. Does that sound American? Does that make you proud of this country? To me, it feels like a lie. How can that reality apply to the great United States of America? How bout that - UNITED States? That isn't even valid today is it -- we have never been so divided. As a mother, I have never felt such unrelenting nagging anxiety. Why are you so hell-bent on keeping guns on our streets? Have enough lives not been lost? Despite the incessant violence taking place and destroying lives and communities every single day, you do nothing - and point fingers at mental health. Do you know what doesn't help someone mentally ill? Access to guns. You know that this problem is not fixed with one solution. You know that if we invest in mental health, public schools, AND enact common sense gun laws, we would see a huge difference - paying attention to just one piece of this will never get anywhere. I, and every single person I know, is begging you to stand up and do what is right by the American people – ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines WHILE ALSO looking for ways to improve public schooling and mental health. Work together for once. Haven’t we had enough? Give us a fighting chance at peace and civility. How many more innocent lives must be stolen before elected officials yourself especially see the error of their ways? You are part of the problem if you are not working towards a solution that benefits EVERYONE, including law-abiding gun owners. PLEASE. I pray every night that those who are vehemently against passing measures that only stand to help have a change of heart and finally do what is right for the entire Virginia community so that fewer innocent lives are stolen thanks to shockingly - and dangerously - weak gun laws. ------ Maggie Van Arsdell (703) 485-6551 margaretmvanarsdell@gmail.com
HB1914 - Corrections, Department of; operations and costs.
The word hero has been thrown around quite a bit lately and it's always taken to mean police, fire and frontline health professionals. with the work that corrections professionals do, they deserve to be mentioned in that same breath. We deal with the individuals that society wants nothing to do with and we are expected to make changes in their lives and behavior in order to maintain public safety. It is a daunting task and it becomes even more difficult when you don't have the proper staffing to ensure that each person gets the attention that they require. Retaining the best qualified, passionate and well trained workforce is indeed a financial issue. Many of the individuals that work in corrections, including myself, either have to seek outside employment or work overtime hours in order to make ends meet. The stress of a career in corrections, compounded with financial concerns lead to potential mental and physical exhaustion. That then effects productivity and effectiveness in delivering the mission of public safety. Many of the people that I have had the pleasure of working with since I moved here are hard working and passionate about what they do. They work in an environment that is just as dangerous and taxing as those in policing agencies with a fraction of the authority and resources and they do so with pride, integrity and dignity. However, passion should not trump the need for fair compensation. The expectations placed upon corrections professionals, probation officers in particular, are not on par with the compensation that is currently offered. Couple that with the fact that the turn over in that position remains high, then the recipe for potential burnout is on the stove and at a high boil. We know that crime is not going to stop. There is a steady stream of convicted criminals leaving the courts all over the Commonwealth and heading to corrections facilities and probation districts daily. If you are truly invested in serving the people of Virginia and ensuring public safety, should it not be in your best interest to retain, care for and compensate those individuals that are on the frontlines of carrying out that mission on a daily basis? How does it not make sense to do more to protect those that work tirelessly to protect the citizens of Virginia? I do understand that in every profession you will have the argument that the pay is inadequate. A police officer is expected to put their life on the line daily. There is no dollar amount that you can place on a person's life that makes it "fair". However, there is a mindset that and practice that shows how some professions are viewed by those in power and that comes in the form of continued lack of compensation for the duties assigned and the outcomes that are expected.
I have been with the department for over 10 years and as more responsibilities are given to keep the community safe, pay has not increased as the positions demands more. Most of staff have two jobs in order to support their families. Others leave because they can not afford to stay on the salary the state provides. Turnover is major in this department and that is large cost for this agency. If we can keep valuable people then the cost of training new employees would decrease . The safety of community counts on you to make important decisions. I believe public safety should be at the forfront of your agenda this session with state of our cities, state and our country. We risk our lives for your safety every day at least pay us for the work that we do. Or continue to waste tax payers money paying for new employee training for the high turnover rate. Also retirement insurance should be increased allowing those who have serve the Commonwealth the opportunity to retire. Many ppl have to stay around because of the cost of insurance after retirement. We should honor those who have served the state for many years with good benefits they deserve.
Good morning. I am writing on behalf of myself and many other individuals working for the Department of Corrections, specifically those in Probation and Parole. In today's society and economy, the salary us officers are given is not enough to sustain life. It is very hard to retain staff when individuals are having to get additional jobs just to cover the basic necessities of life, to include basic housing, thus causing these individuals to suffer from burnout. I can speak for every officer in my District and say that they put in their best work every single day to assist in lowering recidivism in the community, but these officers can only work so hard when they are having to put their time and attention to additional forms of income just to keep themselves afloat. Please consider the amount of work and dedication that those in this department put in on a daily basis when considering this matter. Thank you for your time.
Officer’s must wear a variety of hats on the job.Officer’s working with people coming out of prison,jail, and court they're helping them to find jobs, they're helping them to get connected to drug treatment. In some instances they're sort of coaches to them and teachers to them and counselors to them, they work with their families and they go to great lengths to do things to help people to re-assimilate to society after incarceration. The fact that it's law enforcement and casework is what makes it a unique position and why I believe they need more money. Officer’s provide input from a first-hand perspective. The job of probation officer is extremely difficult job, dangerous job, and we absolutely deserve more pay. Officer’s don't always have the necessary equipment to effectively monitor the people placed in their custody. We struggle with getting radios for every officer. We don't have radios in our cars at all. We also are the only community-based law enforcement agency in the state that doesn't issue tasers.
As a Probation and Parole Officer of 14 years with VADOC we have continuously worked diligently to reduce recidivism while aupervising various returning citizens. As a gang specialist I often supervise violent offenders and saving the state money as supervision in the community is more cost effective than incarceration. After 14 years my salary is only $48,485/year. I am unable to afford to purchase a home or rent an apartment on my salary alone. There is no compensation given to the dedicated employees who have stayed loyal to the Commonwealth. There needs to be an overall increase in our salaries, but also an adjustment given to employees who have dedicated themselves for years. (Step increases based on years of service) It is frustrating to know individuals starting the job may make more than seasoned Officers. In Chesterfield County local Probation pays more than the state by at least $10,000. We continue to lose valuable Officers due to pay. Please support the continued efforts of your dedicated Officers.
I am a probation and parole officer with the Department of Corrections and am one of those people mentioned that has to work two jobs to support my two children, as I am a single parent. I have only been with the Department for a short time, but have seen a lot of turnover, due to the extreme demands of the job and the lack of pay to compensate it. As some have previously mentioned, a lot of us have advanced degrees and implement what we have studied daily in our jobs, yet are paid less than most of our counterparts with the same degree, to do a job that is taxing and dangerous. We are the gatekeepers to public safety, as we are the ones working on competency development in order to reduce that recidivism rate. It is imperative that this matter is seriously considered, as the Department continues to lose people that are amazing at their job, but can’t afford to perform it. Thank you.
Greetings, this is a near and dear topic due to my current and previous employment. The VADOC is the largest state agency yet has the lowest salary ranges. Correctional officers and probation officers who if not should be considered law enforcement due to level of danger and safety we face while performing our duties are not compensated in a similar fashion as the local police and sheriff departments . On average we make about $10,000 less than our counterparts. The interesting piece especially for probation officers is that we have more education than our counterparts averaging (5) years post high school. There is a prerequisite for POs to have a bachelors while most of us have earned a graduate degree. Probation officers as well as correction officers should have a minimum starting salary of $50,000 to: increase moral, reduce the amount of officers having to work 2 and 3 jobs to support their families, provide compensation comparable with our counterparts, attract and retain good officers, as well as to align with inflation and societal increases. Thank you for your time.
Probation Officers deserve better pay because we are the ones who hold everything together. Probation pushes the paperwork between the time of release from incarceration to the courts and back into society. The jails, defense attorneys, commonwealth attorneys, judges, and community members rely on probation to keep tabs and ensure progress before releasing probationers off papers. Probation has increased caseloads that most cannot handle and therefore the turnover rate continues to increase.
Hello, I am Ms. Edgerton! Thanks for taking the time to evaluate the major need that is addressed in bill HB1914. I am a representative that knows for a fact how the recidivism rate is bluntly approached with the numbers calculated within Virginia. We all know that this is bragged about, although the lack of pay and development to keep staff is causing those numbers to drastically change. The question is how long will this recidivism rate stay down if people that do the work with those reentering into society aren’t compensated (casework and cognitive counselors, Probation Officers, Unit Managers, etc.). The multiple roles and demands that are expected clearly doesn’t allot for the amount that is paid. Current seasoned staff are quitting on demand based upon just pay alone, and that’s due to not being able to live by the low salary. Reviewing other states that don’t have a recidivism rate even close to Virginia’s are paying extensively higher in demands to keep society and their states safe with the quality of people. I’m begging and pleading that Virginia does the same by pushing the amount in which those entities named above and more up in the pay to continue to keep society leveled with the rest of America’s public safety sector. Bonuses doesn’t help due to the taxing of them after distribution. Please boost the salaries as a whole to maintain and recruit employees.
I'm currently a public safety officer (correctional officer) within the Department of Corrections. I'm in support of HB1914 and HB2413 because the Department of Corrections must expand their budget in order to pay, train and retain their essential employees in order to continue to maintain safe communities within Commonwealth. Correctional officers are subject to mandatory augmentation to various correctional facilities statewide to provide contributory support and services to some of the most dangerous and predatory offenders ever incarcerated. They sacrifice their lives and deserve to be compensated. In comparison to other public safety officers, a correctional officer's salary is about $12,000 lower and they endure the most physical and mental abuse due to their essential duties. Please support HB1914 and HB2413 in giving correctional officers the help and resources they need to provide custody, control, and maintain accountability of the sentenced offenders assigned to their care.
HB1993 - Fire marshals; police powers, training requirements.
Members of the Virginia House: I cannot fully express my absolutely heart-wrenching disappointment in the voting down of bills that are only meant to keep us safer here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Your lack of awareness around how we here in VA feel day in and day out living in the communities you were elected to support is appalling. Guns have no business on our streets. Especially those designed for war and senseless murder. Our children go to school every day and have to practice lockdown drills because mass murders have tripled in this country over the last five years, many taking place in schools where our babies go every day to learn -- not to fear for their lives. Say that to yourself out loud: MASS MURDERS HAVE TRIPLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. In AMERICA. Does that sound American? Does that make you proud of this country? To me, it feels like a lie. How can that reality apply to the great United States of America? How bout that - UNITED States? That isn't even valid today is it -- we have never been so divided. As a mother, I have never felt such unrelenting nagging anxiety. Why are you so hell-bent on keeping guns on our streets? Have enough lives not been lost? Despite the incessant violence taking place and destroying lives and communities every single day, you do nothing - and point fingers at mental health. Do you know what doesn't help someone mentally ill? Access to guns. You know that this problem is not fixed with one solution. You know that if we invest in mental health, public schools, AND enact common sense gun laws, we would see a huge difference - paying attention to just one piece of this will never get anywhere. I, and every single person I know, is begging you to stand up and do what is right by the American people – ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines WHILE ALSO looking for ways to improve public schooling and mental health. Work together for once. Haven’t we had enough? Give us a fighting chance at peace and civility. How many more innocent lives must be stolen before elected officials yourself especially see the error of their ways? You are part of the problem if you are not working towards a solution that benefits EVERYONE, including law-abiding gun owners. PLEASE. I pray every night that those who are vehemently against passing measures that only stand to help have a change of heart and finally do what is right for the entire Virginia community so that fewer innocent lives are stolen thanks to shockingly - and dangerously - weak gun laws. ------ Maggie Van Arsdell (703) 485-6551 margaretmvanarsdell@gmail.com
Strike on Line 29, “the Department of Fire Programs in cooperation with” The Department of Criminal Justice Services has and should continue to have sole and primary responsibility for determining whether an individual has met law enforcement training requirements for certification. And, once these fire marshals are certified as law enforcement officers, they are subject to d certification for misconduct in violation of the Code.
The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police recommends an amendment to HB 1993 to ensure that fire marshals who want police powers complete full law enforcement certification training, and be subject to decertification for misconduct as defined in the Code. This is the only way to being professional consistency to those officers with full police powers in the Commonwealth. Fire marshal training is not equivalent to law enforcement officer certified training.
HB2119 - Photo speed monitoring devices; locality-designated highway segments.
The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police supports HB 2119. Speed cameras are a tool to help law enforcement monitor those roadways where speed has become a serious safety concern.
In favor of HB2119: In this new report, researchers examined data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and found 85,002 people were killed in rural road crashes between 2106 and 2020. The risk of dying in a crash on a rural road was 62% higher when compared to an urban road for the same trip length, the researchers found.GHSA researchers suggest the disparity is due to a combination of factors, such as lack of safety resources, poor emergency response times and open roads that allow the opportunity for riskier driving behaviors.The majority of the crash deaths occurred on open roads, rather than at intersections. Of the 85,002 rural road deaths, 71,634 occurred on open roadways compared to 13,138 occurring at intersections. Single driver road departures or head on collisions were found to be the top contributing crash types, accounting for 47,082 of all fatal crash types.The report indicates that a lack of seatbelt use was the leading behavioral culprit for fatal crashes, with 58% of the motor vehicle occupants killed on rural roadways not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Additional leading factors to rural roadway deaths included impaired driving, speeding and distractions; data which may explain the high rates of road departures and head-on collisions. VA allows cameras at redlights while rural roads have sparse law enforcement and ignored speed signs. Especially rural roads designated Scenic Byways with no shoulder or place for enforcement to safely stop drivers.These roads not only need conventional enforcement but also innovated "automated" enforcement: photo speed monitoring devices. I live on Rte22/231 where many days are like the Wild West of reckless drivers as they know odds are in their favor of not being "caught." Please read the attached files with respectful reminders of Scenic Byway attributes. Also attached is report from Montgomery Co MD's speed camera results. In 2021, VDOT reports avg daily vehicles on Rte 22/Louisa Rd: 9,700vehicles/DAY! That's well over 3.5MILLION vehicles a year!!! Help us restore special Communities such as this corridor and enforce and encourage safe driving. Thank you, Sharon Merrick
Last I looked we're living in Virginia in the USA, not Russia, China, Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea. The cameras up to go after the populace is nothing but a shakedown for money and to control the population. Let it go. We the people are sick of the totalitarian control.
I support the passage of HB2119. There is one important amendment needed to serve the citizens of Virginia. Paragraph B (iv) should be amended to include Scenic Byways. Here is why. Paragraph B (iv) as written applies only to secondary roads. Many of our Scenic Byways are primary roads under the jurisdiction and control of VDOT, i.e. state roads. Oversize trucks and speeding commuter traffic use byways with disregard for speeding and driving conditions. Safety and enforcement are compromised because without camera enforcement there is no safe way to stop a speeding truck without creating a serious hazard to officers and citizens. For instance Route 231 in Albemarle County is the scenic byway between Charlottesville, Monticello and Montpelier. It is a primary road, prone to serious accidents, speeding and use by oversize trucking with no safe remedy without the use of this statutory authority to allow camera enforcement.
I spoke with John McCarthy, of the Piedmont Environmental Council, after seeing his written comments. Mr. McCarthy informed me that, while neither State primary roads nor scenic byways intersect with US 17, which is primary focus, PEC has no objection to favorably reporting out the bill as amended either to include Virginia primary roads or Virginia scenic byways.
I am strongly in favor of Speed Ticket Cameras.
Good morning, my name is John McCarthy, Senior Adviser to the Piedmont Environmental Council, based in Warrenton, Virginia . PEC works with the residents of our nine-county region to conserve land, create thriving communities, strengthen rural economies, celebrate historic resources, protect air and water quality, build smart transportation networks, promote sustainable energy choices, restore wildlife habitat, and improve people’s access to nature. PEC supports the passage of HB2119 as its provisions would allow our local governments to help improve the safety of some very problematic highway sections in our region, notably a portion of Rt. 17 in Fauquier County. Thank you.
Route 17 in Fauquier County is a major commercial (Tractor Trailer) and commuter 4 lane highway that per VDOT statistics collected from sensors under Rte 17 located between Marshall to Warrenton VA (8.5 miles - 55mph). VDOT 2019 data shows 4.8 million vehicle speeders at 60mph and greater (Tractor Trailers, Automobiles, etc..) out of total 7.3 million vehicles. Vehicles traveling at 75mph and greater in 55mph zone ( law reckless driving) is 122,203. Sheriff Deputies issue an average of 135 speed citations per year on Rte 17 Marshall to Warrenton with the vast majority of those citations being issued around the 73 to 74 mph speeding. A tractor trailer collision with a automobile just occurred this morning 7:00am 01.26.2023 on Rte 17 Fauquier County at Liberty High School. Rte 17 grows yearly in total vehicle volume per VDOT data of 100,000 to 200,000 Vehicles. Fauquier Vehicle Death rates per Sheriff FOIA 2019 / 2020 were x11 in each year / crashes 1,628 & 1,352 & injuries were 751 & 593. It increased 2021 to x13 fatalities and in 2022 increased dramatically to x21 FATALITIES. Previous Sheriff Robert Mosier Fauquier in 2021 town hall meeting stated Fauquier "HOT SPOTS" for dangerous roads increased YET again from x48 to x50 HOT SPOTs. Rte 17 is NOT designed like I-81 where I-81 does NOT intersect thru schools, school buses that MUST stop directly along Rte 17 to DROP OFF and PICKUP children, home driveways , BUSY intersecting roads with NO traffic lights to allow proper and SAFE merging of traffic with TOO MUCH speeding involved, Large steep hills with many blind curves, slow moving long extended live stock trailers and multiple large active equestrian and outdoor eventing centers such as Great Meadow. The area that is focused on by me and over 400 signed citizen support for Rte 17 traffic calming measures is Marshall to Warrenton *8.5 miles. It intersects also with I-66 near Marshall. The Ports of Virginia have grown enormous in million-billion dollar growth per Mr. Miller Secretary of Transportation statements to the Senate Transportation Committee on 1.12.2023 and plans are on schedule to continue for further deepening of the channels with ongoing dredging to continue to handle even more of the largest cargo ships on the eastern Seaboard. All that cargo of various explosive and NON-explosive products is delivered largely by tractor trailers passing thru Fauquier County on Rte 17 to reach the inland marine port in Front Royal on I-66 which is bypassing the I-81 enormous constantly active weigh station for proper safety inspections, over weight limits that cause residential home, property, road and bridge damages and driver rest period required breaks. Rte 17 in Fauquier has NO active weigh station, or prior to it to catch tractor trailer infractions. The ONLY thing we have are the Mobile State Police and Sheriff Commercial Motor Vehicle Deputy team of x3-x5 properly trained officers to handle over 1 million tractor trailers using Rte 17 per year. They are able to inspect at BEST 1% of all the Tractor Trailers on Rte 17 per year. The #1 issue found per State Police is faulty brakes. Rte 17 contains VERY few proper safe shoulder widths to allow for SAFE tractor trailer inspections and speed enforcement which VDOT has FAILED to provide since 2004 from easily over 100 emails and meeting statements to them to provide. Rte 17 is OUT of control for public safety. Pass HB 2119 into law. Police cannot handle it all.
I am commenting on HB 2119. I live on Route 231 in northeastern Albemarle County. It is a narrow 2-lane road with no place for law enforcement to pull over drivers who frequently speed excessively or violate other traffic laws, such as illegally passing over a double solid yellow line because they don't like being behind a driver who's observing the speed limit. Enforcing the traffic laws by stopping vehicles in the middle of the road is dangerous to both the driver, the officer and other traffic. There is modern technology available that would protect the safety of all parties involved, provides objective evidence of the violation, and eliminates the need for officers to spend days in court. Speed cameras. Currently, their use is only authorized in school zones and work zones. Using speed cameras to enforce traffic laws is no different than having cameras at toll booths to catch drivers who fail to pay the required toll. Nor is it different from using cameras to ensure that cars in the HOV lanes have the required number of passengers. Route 231 and Route 22 are primary roads that are designated as scenic byways. I ask that paragraph B (iv) be amended to include scenic byways and that the bill be reported favorably out of committee.
I would recommend the bill be amended to include the following words at the end of paragraph B (iv): "or which are designated as a Virginia Byway pursuant to paragraph 33.2-405." This would make it possible for Albemarle County to install speed cameras along routes 22 and 231 from Shadwell to Gordonsville. This is a scenic residential highway but narrow and particularly unsafe due to prohibited oversize trucks cutting through here and general speeding trends experienced for many years. There are no places for police to safely pull over speeders and oversize trucks. VDOT has not been able to modify the road to inhibit these safety violations. Traveling these roads is a daily safety challenge for residents.
HB2250 - Criminal Justice Services, Department of; powers and duties, training for law-enforcement personnel.
Members of the Virginia House: I cannot fully express my absolutely heart-wrenching disappointment in the voting down of bills that are only meant to keep us safer here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Your lack of awareness around how we here in VA feel day in and day out living in the communities you were elected to support is appalling. Guns have no business on our streets. Especially those designed for war and senseless murder. Our children go to school every day and have to practice lockdown drills because mass murders have tripled in this country over the last five years, many taking place in schools where our babies go every day to learn -- not to fear for their lives. Say that to yourself out loud: MASS MURDERS HAVE TRIPLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. In AMERICA. Does that sound American? Does that make you proud of this country? To me, it feels like a lie. How can that reality apply to the great United States of America? How bout that - UNITED States? That isn't even valid today is it -- we have never been so divided. As a mother, I have never felt such unrelenting nagging anxiety. Why are you so hell-bent on keeping guns on our streets? Have enough lives not been lost? Despite the incessant violence taking place and destroying lives and communities every single day, you do nothing - and point fingers at mental health. Do you know what doesn't help someone mentally ill? Access to guns. You know that this problem is not fixed with one solution. You know that if we invest in mental health, public schools, AND enact common sense gun laws, we would see a huge difference - paying attention to just one piece of this will never get anywhere. I, and every single person I know, is begging you to stand up and do what is right by the American people – ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines WHILE ALSO looking for ways to improve public schooling and mental health. Work together for once. Haven’t we had enough? Give us a fighting chance at peace and civility. How many more innocent lives must be stolen before elected officials yourself especially see the error of their ways? You are part of the problem if you are not working towards a solution that benefits EVERYONE, including law-abiding gun owners. PLEASE. I pray every night that those who are vehemently against passing measures that only stand to help have a change of heart and finally do what is right for the entire Virginia community so that fewer innocent lives are stolen thanks to shockingly - and dangerously - weak gun laws. ------ Maggie Van Arsdell (703) 485-6551 margaretmvanarsdell@gmail.com
HB2413 - Offenders released from correctional facility; mandatory reporting if before completion of sentence.
Members of the Virginia House: I cannot fully express my absolutely heart-wrenching disappointment in the voting down of bills that are only meant to keep us safer here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Your lack of awareness around how we here in VA feel day in and day out living in the communities you were elected to support is appalling. Guns have no business on our streets. Especially those designed for war and senseless murder. Our children go to school every day and have to practice lockdown drills because mass murders have tripled in this country over the last five years, many taking place in schools where our babies go every day to learn -- not to fear for their lives. Say that to yourself out loud: MASS MURDERS HAVE TRIPLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. In AMERICA. Does that sound American? Does that make you proud of this country? To me, it feels like a lie. How can that reality apply to the great United States of America? How bout that - UNITED States? That isn't even valid today is it -- we have never been so divided. As a mother, I have never felt such unrelenting nagging anxiety. Why are you so hell-bent on keeping guns on our streets? Have enough lives not been lost? Despite the incessant violence taking place and destroying lives and communities every single day, you do nothing - and point fingers at mental health. Do you know what doesn't help someone mentally ill? Access to guns. You know that this problem is not fixed with one solution. You know that if we invest in mental health, public schools, AND enact common sense gun laws, we would see a huge difference - paying attention to just one piece of this will never get anywhere. I, and every single person I know, is begging you to stand up and do what is right by the American people – ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines WHILE ALSO looking for ways to improve public schooling and mental health. Work together for once. Haven’t we had enough? Give us a fighting chance at peace and civility. How many more innocent lives must be stolen before elected officials yourself especially see the error of their ways? You are part of the problem if you are not working towards a solution that benefits EVERYONE, including law-abiding gun owners. PLEASE. I pray every night that those who are vehemently against passing measures that only stand to help have a change of heart and finally do what is right for the entire Virginia community so that fewer innocent lives are stolen thanks to shockingly - and dangerously - weak gun laws. ------ Maggie Van Arsdell (703) 485-6551 margaretmvanarsdell@gmail.com
HB2413 - CON. Here in Del. E.H. Campbell's bill do we have yet ANOTHER pointless bill informed by anecdotal information without study, rational thought, or mature analysis. Republicans are supposed to represent the party of liberty, freedom, Constitutional protections, and Rule of LAW. Instead, they believe in hypocritcal 'family values' as they turn back protections for families, ignore when people fulfilll their 'debt to society" by punishing them even further with bills like this, and ignore their reponsibilities to protect the most vulnerable -- the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, by knee-capping them BEFORE they even get out of jail. An incarcerated father, for example, upon leaving "Care" in the corrupt system, isrequired to be employed (or subject to rearrest for probation violation) but is barred from jobs by seven pages of high-need jobs listed on a barrier crimes list. If he owes child support, VA punishes him again, but claiming he is "voluntarily unemployed," by virtue of the fact that he is a felon (perhaps falsely), and he is legally discriminated against in housing, medical care, and more. The matter is worse if he is poorly educated, because on top of his natural disadvantages, he has these, and many more. So, they go back to jail, either deliberately or not, because they have no hope. Sink this bill, because it is a political stunt, intellectually lazy, and scores cheap political points with an ignorant public, but does NOTHING for public safety, like all the others Republicans are putting forth.
Marginalizing citizens who are trying to re-enter society as productive citizens with yet another public registry serves no public safety objective. If law enforcement or other state agencies can benefit from such a list, it can be made available on request to those agencies. There is no value in creating another public registry that needlessly adds the burden of public shaming while released citizens are working to get their lives back on track.
Date: 1-20-2023 To Members of the General Assembly: Good day; I am coming to you as a private citizen, not a representative of the Virginia department of corrections; I am speaking on my own. I wish to address my concerns to the general assembly about the issues faced by Correctional officers and the general public. I am a public safety officer/ Correctional officer in Virginia. The purpose of this comment is to ask for your support in HB 1536, respectfully. The grievance procedure was designed to allow state employees to resolve work-related issues without prejudice. Over the years, the Department of Corrections revised the grievance procedure, which created bias among its personnel. When the grievant submits a grievance against their respective agency, the grievant experiences unfair delays resulting in unresolved complaints and biased decisions, which promotes retaliation to the grievant by the agency. Please support HB 1536 by Delegate Jenkins to restore inclusion and fairness while maintaining accountability, consistency, and transparency, as the Grievance Procedure was designed for. Sincerely, Mr. James Anthony Murdoch Sr.
I'm currently a public safety officer (correctional officer) within the Department of Corrections. I'm in support of HB1914 and HB2413 because the Department of Corrections must expand their budget in order to pay, train and retain their essential employees in order to continue to maintain safe communities within Commonwealth. Correctional officers are subject to mandatory augmentation to various correctional facilities statewide to provide contributory support and services to some of the most dangerous and predatory offenders ever incarcerated. They sacrifice their lives and deserve to be compensated. In comparison to other public safety officers, a correctional officer's salary is about $12,000 lower and they endure the most physical and mental abuse due to their essential duties. Please support HB1914 and HB2413 in giving correctional officers the help and resources they need to provide custody, control, and maintain accountability of the sentenced offenders assigned to their care.
HB2451 - Firefighters; training program on risks of electric vehicle fires.
Members of the Virginia House: I cannot fully express my absolutely heart-wrenching disappointment in the voting down of bills that are only meant to keep us safer here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Your lack of awareness around how we here in VA feel day in and day out living in the communities you were elected to support is appalling. Guns have no business on our streets. Especially those designed for war and senseless murder. Our children go to school every day and have to practice lockdown drills because mass murders have tripled in this country over the last five years, many taking place in schools where our babies go every day to learn -- not to fear for their lives. Say that to yourself out loud: MASS MURDERS HAVE TRIPLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. In AMERICA. Does that sound American? Does that make you proud of this country? To me, it feels like a lie. How can that reality apply to the great United States of America? How bout that - UNITED States? That isn't even valid today is it -- we have never been so divided. As a mother, I have never felt such unrelenting nagging anxiety. Why are you so hell-bent on keeping guns on our streets? Have enough lives not been lost? Despite the incessant violence taking place and destroying lives and communities every single day, you do nothing - and point fingers at mental health. Do you know what doesn't help someone mentally ill? Access to guns. You know that this problem is not fixed with one solution. You know that if we invest in mental health, public schools, AND enact common sense gun laws, we would see a huge difference - paying attention to just one piece of this will never get anywhere. I, and every single person I know, is begging you to stand up and do what is right by the American people – ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines WHILE ALSO looking for ways to improve public schooling and mental health. Work together for once. Haven’t we had enough? Give us a fighting chance at peace and civility. How many more innocent lives must be stolen before elected officials yourself especially see the error of their ways? You are part of the problem if you are not working towards a solution that benefits EVERYONE, including law-abiding gun owners. PLEASE. I pray every night that those who are vehemently against passing measures that only stand to help have a change of heart and finally do what is right for the entire Virginia community so that fewer innocent lives are stolen thanks to shockingly - and dangerously - weak gun laws. ------ Maggie Van Arsdell (703) 485-6551 margaretmvanarsdell@gmail.com
HB2487 - Correctional facilities; use of restorative housing.
I am a voter in Virginia and a member of the Valley Justice Coalition. Solitary Confinement by any other name is torture both physically and mentally. It is inhumane. Vote YES for HB2487 to end Solitary Confinement in Virginia. Thank you.
Members of the Virginia House: I cannot fully express my absolutely heart-wrenching disappointment in the voting down of bills that are only meant to keep us safer here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Your lack of awareness around how we here in VA feel day in and day out living in the communities you were elected to support is appalling. Guns have no business on our streets. Especially those designed for war and senseless murder. Our children go to school every day and have to practice lockdown drills because mass murders have tripled in this country over the last five years, many taking place in schools where our babies go every day to learn -- not to fear for their lives. Say that to yourself out loud: MASS MURDERS HAVE TRIPLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. In AMERICA. Does that sound American? Does that make you proud of this country? To me, it feels like a lie. How can that reality apply to the great United States of America? How bout that - UNITED States? That isn't even valid today is it -- we have never been so divided. As a mother, I have never felt such unrelenting nagging anxiety. Why are you so hell-bent on keeping guns on our streets? Have enough lives not been lost? Despite the incessant violence taking place and destroying lives and communities every single day, you do nothing - and point fingers at mental health. Do you know what doesn't help someone mentally ill? Access to guns. You know that this problem is not fixed with one solution. You know that if we invest in mental health, public schools, AND enact common sense gun laws, we would see a huge difference - paying attention to just one piece of this will never get anywhere. I, and every single person I know, is begging you to stand up and do what is right by the American people – ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines WHILE ALSO looking for ways to improve public schooling and mental health. Work together for once. Haven’t we had enough? Give us a fighting chance at peace and civility. How many more innocent lives must be stolen before elected officials yourself especially see the error of their ways? You are part of the problem if you are not working towards a solution that benefits EVERYONE, including law-abiding gun owners. PLEASE. I pray every night that those who are vehemently against passing measures that only stand to help have a change of heart and finally do what is right for the entire Virginia community so that fewer innocent lives are stolen thanks to shockingly - and dangerously - weak gun laws. ------ Maggie Van Arsdell (703) 485-6551 margaretmvanarsdell@gmail.com
Hello, Delegates; I represent the Valley Justice Coalition and we are asking you to vote YES for HB2487 to end Solitary Confinement in Virginia. Solitary Confinement by any name you choose to call it is nothing more than torture, both physically and mentally. It is inhumane. Please vote YES for HB2487 to end Solitary Confinement in Virginia. Thank you.
Last Name: Horejsi john Organization: Social Action Linking Together (SALT) E-mail Address: jhorejsi@cox.net Committee Chairman Tony Wilt, and Public Safety Committee members: On behalf of our 1300 SALT members, I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR HB 2487 limiting Solitary Confinement in the Virginia DOC. SALT supports the reducing the use of Solitary Confinement to an absolute minimum and banning it for the mentally ill. This practice of overuse by VDOC is considered torture and fails to meet the constructive and rehabilitative purposes of criminal justice. Just consider the two most recent ACLU Court settlements against VDOC for a reported $115,000 to two inmates who spent almost 13 years each in Solitary Confinement. In fact, an Analysis of the Fiscal Impact of Solitary Confinement in other states shows that it saves money. and saves lives. Also, to restrict the use of solitary confinement in prisons and jails is in line with international human rights standards. People in our prisons are people, family members, and community members — they are not simply dollars and cents. Regardless of the fiscal impact, solitary confinement has long been recognized as torture and it should be ended. That said, the fiscal savings are yet another reason for States to act now and pass Solitary Confinement. We understand that VDOC has estimated the elimination of extended isolated confinement will cost inflated costs annually, when the experience of other states strongly suggests this figure is overblown. Five states (Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Washington) have adopted similar policies, either through legislation or administrative actions. These states have all shown an approximate neutral fiscal impact when they have reduced or eliminated the use of isolated confinement. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. John Horejsi, Coordinator, Social Action linking Together (SALT) jhorejsi@cox.net .
I SUPPORT 2487 and am pleased to see that this seems to be a bipartisan bill.
RIHD Inc. is in support of Bill 2487 to end solitary confinement because of the destructive outcomes upon the Incarcerated Community mental health that leads to suicide, depression, anxiety, post traumatic disorders. Thank you.
Good morning. My name is Alison Chaffin. I am an educator and a fierce advocate at Ignite Justice. I also have a loved one who is incarcerated in the state of VA. Solitary confinement is a form of torture and abuse. The following is a list of conditions that can arise from being placed in isolation: anxiety and stress depression and hopelessness anger, irritability, and hostility panic attacks worsened preexisting mental health issues hypersensitivity to sounds and smells problems with attention, concentration, and memory hallucinations that affect all of the senses paranoia poor impulse control social withdrawal outbursts of violence psychosis fear of death self-harm or suicide We must end this inhumane form of punishment and spend our taxpayer dollars on alternatives. Thank you for your time!
I support HB2487 in ending prolonged solitary confinement. It is useless and does nothing but create mental health conditions and irreparable damage to the human mind and spirit. Prison should be rehabilitating not torturous. Aside from the physical and mental affects, Virginia could save millions of dollars in lawsuits by ending this practice. The amount of suicides and mysterious deaths that can be avoided is a no brainer of why this bill should pass.
Please support limiting the time an inmate may be kept in solitary. It damages the psychological well-being of inmates, reducing their ability to hold a job and function in society when they leave the prison. I know of a situation where the security personnel believed an inmate was doing something nefarious, but the investigation found no evidence to back up that theory. Richmond DOC HQ refused to let any charge stand due to lack of evidence. Still, they kept the inmate in solitary for over a month, just to punish him for their suspicions. This type of procedure should stop.
Dear Committee members, Our organization, the Coalition for Justice, urges support for HB2487. The practice of prolonged solitary confinement must end. Apart from the trauma of isolation, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks are far too common. We hear the stories of those who describe their deteriorating mental and physical health over time after being subjected to prolonged and often repeated periods of prolonged solitary confinement. The practice does more harm than good. Please support this bill.
After reading the report by the Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement -- BEHIND PRISON WALLS: WHY WE MUST END PROLONGED ISOLATION IN OUR PRISONS -- I am persuaded that prolonged isolation in our correctional facilities must end for a number of reasons: there is no moral justification for the practice, the practice does nothing to rehabilitate the incarcerated and prepare them for reentry into society after serving their time, prolonged isolation is cruelty sanctioned by the state that no taxpayer should be required to support, it is neither efficient nor effective in preparing the incarcerated to return to society as a productive citizen, it is a waste of taxpayer dollars, other states have followed a different path and saved money, and it does nothing to advance the public/common good. This legislation attempts to address the issues enumerated above that deeply troubles this Virginia taxpayer and voter who wants his tax dollars to advance the public good, not undermine it. When correctional policies cannot be justified morally and fiscally, it is time to change course, time to follow another path into the future. In light of the above, I encourage all Virginia legislators to support this legislation. The documentation provided in the report referenced above should leave no one in doubt of the need for a change in course.
Let's find humane alternatives to solitary confinement!
Please support this bill favorably
Please approve this HB2487 to restrict the use of solitary confinement. My own son spent many months in solitary as his mental illness got worse and worse. It took more than two years before they finally transferred him to a psych facility. Surely our society can do better than that.
As a mental health professional in residing in and working in the state of Virginia, I strongly support HB 1524 to provide substance use disorder treatment for incarcerated individuals. Providing treatment resources to those currently incarcerated just makes sense. Those experiencing withdrawal symptoms can be treated in house and safely maintained to reduce the need for outside acute care services for severe symptoms/complications. Also, Treatment work if a person has access to it and is able to participate in services. There are numerous articles in the National Library of medicine that shows that treating substance use while in the criminal justice system, overall reduces recidivism. Prolonged solitary confinement is inhumane. I am not sure if I need to state more than that. Humans need social connection and treatment not solitary confinement which only makes mental health decline and aggressive behaviors increase. Regardless of the crime a person has committed, they too are human and deserve better treatment. I support HB 2487 and hopes that the committee will too.
HB2488 - Virginia Public Safety Communications Infrastructure Fund and Program; established.
Members of the Virginia House: I cannot fully express my absolutely heart-wrenching disappointment in the voting down of bills that are only meant to keep us safer here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Your lack of awareness around how we here in VA feel day in and day out living in the communities you were elected to support is appalling. Guns have no business on our streets. Especially those designed for war and senseless murder. Our children go to school every day and have to practice lockdown drills because mass murders have tripled in this country over the last five years, many taking place in schools where our babies go every day to learn -- not to fear for their lives. Say that to yourself out loud: MASS MURDERS HAVE TRIPLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. In AMERICA. Does that sound American? Does that make you proud of this country? To me, it feels like a lie. How can that reality apply to the great United States of America? How bout that - UNITED States? That isn't even valid today is it -- we have never been so divided. As a mother, I have never felt such unrelenting nagging anxiety. Why are you so hell-bent on keeping guns on our streets? Have enough lives not been lost? Despite the incessant violence taking place and destroying lives and communities every single day, you do nothing - and point fingers at mental health. Do you know what doesn't help someone mentally ill? Access to guns. You know that this problem is not fixed with one solution. You know that if we invest in mental health, public schools, AND enact common sense gun laws, we would see a huge difference - paying attention to just one piece of this will never get anywhere. I, and every single person I know, is begging you to stand up and do what is right by the American people – ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines WHILE ALSO looking for ways to improve public schooling and mental health. Work together for once. Haven’t we had enough? Give us a fighting chance at peace and civility. How many more innocent lives must be stolen before elected officials yourself especially see the error of their ways? You are part of the problem if you are not working towards a solution that benefits EVERYONE, including law-abiding gun owners. PLEASE. I pray every night that those who are vehemently against passing measures that only stand to help have a change of heart and finally do what is right for the entire Virginia community so that fewer innocent lives are stolen thanks to shockingly - and dangerously - weak gun laws. ------ Maggie Van Arsdell (703) 485-6551 margaretmvanarsdell@gmail.com
HB1524 - Va. Opioid Use Reduction & Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment & Transition Fund; created.
Members of the Virginia House: I cannot fully express my absolutely heart-wrenching disappointment in the voting down of bills that are only meant to keep us safer here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Your lack of awareness around how we here in VA feel day in and day out living in the communities you were elected to support is appalling. Guns have no business on our streets. Especially those designed for war and senseless murder. Our children go to school every day and have to practice lockdown drills because mass murders have tripled in this country over the last five years, many taking place in schools where our babies go every day to learn -- not to fear for their lives. Say that to yourself out loud: MASS MURDERS HAVE TRIPLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. In AMERICA. Does that sound American? Does that make you proud of this country? To me, it feels like a lie. How can that reality apply to the great United States of America? How bout that - UNITED States? That isn't even valid today is it -- we have never been so divided. As a mother, I have never felt such unrelenting nagging anxiety. Why are you so hell-bent on keeping guns on our streets? Have enough lives not been lost? Despite the incessant violence taking place and destroying lives and communities every single day, you do nothing - and point fingers at mental health. Do you know what doesn't help someone mentally ill? Access to guns. You know that this problem is not fixed with one solution. You know that if we invest in mental health, public schools, AND enact common sense gun laws, we would see a huge difference - paying attention to just one piece of this will never get anywhere. I, and every single person I know, is begging you to stand up and do what is right by the American people – ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines WHILE ALSO looking for ways to improve public schooling and mental health. Work together for once. Haven’t we had enough? Give us a fighting chance at peace and civility. How many more innocent lives must be stolen before elected officials yourself especially see the error of their ways? You are part of the problem if you are not working towards a solution that benefits EVERYONE, including law-abiding gun owners. PLEASE. I pray every night that those who are vehemently against passing measures that only stand to help have a change of heart and finally do what is right for the entire Virginia community so that fewer innocent lives are stolen thanks to shockingly - and dangerously - weak gun laws. ------ Maggie Van Arsdell (703) 485-6551 margaretmvanarsdell@gmail.com
We have received a position from the Administration of strongly support for this bill. Thank you! Meghan Wedd McGuire Deputy Commissioner, Policy & Public Affairs Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) P.O. Box 1797 | Richmond, VA 23218 Cell: 804.241.6876 Email: meghan.mcguire@dbhds.virginia.gov
I represent the Valley Justice Coalition and we strongly support HB 1524 Va. Opioid Use Reduction & Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment. As there are no local residential drug treatment programs of any size in our area, our organization hopes to start an in house drug treatment program at Middle River Regional Jail. The money in this fund could make this a reality for our area. Please vote YES for HB1524.
As a mental health professional in residing in and working in the state of Virginia, I strongly support HB 1524 to provide substance use disorder treatment for incarcerated individuals. Providing treatment resources to those currently incarcerated just makes sense. Those experiencing withdrawal symptoms can be treated in house and safely maintained to reduce the need for outside acute care services for severe symptoms/complications. Also, Treatment work if a person has access to it and is able to participate in services. There are numerous articles in the National Library of medicine that shows that treating substance use while in the criminal justice system, overall reduces recidivism. Prolonged solitary confinement is inhumane. I am not sure if I need to state more than that. Humans need social connection and treatment not solitary confinement which only makes mental health decline and aggressive behaviors increase. Regardless of the crime a person has committed, they too are human and deserve better treatment. I support HB 2487 and hopes that the committee will too.