Adult Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHP-As Masters level, licensed and licensed eligible and above) new hires who are certified as 988 crisis co-responders under the Governor's "Right Help Right Now" Crisis Now Initiative should be required to undergo the same Virginia Criminal Justice Academy approved CIT training as law enforcement officers undergoing the same or equivalent training. This is the practice in other state jurisdictions which employ the evidence-based "Memphis Model" (see attached) and should be the case in Virginia. In Virginia, non-custodial Department of Corrections personnel who were "new hires" in major state correctional facilities, as I was early in my career as a licensed clinical psychologist, were required to go through the same basic training as correction officer "new hires" which was viewed at the time as means of enhancing teamwork and a shared sense of the importance of security. The same should be the case for those who work as a team in doing this kind of crisis work. That is in my professional opinion as someone who has done crisis work for years and worked in both the criminal and civil judicial systems and in the private sector for many years as well. Edmund W. Creekmore, Jr., Ph.D., LCP, Independent Forensic Examiner

This bill would be considerably strengthened by requiring that Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHP-A Masters Level and above, licensed or licensed eligible) who qualify to assist CIT trained law enforcement officers as crisis "co-responders" be required under Virginia law to undergo the same CIT training that is required of LEOs under this bill. Many years ago, I worked as an intake psychologist in a major Virginia correctional facility, and all non-custodial new hires were required to undergo the same basic training as new officer recruits. New Jersey has such a legal requirement for its crisis co-responders who are required by New Jersey law to undergo the same basic CIT training together. The Commonwealth of Virginia should have a similar such requirement...

Do not criminalized pro-Palestine speech, demonstrations and written material.

Comments Document

This bill would be considerably strengthened by requiring that Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHP-A Masters Level and above, licensed or licensed eligible) who qualify to assist CIT trained law enforcement officers as crisis "co-responders" be required under Virginia law to undergo the same CIT training that is required of LEOs under this bill. Many years ago, I worked as an intake psychologist in a major Virginia correctional facility. All non-custodial new hires were then required to undergo the same basic training as new officer recruits. New Jersey has such a legal requirement for its crisis co-responders who are required by New Jersey law to undergo the same basic CIT training together. The Commonwealth of Virginia should have a similar such requirement... Edmund W. Creekmore, Jr., Ph.D., LCP, Independent Forensic Examiner

Do not criminalized pro-Palestine speech, demonstrations and written material.

I would recommend support for this bill for many of these reasons: I must say thank you for your willingness to put this forward. Let me say first, those lawyers in non-PD areas who get the court appointed cases are as a whole, good solid dedicated lawyers. Not paid enough for sure (thank you for increasing the pay in this bill). Sometimes that court appointed work is an important, crucial part of their private practice. I was one of them in Woodbridge from 1986 to 1996 when I left to take the Appellate Defender job in Richmond. I know many of them from my work at Lantagne Legal Printing helping them file their appeals. I share their concern about the future of their practice. But there are key institutional differences between the individual court appointed lawyers and the public defender office. The mentoring, training, encouraging (As the Bible says: Iron sharpens iron!), and the specialized personnel such as investigators, sentencing specialists, juvenile specialists, and now the appellate cohort being assembled in Richmond under the leadership of Catherine French Zagurskie, all this cannot help but be better for indigents. The present system verges on unequal justice under law. Few if any of the most dedicated court appointed lawyers can meet or exceed what a PD office can do for clients. Yes the PD system needs solid funding and always watch for caseloads and stress and burnout but it is necessary to go statewide. Many of those dedicated court appointed lawyers can enter the PD service. So, I recommend this bill should become law PROVIDED there is sufficient funding for the new offices and positions. Elwood Earl "Sandy" Sanders, Jr., Esq. (VSB 25007) Appellate Defender 1996 to 2000

The bill is for people that were sentenced after June 9th2000 to be able to receive the same rights as other also truth in sentencing

I fully support Virginia House Bill 2220, which seeks to provide parole eligibility for individuals who were sentenced by a jury after the Supreme Court of Virginia’s decision in Fishback v. Commonwealth (2000). This bill addresses a critical gap in our justice system, ensuring that those who were not properly informed during their sentencing receive a fair opportunity for parole consideration. By supporting HB2220, we uphold the principles of justice and fairness, acknowledging the importance of informed jury instructions in sentencing decisions.  

I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed justice bill which aims to ensure fairness in jury trials, particularly when the question of parole is involved. It is imperative that our legal system upholds the highest standards of impartiality and justice, providing every defendant with a fair trial. This bill will help to eliminate biases and ensure that juries are fully informed and equipped to make just decisions, thereby strengthening the integrity of our judicial process.

Bill HB2220 will constitute a fair and balanced sentencing system. As a supporter of the nonprofit organization RIHD, I strongly recommend the passage of bill HB2220 to rectify fairness in sentencing. Thank you