I am Scott E. Peyton, Director of Government Affairs at Prison Fellowship, and I am writing to express Prison Fellowship’s support of HB 16 and HB 17. Prison Fellowship believes these measures promote accountability, public safety, and successful reentry, while upholding human dignity and using taxpayer resources wisely. We respectfully ask the committee to vote in favor of HB16 and HB17.

We need better public defenders that don’t not mind fighting for client then getting them take a plea deal young men that’s first time offenders getting sent to prison for years and there fines be so high when they out it be hard to get a job pay high fines and get on they feet they need programs to bring love ones homes to have a second chance program some of this young men went in at a young age and changed there life around and are amazing citizen but will never get a chance to show there improvement and why was parole taken away and why isn’t house arrest a opition for inmates to come home when they can be monitored by a system then sit behind bars when most times they have lack of staff to operate prison and staff are over worked we need a change

I am Scott E. Peyton, Director of Government Affairs at Prison Fellowship, and I am writing to express Prison Fellowship’s support of HB 16. HB16 requires courts to allow individuals to earn credits toward fines and court costs through community service or work performed while incarcerated. It changes community service from a discretionary option to a guaranteed alternative and applies to work performed on or after July 2020. We believe this bill reflects sound criminal justice policy that promotes accountability, public safety, successful reentry efforts, and human dignity. 

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

Comments Document

My name is Seychell Williams, and I am the Founder and CEO of The Ruby Grant Project, a re-entry reform initiative dedicated to transforming the way returning citizens are supported as they transition back into their communities. I also serve as a Manager at Virginia Correctional Enterprises, where I lead workforce development, mentorship, and re-entry preparation for individuals preparing to return home or serving their sentence productively. Please read the following attachment regarding my support of bill HB16. Thank You

I support this bill. Out of my 15 years I’ve worked approximately 13.5 years doing jobs that people in the community get paid minimum wage and more for while I get paid 45c to do so. This work helps the prison community, DOC, and some jobs even help the outside community. We’re not asking to put the money in our pockets but for our work to have more meaning (working 14-16 hour days).

This bill is very important because this bill gives a man or woman the chance to work off fines that will have them stressing to pay after being set free - which may or may not result in more bad decisions because they feel as if they can’t get ahead. Having unpaid fines prohibits some progression moving forward, like trying to obtain a drivers license, buy, credit building, things that are needed to help a successful person stay successful.

This is personally one of the bills I support the most. One of the biggest barriers for guys to transition out of probation and parole is the fact that they have outstanding fines but have spent years working for anywhere between 1 to 3 hours a day just to make a dollar. If you’re not going to pay the population a wage proportionate to the increases in prices for items we’re charged for, then that work should at least count towards paying off those fines. The incarcerated populations’ work sustains the operations of the Department of Corrections just as much as any officer, counselor, or upper administration. On a daily basis, the DOC will not pay citizens at least a minimum wage to maintain the work handled by inmates.

Most men and women who have to pay fines cannot find work . There given a list of companies who supposedly hire felons but they do not hire they except the application but do not hire so these people have no way to actually pay money . Making community service work help pay is an excellent idea the only problem with that is finding companies who will allow you to do it . So if they broden the community services work to non profits and churches maybe even parks and rec it would give multiple choices and could be compketed successful

It is time to enact ong overdue reform in our prisons, jails, and courts.

I am Scott E. Peyton, Director of Government Affairs at Prison Fellowship, and I am writing to express Prison Fellowship’s support of HB 16 and HB 17. Prison Fellowship believes these measures promote accountability, public safety, and successful reentry, while upholding human dignity and using taxpayer resources wisely. We respectfully ask the committee to vote in favor of HB16 and HB17.

We need better public defenders that don’t not mind fighting for client then getting them take a plea deal young men that’s first time offenders getting sent to prison for years and there fines be so high when they out it be hard to get a job pay high fines and get on they feet they need programs to bring love ones homes to have a second chance program some of this young men went in at a young age and changed there life around and are amazing citizen but will never get a chance to show there improvement and why was parole taken away and why isn’t house arrest a opition for inmates to come home when they can be monitored by a system then sit behind bars when most times they have lack of staff to operate prison and staff are over worked we need a change

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

It is already difficult when being incarcerated but to be released and everything you own is gone how do you live again . Court cost and fines are usually very high and the interest that builds on top of it makes it difficult to start all over for the most part just finding employment not having an address or vehicle is already a hinderence depending on the charges . If incarcerated any interest should be stopped because they will not allow work release if your not sentenced work release should be available to all and should be able to work to pay any fines or cost . If it retains to child support they should be forced to work release and made work until paid

Testimony from Last Prisoner Project, a national non-profit, in support of HB26.

I write in support HB 26. Virginia has made a deliberate policy decision to legalize and decriminalize certain marijuana-related conduct. HB 26 reasonably addresses the remaining question of how to treat individuals who were sentenced under prior law for conduct that is no longer criminal. The bill is narrow and careful in its approach. It does not require resentencing, does not diminish judicial discretion, and does not raise public safety concerns. It simply allows courts to evaluate whether continued punishment is appropriate in light of current law. HB 26 promotes fairness and consistency in the application of Virginia’s criminal justice policy. I urge the committee to give it favorable consideration.

My husband is currently incarcerated serving a four year sentence on a marijuana charge with the handgun. He is a model citizen and should be allowed to at least serve 50% of his time due to mandatory minimum on a marijuana charge with the weapon he is serving his full term and should be home with his family. He is a non-violent criminal and deserves to be able to serve his time honesty with at least parole or probation..

It is time to enact ong overdue reform in our prisons, jails, and courts.

OPPOSE HB 73 ON ACCOUNT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DON'T KNOW RELATIONSHIP HISTORY/SURROGATES AND WASTE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS. OPPOSE HB 202 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION. SUPPORT HB 273 ON ACCOUNT OF LIFE SAVING OPPORTUNITIES ARE NECESSARY AND PROPER. OPPOSE HB 133 ON ACCOUNT OF FRAUD/WITNESS_TAMPERING OF WILLS/TRUST. SUPPORT HB 350 ON ACCOUNT OF WITNESS_TAMPERING JURY TRIAL. SUPPORT HB 364 ON ACCOUNT OF COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASE. SUPPORT HB 449 ON ACCOUNT OF SLAVERY/REPARATIONS/VICTIMS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY. OPPOSE HB 510 ON ACCOUNT OF PERVERTING-THE-COURSE-OF-JUSTICE. SUPPORT HB 538 ON ACCOUNT OF JEFFREY_EPSTEIN/CASE LAW... WITNESS_TAMPERING/INTIMIDATION OF VICTIM OF PEDOPHILIA/INCEST/CHILD SEX ABUSE. SUPPORT HB 671 ON ACCOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE/GED. OPPOSE HB 803 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION.

It is time to enact ong overdue reform in our prisons, jails, and courts.

Chair and members of the committee, thank you. My name is Dr. Elyse Osterweil, founder of Mothers Reform Child Injustices (MRCI) and a member of the National Safe Parents Organization (NSPO), and we SUPPORT HB118 sponsored by Delegate Keren Keys-Gamarra. I am also a Korean-American mother (US natural born citizen) who was falsely accused of abducting my own child on June 6-7th 2022, while I was in the process of seeking a protective order against my ex-husband, my child’s father (white male US citizen), as per law enforcement recommendations and escalation of harrassment/violence/recklessness and mental instability of my ex-husband/father of our child. That charge resulted in 16+ days in jail, trauma-induced seizures, and complex PTSD, multiple subsequent arrests for more than two and a half years before it was ultimately dismissed based on due process violations and the improper serving of the child custody calendar control notice, motion, evidence, and order. During that time—while I was pro se at points—I was denied exculpatory discovery by the CA in Fairfax County, including one of two videos that would have proven my innocence and impeached multiple witnesses. I was never told I could inspect the evidence, nor was I provided any copies, making meaningful defense or dismissal of these false allegations impossible. At the same time, my electronic devices and major accounts were repeatedly hacked or rendered inaccessible, depriving me of emails and records essential to my defense. This was not merely stressful—it materially impaired my ability to participate in my own case. What happened to me is not isolated. An increasing number of domestic violence victims—especially protective mothers—experiencing gender-bias, racism (especially if the father is a white male), and are being denied due process, denied their parental rights, criminalized, and incarcerated for attempting to protect their children from harm from their abusive partners. When discovery is withheld and access to evidence is obstructed especially against "plaintiffs"/abusers with 10 years of documented child abuse and domestic violence, the system punishes protection and rewards abuse, punished and endangers their children, and causes another generation of preventable trauma. It is also a violation of the 2022 reauthorization Violence Against Women Act, and Kayden's Law. The Brady rule requires disclosure of evidence favorable to the accused, including impeachment material held by prosecutors or police. HB118 matters because transparency is not optional—it is due process. Please support HB118. Grateful, Dr. Elyse Lee Osterweil, Ph.D.

HB 118 is important legislation for us to pass in order to increase access to criminal justice defense and reduce prosecution chicanery. Any politician who votes against this bill will get put in the bucket of undesirable politicians.

I support this bill. As someone who went through the legal system and having a case where evidence was destroyed, statements were questionable due to suggestiveness from the detective of the case - I believe there needs to be more transparency of such evidence before going to trial. People mostly go to court with public defenders and therefore are most of the time at a disadvantage not because the PD is bad, but because they are so overworked - the attention needed isn’t always given. By law, ignorance of the law isn’t a factor in anything - so a defendant who has zero knowledge of such things can’t properly defend himself so must rely on the PD. The PD should get all relevant and necessary information that could help defend their client.

I also support this because the more access we have to evidence, the more we are able to build a proper defense. There have been times where the evidence could have proven a person's innocence but it was swept under the rug or not released in favor of something that helped gain a conviction. The whole story should be known, not only the way they want it told.

If you are accused of a crime not only should you be able to face your accuser you should also be able to see the evidence against you. I also believe that the accused should be able to be present during any and all meetings between the prosecutor and their lawyer . The accused should not be arrested and held without bond unless it has something to do with a violent crime and even then should not be housed with people who are serving a sentence even though it is in the law it is not followed .

Discovery discrepancies are rampant throughout several cases that I know of. Please pass this bill to allow for more transparency. Both sides should be able to see and request all evidence both before and after trial so that they can accurately represent their case!

NO POSITION ON HB 123 ON ACCOUNT OF WHO WILL GIVE DUI TEST DURING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

I would propose that there should be an ammendment to this bill to include the parents and guardians of these children to be included. It all starts with the parenting. The root cause of these children and their nefarious actions is a result of bad parenting/guardianship. DMV needs to tighten up their rules and regulations regarding issuing Driver's Licenses. If they are under the age of 18 their parent(s)/guardians have to provide "proof of residency"; for which we can use that to track their "supervisors" of the children and have them be resposible for their actions.

Comments Document

Letter supporting House Bill 133 attached.

OPPOSE HB 73 ON ACCOUNT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DON'T KNOW RELATIONSHIP HISTORY/SURROGATES AND WASTE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS. OPPOSE HB 202 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION. SUPPORT HB 273 ON ACCOUNT OF LIFE SAVING OPPORTUNITIES ARE NECESSARY AND PROPER. OPPOSE HB 133 ON ACCOUNT OF FRAUD/WITNESS_TAMPERING OF WILLS/TRUST. SUPPORT HB 350 ON ACCOUNT OF WITNESS_TAMPERING JURY TRIAL. SUPPORT HB 364 ON ACCOUNT OF COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASE. SUPPORT HB 449 ON ACCOUNT OF SLAVERY/REPARATIONS/VICTIMS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY. OPPOSE HB 510 ON ACCOUNT OF PERVERTING-THE-COURSE-OF-JUSTICE. SUPPORT HB 538 ON ACCOUNT OF JEFFREY_EPSTEIN/CASE LAW... WITNESS_TAMPERING/INTIMIDATION OF VICTIM OF PEDOPHILIA/INCEST/CHILD SEX ABUSE. SUPPORT HB 671 ON ACCOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE/GED. OPPOSE HB 803 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION.

I would like to express my opposition to this bill. To my understanding, if the evidence does not meet the bar of a "beyond a reasonable doubt", the evidence can still be used in civil proceedings for protections for the child and custody proceedings, etc, especially if the child's parents/guardians were notified as per law and wish to pursue civil means of justice and/or an IIED suit, etc. Was this considered by the committee? Thank you, Elyse Osterweil MRCI (Mothers Reform Child Injustices)

OPPOSE HB 148 ON ACCOUNT OF GUILT OF ASSOCIATION OF OTHER CRIMINALS/CRIMES/SUPPORT IN OTHER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION THAT COULD BE CHARGED... TRUMP/EPSTEIN/GHISLAINE MAXWELL CASE LAW.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Comments Document

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

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

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

The Virginia State Conference supports HB 650 HB 221 HB 1265

Anyone who feels they are being held unlawfully should be able to appeal and also should be able to have a bond no one should be able to be held without unless they committed a heinous crime

I am writing in support of the earned sentence credit bill HB361 and the robbery bill HB 244. I believe any time spent incarcerated should be under the approved earned sentence credit and should be calculated accordingly. Each jail has their own system and then VADOC has its own system. By unifying how earned sentence credits are calculated ensures that the adults in custody are not held unjustly and prevents confusion, and possible law suits. As a former VADOC employee, it is extremely confusing and frustrating for both staff and inmates alike attempting to figure out what the jail’s policy on earned sentence credit is. It also causes inaccurate calculations and double work by time computation employees at VADOC because they have to continually recalculate time based on what the jail sends them. By unifying the system, those incarcerated are given fair sentencing and helps eliminate possible law suits for the Commonwealth. In regards to HB 244, I understand that robbery can be traumatic for a victim. However, if no weapon is used and no victims are physically harmed, it cannot be considered a violent crime. To classify it as such is unconstitutional. A violent crime can only be committed when violence occurs. If a person walks up to someone and says give me all your money or I’ll hurt you, but they don’t, then no violence has been committed. Sex offenders get less time than those convicted of robbery without violence or a weapon. I support second chances and I think it is crucial to the strain on our prison system and tax payers to sentence these offenders to the proper length of time and allow them to earn the proper earned sentence credit. Thank you for your time and consideration.

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

I support this bill because it brings fairness and consistency to Virginia’s robbery laws by recognizing that not all robberies involve the same level of violence. It ensures that the harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious offenses, while lower-level robberies are treated more proportionately. The bill also allows individuals convicted of lesser robbery offenses to qualify for earned sentence credits or compassionate release in appropriate cases, which supports rehabilitation and responsible use of resources. By applying certain changes retroactively, Virginia acknowledges past sentencing practices were overly harsh and takes a balanced, humane step forward without compromising public safety.

This bill addresses a long-standing need by meticulously aligning existing, and at times archaic, provisions within the Virginia Code with a contemporary, degree-based classification system. The comprehensive clarity introduced by HB244 holds profound implications, not only for the consistent and equitable adjudication of future cases but also for individuals whose past convictions were determined under less precise or undifferentiated statutory language, the ramifications of which continue to impact their lives today. By explicitly delineating the various classifications of robbery offenses and ensuring their uniform interpretation across the Code, HB244 endeavors to create a truly transparent and standardized legal structure. This refined framework will facilitate its consistent application throughout the judicial system and enable meticulous and accurate review processes, including those pertaining to post conviction proceedings and resentencing. My endorsement of HB244 is rooted in its clear commitment to promoting the principle of proportionate justice, mitigating legal ambiguities, and establishing a robust foundation for the re-evaluation of historical adjudications against modern legal benchmarks. This initiative represents a vital step towards enhancing fairness and consistency within Virginia's criminal justice system.

Virginia’s robbery statutes must be modernized to ensure that sentencing is proportionate to the actual harm or threat involved in an offense. HB244 creates a fairer framework that distinguishes between different levels of robbery, preventing the over-sentencing that often severs family ties and hinders successful reentry. S4JR supports this reform as a way to prioritize human-centered justice and accurate accountability over "one-size-fits-all" punishment.

Criminal acts should have consequences, but these consequences need to be in proportion to the act committed. This house bill will provide clarity and more definition to the various degrees of crime and ensure that the punishment fits the crime. I also believe that incarceration should offer rehabilitation and give those convicted opportunity to learn, grow, and most of all prove with changed behaviour that they understand the consequences for crimes and also that they have been able to make positive changes while incarcerated and adhere to rules and good behaviour. There does need to be further distinction between violent and non violent crimes and this bill will offer those who, although they chose to commit a crime, did not endanger lives or include weapons while doing so. The key element of this this bill, in my opinion, is the opportunity for inmates to earn the sentence credits. It is not a guarantee of an earlier release, but a chance to demonstrate growth and to prove that there has been rehabilitative change prior to release.

I am writing to you to express my strong support for House Bill 244. This legislation is a necessary and logical step in refining Virginia’s criminal justice system to ensure that our laws are consistent, clear, and proportionate. In 2021, the General Assembly took the important step of establishing degrees of robbery to better reflect the varying levels of severity in these offenses. However, many other parts of the Virginia Code still reference "robbery" broadly, without distinguishing between these degrees. HB 244 corrects this by conforming those references to the established degrees. ​I support HB 244 because: ​ It Ensures Fairness in Sentencing: By limiting certain "acts of violence" classifications to the higher degrees of robbery (First and Second Degree), the bill ensures that harsher legal consequences are reserved for the most serious offenses. It Provides Legal Clarity: Consistency across the Code of Virginia is essential for judges, attorneys, and the public. This bill removes ambiguity in how robbery-related crimes are prosecuted and classified. It Completes Previous Reforms: This is a vital measure that ensures the intent of the 2021 robbery reforms is fully realized across all administrative and judicial functions of the Commonwealth. ​A just legal system requires that the punishment fits the crime and that the law is applied uniformly. HB 244 would see Virginia move closer to that goal. I urge you to support this bill.

HB 244 is undeniably a step in the right direction, signifying a commitment to a more just and rational legal system. However, its purpose will only be fully achieved if its benefits extend to those presently navigating an outdated and potentially disproportionate framework. Incorporating a retroactivity clause will not only solidify the bill's positive impact but will also affirm the General Assembly's dedication to consistent and meaningful justice for all.

Robbery should not have a higher sentence then murder . Not knowing the circumstances behind a person who commits the crime .I know someone serving 30 years for a robbery charge he was basically forced to do the crime by an older friend the friend didn't go to prison but the younger gentleman did he had no way to speak for himself and couldn't fight the charges because he didn't know ow how that should not be a reason to force someone into 30 years taken away

It is time to enact ong overdue reform in our prisons, jails, and courts.

HB245 Behavioral Health Docket Act helps both society and individuals with a mental illness. It would allow more defendants who could benefit from the supervision and services of a specialized mental health court to participate. It does not change current requirements that the prosecution, defense, the defendant and the judge all must agree that participation is a preferred option in an individual case, and that the defendant can be helped by completing the rigid requirements of the program. Behavioral Health Dockets have demonstrated success across Virginia. Having retired from working in both the criminal justice and behavioral health systems, I have seen this success and strongly support the bill.

When my husband was charged, he spent months in jail simply because we could not afford bond. With this extra jail credit, he could come home a few months sooner. His mother is elderly and ill, and this would give him precious time to be with his momma while he still can.

It is time to enact ong overdue reform in our prisons, jails, and courts.

Myself and other law enforcement officers throughout the Commonwealth support HB 273 and the language inlcuded therein. We hope codifying what is already found in General Orders and Standard Operating Procedures in law enforcement agencies will also aid in providing essential medical training through DCJS, especially to those agencies that lack sufficient funding to provide it through their own budgets.

Good afternoon, I am writing in support if Delegates Helmer’s bill HB273. To my knowledge, all of the jurisdictions require law enforcement officers to render aid to people in need. I agree with the language “without endangering himself, the person, or others” as well as Section B of the bill. I hope that the passing of this bill can provide law enforcement agencies with more resources for training and equipment through DCJS. It is also my hope that with this bill, agencies that have law enforcement officers that are already certified EMTs and Paramedics can utilize their expertise with the training of law enforcement personnel. And for agencies that have medical programs in place already, that they utilize their officers that are medically trained as EMTs and Paramedics in a more resourceful way to help train. Also, I hope supervisors snd commanders in charge of those units are at least the same or higher certified than those under their supervision for optimal use.

Good afternoon, this is Ben Woodhouse, President of the Colonial Chapter of Virginia Police Benevolent Association (PBA). I am writing in support if Delegates Helmer’s bill HB273. I have been in touch with our chapter Presidents across the Commonwealth and have found all of the jurisdictions they know of, require law enforcement officers to render aid to people in need. We agree with the language “without endangering himself, the person, or others” as well as Section B of the bill. I hope that the passing of this bill can provide law enforcement agencies with more resources for training and equipment through DCJS. It is also my hope that with this bill, agencies that have law enforcement officers that are already certified EMTs and Paramedics can utilize their expertise with the training of law enforcement personnel. I would also hope that if an agency already has medically trained staff staff to the level of EMT, or Paramedic that they be utilized to train others to save lives. Thank you for your time. Ben Woodhouse

Good afternoon, My name is Mike Gallione, and I serve as a Chapter President with the Virginia Police Benevolent Association (PBA). I am writing in support of Delegate Helmer’s bill, HB273. I have been in communication with chapter presidents across the Commonwealth and have found that, in every jurisdiction they are aware of, law enforcement officers are already required to render aid to individuals in need. We support the bill’s language requiring such aid to be rendered “without endangering himself, the person, or others,” as well as the provisions outlined in Section B of the bill. It is my hope that the passage of HB273 will provide law enforcement agencies with additional resources for training and equipment through the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Additionally, this bill presents an opportunity for agencies with officers who are already certified EMTs or paramedics to better utilize their expertise in training fellow law enforcement personnel. For agencies that already have medical programs in place, I encourage the use of medically trained officers in a more structured and effective training capacity. Ideally, these programs should be overseen by supervisors or commanders who hold equal or higher medical certifications than those under their supervision, ensuring optimal effectiveness and accountability. Thank you for your time and consideration.

I am writing in support of Delegates Helmer’s bill HB273. I am a law enforcement officer and I agree with the language “without endangering himself, the person, or others” as well as Section B of the bill. I hope that the passing of this bill can provide law enforcement agencies with more resources for training and equipment through DCJS. It is also my hope that with this bill, agencies that have law enforcement officers that are already certified EMTs and Paramedics can utilize their expertise with the training of law enforcement personnel. And for agencies that have medical programs in place already, that they utilize their officers that are medically trained as EMTs and Paramedics in a more resourceful way to help train. Also, well as have supervisors snd commanders in charge of those units that are at least the same or higher certified than those under their supervision for optimal use.

Good afternoon, I am writing in support if Delegates Helmer’s bill HB273. I have been in touch with our chapter Presidents across the Commonwealth and have found all of the jurisdictions they know of, require law enforcement officers to render aid to people in need. We agree with the language “without endangering himself, the person, or others” as well as Section B of the bill. I hope that the passing of this bill can provide law enforcement agencies with more resources for training and equipment through DCJS. It is also my hope that with this bill, agencies that have law enforcement officers that are already certified EMTs and Paramedics can utilize their expertise with the training of law enforcement personnel. And for agencies that have medical programs in place already, that they utilize their officers that are medically trained as EMTs and Paramedics in a more resourceful way to help train. Also, well as have supervisors snd commanders in charge of those units that are at least the same or higher certified than those under their supervision for optimal use.

Good afternoon, this is Tim Bryner, President of the Spotsylvania Chapter of the Virginia Police Benevolent Association (PBA). I am writing in support if Delegates Helmer’s bill HB273. I hope that the passing of this bill can provide law enforcement agencies with more resources for training and equipment through DCJS. It is also my hope that with this bill, agencies that have law enforcement officers that are already certified EMTs and Paramedics can utilize their expertise with the training of law enforcement personnel. And for agencies that have medical programs in place already, that they utilize their officers that are medically trained as EMTs and Paramedics in a more resourceful way to help train.

Good afternoon, I am writing in support if Delegates Helmer’s bill HB273. I have been in touch with officers across the state and found all of the jurisdictions they know of, require law enforcement officers to render aid to people in need. We agree with the language “without endangering himself, the person, or others” as well as Section B of the bill. I hope that the passing of this bill can provide law enforcement agencies with more resources for training and equipment through DCJS. It is also my hope that with this bill, agencies that have law enforcement officers that are already certified EMTs and Paramedics can utilize their expertise with the training of law enforcement personnel. And for agencies that have medical programs in place already, that they utilize their officers that are medically trained as EMTs and Paramedics in a more resourceful way to help train. Also, well as have supervisors snd commanders in charge of those units that are at least the same or higher certified than those under their supervision for optimal use.

Please consider passing this bill so that police officers may be better trained and equipped to provide on the scene medical aid in the performance of their duties. Thank you.

I'm supporting this bill.

Good afternoon, this is Joe Woloszyn, President of the Virginia Police Benevolent Association (PBA). I am writing in support if Delegates Helmer’s bill HB273. I have been in touch with our chapter Presidents across the Commonwealth and have found all of the jurisdictions they know of, require law enforcement officers to render aid to people in need. We agree with the language “without endangering himself, the person, or others” as well as Section B of the bill. I hope that the passing of this bill can provide law enforcement agencies with more resources for training and equipment through DCJS. It is also my hope that with this bill, agencies that have law enforcement officers that are already certified EMTs and Paramedics can utilize their expertise with the training of law enforcement personnel. And for agencies that have medical programs in place already, that they utilize their officers that are medically trained as EMTs and Paramedics in a more resourceful way to help train. Also, well as have supervisors snd commanders in charge of those units that are at least the same or higher certified than those under their supervision for optimal use.

OPPOSE HB 73 ON ACCOUNT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DON'T KNOW RELATIONSHIP HISTORY/SURROGATES AND WASTE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS. OPPOSE HB 202 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION. SUPPORT HB 273 ON ACCOUNT OF LIFE SAVING OPPORTUNITIES ARE NECESSARY AND PROPER. OPPOSE HB 133 ON ACCOUNT OF FRAUD/WITNESS_TAMPERING OF WILLS/TRUST. SUPPORT HB 350 ON ACCOUNT OF WITNESS_TAMPERING JURY TRIAL. SUPPORT HB 364 ON ACCOUNT OF COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASE. SUPPORT HB 449 ON ACCOUNT OF SLAVERY/REPARATIONS/VICTIMS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY. OPPOSE HB 510 ON ACCOUNT OF PERVERTING-THE-COURSE-OF-JUSTICE. SUPPORT HB 538 ON ACCOUNT OF JEFFREY_EPSTEIN/CASE LAW... WITNESS_TAMPERING/INTIMIDATION OF VICTIM OF PEDOPHILIA/INCEST/CHILD SEX ABUSE. SUPPORT HB 671 ON ACCOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE/GED. OPPOSE HB 803 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION.

Any officer who breaks the law should face the same charges if not harsher being they know the law thier should not be any immunity against any law enforcement officer or corrections officer if the law is broken it is broken no matter the crime . Giving them civil immunity will allow them to be able to break the law and not worry about law suits I am sure if an officer shoots a family member of yours you would want them prosecuted and be able to sue for what they have done . Most officers already commit crimes knowing they have immunity this is not a good bill in America anyone who commits a crime should be punished

It is time to enact ong overdue reform in our prisons, jails, and courts.

OPPOSE HB 274/DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY ON ACCOUNT OF CONSPIRACY/GUILT OF ASSOCIATION DISCOVERY/INVESTIGATING SEX TRAFFICKING/PEDOPHILE/CHILD ABUSE... TRUMP/EPSTEIN/GHISLAINE MAXWELL CASE LAW.

My name is Alice Minium and I oppose this bill removing the cap on annual fees that may be charged by the state Bar Association. I have spent the past six months applying to law schools myself, and the process has been unbelievably cost-prohibitive. It would simply not be possible for someone truly indigent, and it is to my understanding that lawyering powers do not necessarily mean any guarantee of infinite wealth. This profession is almost entirely inaccessible to thousands of potential lawyers that might create all kinds of positive changes or accomplish feats of excellence, but who will never become lawyers because, for one among many reasons, the costs of doing so are absolutely terrifying. Removing this cap does nothing but allow for the possibility of increasing those possible costs. Lawyer salaries have not risen in proportion to the cost of law school or the many costs that come with practicing; there is no reason to add one more possible barrier to practicing in Virginia that removing this cap in annual fees would introduce. It would create a more unjust system here and while this may not be the intention, the outcome would be again rewarding certain kinds of lawyers and introducing one more expense for everyone else.

OPPOSE HB 73 ON ACCOUNT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DON'T KNOW RELATIONSHIP HISTORY/SURROGATES AND WASTE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS. OPPOSE HB 202 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION. SUPPORT HB 273 ON ACCOUNT OF LIFE SAVING OPPORTUNITIES ARE NECESSARY AND PROPER. OPPOSE HB 133 ON ACCOUNT OF FRAUD/WITNESS_TAMPERING OF WILLS/TRUST. SUPPORT HB 350 ON ACCOUNT OF WITNESS_TAMPERING JURY TRIAL. SUPPORT HB 364 ON ACCOUNT OF COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASE. SUPPORT HB 449 ON ACCOUNT OF SLAVERY/REPARATIONS/VICTIMS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY. OPPOSE HB 510 ON ACCOUNT OF PERVERTING-THE-COURSE-OF-JUSTICE. SUPPORT HB 538 ON ACCOUNT OF JEFFREY_EPSTEIN/CASE LAW... WITNESS_TAMPERING/INTIMIDATION OF VICTIM OF PEDOPHILIA/INCEST/CHILD SEX ABUSE. SUPPORT HB 671 ON ACCOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE/GED. OPPOSE HB 803 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION.

I am a resident of Arlington, VA (22203), and I am writing to you today to share my support of criminal justice reforms for the Commonwealth of Virginia I know that the Virginia General Assembly has been working on these issues and made substantial progress in recent years, only to see the legislation vetoed by our previous conservative governor. However, November’s elections brought a hopeful change to the Commonwealth. It is my hope that beginning this year that progressive change can become a reality in the Commonwealth. Mass incarceration is a particularly significant problem in Virginia. According to data compiled by the Vera Institute of Justice, in 2015 Virginia had locked up almost 60,000 people, an increase of nearly 300% since 1983.  Virginia ranked first among Southeast states in jail population per capita and third in prison population per capita. This measure, along with many other important considerations before this committee will help reform our justice system and reduce the mass incarceration currently in our Commonwealth. Thank you!

Members of the General Assembly, I respectfully submit this comment in strong support of HB193 and to recommend a complementary oversight mechanism to address instances of judicial noncompliance with Virginia sentencing law. HB193 is a necessary and measured response to a documented breakdown in compliance following Fishback v. Commonwealth (2000), which required juries to be instructed that parole had been abolished. When legally mandated procedures are not followed, the legitimacy of the resulting sentence is compromised. HB193 does not provide automatic release; it simply allows parole consideration in cases where the sentencing process itself was flawed. That approach reflects fundamental fairness and respect for the rule of law. In addition to supporting HB193, I urge the General Assembly to consider establishing an independent review and notification mechanism for cases in which judges sentence outside Virginia’s sentencing guidelines without articulated reasons, or where patterns of noncompliance are later identified. By way of example, in the case of Sterling Graham, an Alford plea was accepted for an 18-year sentence, after which the presiding judge imposed additional life sentences without documented justification for the departure from the guidelines. That judge was later removed from the bench. However, the individual directly affected by the sentencing irregularity was never notified or provided a mechanism for review. Regardless of the ultimate merits of any single case, this illustrates a serious systemic failure: when judicial misconduct or noncompliance is identified, there is no structured process to review impacted cases or notify affected individuals. Sentencing guidelines exist to promote consistency, proportionality, and public confidence. When those guidelines are disregarded without explanation—and when subsequent findings raise concerns about a judge’s conduct—justice requires more than silent correction at the institutional level. It requires transparency and a pathway for those harmed by such failures to be informed and, where appropriate, seek review. A limited oversight committee or review body would not undermine judicial independence. Instead, it would: * Identify patterns of unexplained guideline departures * Refer cases for appropriate review where systemic issues are found * Ensure affected individuals are notified when judicial noncompliance may have impacted their sentence HB193 reflects the principle that legality in sentencing matters. A complementary oversight and notification mechanism would reinforce that principle and help ensure that when the system fails, those failures are acknowledged and addressed—not buried. For these reasons, I urge the General Assembly to support HB193 and to consider additional safeguards that promote accountability, transparency, and fairness in Virginia’s sentencing system. Respectfully submitted, Tonya Wright Wisdom’s Embrace 757-309-1733

I am writing in support of the earned sentence credit bill HB361 and the robbery bill HB 244. I believe any time spent incarcerated should be under the approved earned sentence credit and should be calculated accordingly. Each jail has their own system and then VADOC has its own system. By unifying how earned sentence credits are calculated ensures that the adults in custody are not held unjustly and prevents confusion, and possible law suits. As a former VADOC employee, it is extremely confusing and frustrating for both staff and inmates alike attempting to figure out what the jail’s policy on earned sentence credit is. It also causes inaccurate calculations and double work by time computation employees at VADOC because they have to continually recalculate time based on what the jail sends them. By unifying the system, those incarcerated are given fair sentencing and helps eliminate possible law suits for the Commonwealth. In regards to HB 244, I understand that robbery can be traumatic for a victim. However, if no weapon is used and no victims are physically harmed, it cannot be considered a violent crime. To classify it as such is unconstitutional. A violent crime can only be committed when violence occurs. If a person walks up to someone and says give me all your money or I’ll hurt you, but they don’t, then no violence has been committed. Sex offenders get less time than those convicted of robbery without violence or a weapon. I support second chances and I think it is crucial to the strain on our prison system and tax payers to sentence these offenders to the proper length of time and allow them to earn the proper earned sentence credit. Thank you for your time and consideration.

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

When my husband was charged, he spent months in jail simply because we could not afford bond. With this extra jail credit, he could come home a few months sooner. His mother is elderly and ill, and this would give him precious time to be with his momma while he still can.

Thank you for considering this important issue that impacts our communities. I support HB361 because it's not uncommon for it to take a long time for a case to progress to sentencing, and incarcerated people have no control over this timeline. Being able to earn credits while awaiting sentencing encourages good behavior and participation in educational programs. This practice would also reflect good stewardship of taxpayer resources because we would spend less money on incarcerated individuals who are taking an active role in their rehabilitation. To me, it seems fair that time spent in jail should count regardless of whether it occurs before or after a sentencing date.

I urge the committee and house to support HB361. In a justice system designed to punish instead of rehabilitate, there are few incentives for good behavior and program participation other than Earned Sentence Credit (ESC). Individuals who are incarcerated prior to their final sentencing deserve to earn the same ESC credit as they do in the days after their sentencing. Without this change, Virginia is punishing individuals for a timeline they do not control. Even on the FASTEST possible timeline including a plea agreement, sentencing takes a minimum of six months. Currently, six months to sentencing means spending 60 days longer in confinement. Most sentencing processes take much longer. This costs taxpayers real money. We are paying to confine people longer who have no disciplinary issues and are seeking to better themselves by participating in programs. What could possibly be gained from that? HB 361 will ensure that every day of confinement counts toward a person’s earned credit calculation, provided they meet the requirements. Please apply these changes retroactively, ensuring that those currently in the system are treated equitably under this updated standard.​

On behalf of the Virginia nonprofits organization Resource information Help for the Disadvantaged and Disenfranchised (RIHD) member ship, we support HB361 Earned sentence credits; incarceration while awaiting trial or pending an appeal.. We ask that you vote “yes” to move this fair, and necessary bill forward. Thank you

Written Testimony Submitted by Keyosha Farris on Behalf of Demetrius Kidd.... To the Honorable Members of the Courts of Justice Criminal Committee: My name is Keyosha Farris, and I am submitting this testimony on behalf of my partner, Demetrius Kidd, who has been incarcerated in Virginia for over 15 years. While he is unable to attend today, he has asked me to share his perspective regarding the proposed Earned Sentence Credits bill. Demetrius strongly supports policies that allow incarcerated individuals to earn credits for positive behavior, participation in rehabilitation programs, education, and work assignments. After more than 15 years in prison, he has firsthand experience of how such programs can inspire accountability, personal growth, and hope. Earning sentence credits is not just about reducing time served; it is a meaningful incentive that motivates people like Demetrius to continue engaging in educational, vocational, and therapeutic programs. It also helps maintain connections with family, strengthens rehabilitation, and encourages a safer, more productive environment within prisons. Demetrius respectfully asks the committee to consider the human impact of this bill. Supporting earned sentence credits can foster transformation, reduce recidivism, and create real opportunities for individuals who have committed to change ultimately benefiting both incarcerated individuals and the wider community. Thank you for your time, attention, and consideration of this testimony. Respectfully, Keyosha Farris, submitting on behalf of Demetrius Kidd

My husband is currently serving time for a probation violation. I would love to see this bill pass so he could come home to his family

To whom this may concern, My husband, Jamar Shelton has been incarcerated since the age of 17 for a crime he did not commit (allegedly at the age of 16). A few weeks after his 18th birthday, he was sentenced as an adult, to 50 years with 25 years suspended and probation for life upon release. (Again for a crime he did not commit) His life will be hard even after his release but he deserves a chance to be home with his wife and the opportunity to start building a family together. My husband is now 39 years old, he has spent 22 of those years in Virginia state prisons (all across the state). Throughout his sentence he has maintained good behavior, he mentors others, stays out of the way and attends classes when available. (And when pods aren’t on lockdown) He remains humble, is always kind to others, and deserves to be home. If this bill passes, my husband could be home and we can begin building our family before it’s too late! Thank you for your time! Mrs. J Hope

I am writing in support of Virginia House Bill 361. My perspective comes from personal experience. My loved one has been incarcerated within the Virginia Department of Corrections for 17 years. During that time, he has spent long periods confined under conditions and policies that offered no opportunity to earn sentence credits — despite consistent effort, good behavior, and personal growth. HB 361 is not about excusing past mistakes. It is about fairness. Time served is time lived, and individuals should not be denied earned sentence credits simply because of when their incarceration occurred or circumstances beyond their control. After 17 years, I have seen how denying earned credits deepens hopelessness while recognizing effort encourages accountability and rehabilitation. I respectfully urge you to support HB 361 and help ensure Virginia’s sentencing system reflects fairness, humanity, and modern justice principles. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully, T Faye

I support this bill because it’s just the right and fair thing to do. If someone is sitting in a jail, hospital, or juvenile facility waiting for trial or an appeal, they’re still locked up. They’re away from their family, can’t work, and are living under strict rules every day. That time isn’t imaginary—it’s real punishment—and it should count when their sentence credits are calculated. This also matters for people who stay in jail simply because they can’t afford bail. Two people charged with the same crime shouldn’t end up serving different amounts of time just because one had money and the other didn’t. That’s not justice—that’s inequality. At the end of the day, this bill doesn’t let people off the hook. It just makes sure the time they’ve already paid with their freedom actually counts, encourages good behavior, and uses taxpayer money more wisely.

Our loved ones are in the process of rehabilitating themselves! With the help and support of family & friends we are helping them reintegrate into the world. Please allow this credits to be passed. These men are fathers, brothers, sons, uncles, grandchildren, please allow them to come home sooner versus later and begin to become productive working citizens!

Hello, my loved one is one of the unfortunate inmates housed at River North Correctional Center. His release date that DOC calculated never included 14 months of working time that he worked everyday in Henrico Jail that he was supposed to have 15 days knocked off his sentence time. Instead he got into some trouble while asking for medical care, which the charges were later reversed , but he got sent the Western Region prision system and shoulf essentionally probably even be released with time served had the time he had been promised had been added to his sentence. Alot of inmates have worked hard with jobs and programs for self improvment while incarcarated and to give them the time off that they worked for is what they deserve. Please consider this bill to allow those who are serious about their rehabilitation to return to their loved ones sooner. They worked for this right.

Dear Honorable Legislators, My name is Brianna Woods, and I am writing to express my strong support for HB361. This legislation is deeply personal to my family and has significant implications for fairness and justice within the Commonwealth of Virginia. My husband, Lamont Woods, was held in the Henry County Jail for three years while awaiting the completion of his trial before being transferred to the Virginia Department of Corrections. Despite this substantial period of incarceration, he does not currently receive credit toward earned sentence credits for that time served. This outcome is inconsistent with the original intent of the Earned Sentence Credit bill, which was to ensure that all time served is treated equitably. While incarcerated, my husband has worked diligently to better himself. He has remained active in our children’s lives, followed institutional rules, maintained good behavior, and participated in programs designed to support rehabilitation. Earned sentence credits exist to incentivize exactly this type of conduct and to prepare individuals for successful reintegration into society. Denying credit for time already served undermines this goal and discourages meaningful rehabilitation efforts. Opponents of this bill argue that reducing sentences diminishes accountability and disregards the impact on victims and their families. However, accountability and rehabilitation are not mutually exclusive. The purpose of incarceration is not solely punishment, but also rehabilitation, personal growth, and the eventual return of individuals to society as responsible and law-abiding citizens. Recognizing time already served does not negate accountability; rather, it promotes fairness, consistency, and the effective use of earned sentence credits as the law intended. For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to support and pass HB361. This bill represents a fair, just, and balanced approach to sentencing that benefits not only incarcerated individuals and their families, but the broader community as well. Thank you for your time, consideration, and service to the Commonwealth. Sincerely, Brianna Woods

​To the Honorable Members of the House/Senate: ​My name is Annuteaka Harris, and I am writing to express my strong support for HB361. This legislation is a vital step toward ensuring fairness within our justice system, particularly for individuals like my husband, Winston Harris, who are working diligently toward successful reentry. ​The Earned Sentence Credit (ESC) program is a cornerstone of rehabilitative policy. It provides a powerful incentive for incarcerated individuals to maintain positive behavior, adhere to facility procedures, and complete educational and vocational programming. However, a significant gap currently exists: many individuals serve months or even years in local jails awaiting trial or transfer before their credits are applied. ​I urge you to support HB361 for the following reasons: ​Standardization and Fairness: Currently, the amount of time an individual spends in jail versus a state facility is often a matter of administrative timing rather than the nature of their offense. HB361 ensures that all qualifying time served is treated equally, regardless of where the individual is housed. ​Incentivizing Positive Behavior: Jail environments can be unpredictable. By applying ESCs to jail time, we encourage individuals to begin their rehabilitation immediately upon entry, rather than waiting until they reach a state facility. ​Accountability: This bill is about the legislature following through on the intent of the ESC program—rewarding those who do the hard work of bettering themselves behind bars. ​The justice system should reward accountability and growth. HB361 ensures that the rules are applied fairly to everyone who has earned their credits through good conduct and hard work. ​I respectfully ask for your "YEA" vote on HB361. Thank you for your time and for your dedication to the citizens of Virginia. ​Respectfully, ​Annuteaka Harris

When arrested for a crime and held in custody, the days served waiting for trial etc count towards any sentence later given. As inmates within the Department Of Corrections are given the opportunity to earn sentence credits through good behaviour and engaging with programs, it should follow that the sentence credits include the time served prior to sentencing. If this time is considered part of the sentence itself, it makes sense that the conditions imposed during time within DOC also apply to the entire sentence. This is not a guarantee of an earlier release, but further motivation and opportunity for inmates to use their incarceration for rehabilitation and to prove that changes in behaviour have been made prior to release. This house bill will also ensure that sentences and time served are accurately and fairly calculated. For example, conpare two inmates (assuming the same crime/sentence/good behaviour while in DOC) if one inmate spent 24 months awaiting trial and the other spent 10 months, their release dates would differ which does not afford each person fair and equitable treatment. This house would rectify this issue.

Currently, the way sentence credits are applied means individuals who are incarcerated prior to their final sentencing do not receive the same incentives for good behavior and rehabilitative progress as those already in the state system. HB 361 addresses this by ensuring that every day of confinement counts toward a person’s earned credit calculation, provided they meet the behavioral requirements. ​I support this legislation for several key reasons: Promotes Fairness: It ensures that an individual’s ultimate release date is based on the total time they have been incarcerated. Encourages Positive Behavior: By making credits available during the pre-trial and appeal phases, we incentivize individuals to engage in productive behavior and follow facility rules from the moment they enter the system. Reduces Overcrowding: Recognizing time served more accurately helps safely transition individuals back into the community, reducing the fiscal and administrative burden on our local and state correctional facilities. Retroactive Justice: I particularly support the provision to apply these changes retroactively, ensuring that those currently in the system are treated equitably under this updated standard. ​HB 361 is a common-sense step toward a more transparent and just system. I urge you to support this bill when it comes before your committee and on the House floor.

My husband is currently incarcerated serving a four year sentence on a marijuana charge with the handgun. He is a model citizen and should be allowed to at least serve 50% of his time due to mandatory minimum on a marijuana charge with the weapon he is serving his full term and should be home with his family. He is a non-violent criminal and deserves to be able to serve his time honesty with at least parole or probation..

HB 193 (Extending parole eligible/ post fishback/ sentence after June 9, 2000. In these turbulent times, it is crucial that you as Virginia lawmakers make things right. By doing so you will be correcting many wrongs to individuals who have made a mistake and find themselves behind bars which could be anyone of us. I am writing to ask you to Vote Yes for HB 193. Lay people are sometimes not aware of changes, but our judges are informed about any changes in criminal justice and they already know what they have to do, be transparent when giving instructions to the jury about the life of an accused individual. Everyone that is committed to prison is not bad people but just need to be reminded they are human beings and they have a responsibility to society. Once they have shown for years they have come back into their real self and demonstrate fundamental change by having the same routine day in and day out. This request is in accordance with the Fishback v. Commonwealth, 260 Va. 104 (2000) in which the Supreme Court held that a jury should be instructed on the fact that parole has been abolished for a felony committed after January 1995, and can prove the preponderance of the evidence that a jury was not instructed on the fact that parole has been abolished, there are individuals that remain behind bars for the same offense on July 2025. Their annual evaluation says a lot about how an individual has changed or not. Thank you. Lorrene Crowell

I strongly support House Bill 361 because it addresses a basic issue of fairness in Virginia’s sentencing system. People who spend months or even years in jail before being sentenced or while waiting on an appeal are already serving real time. That time is credited toward their sentence, yet under current practice, it often does not earn earned sentence credits, even though the person was confined the entire time. HB 361 recognizes a simple truth: time served is time served, regardless of whether it happens in a jail or a prison. Denying earned sentence credits for jail time unfairly extends incarceration for reasons completely outside an individual’s control. No one should serve longer simply because their case took longer to resolve. This bill does not eliminate accountability or compromise public safety. It ensures equal treatment, accurate sentence calculations, and basic fairness. Passing HB 361 would correct an unjust gap in the law and affirm that Virginia values consistency, transparency, and humane justice.

HB361 We are compelled to draw attention to a critical procedural issue currently impacting the administration of earned credits within our correctional system. It has been observed that the Department of Corrections is initiating the accrual of these vital credits based on an undefined "custody responsibility date." This interpretation of policy leads to individuals being detained for periods exceeding their legally mandated sentences, often by several weeks or even months, consequently undermining the explicit provisions of established law. To rectify this systemic discrepancy and ensure robust adherence to statutory mandates, the expeditious enactment of legislation concerning earned sentencing credits (ESC) for jail time is not merely advisable, but critically essential. This legislative measure is specifically designed to bring the Virginia Department of Corrections practices into unequivocal compliance with the clear language of existing statutes. Its implementation will guarantee that earned credits are accurately applied from the legally stipulated commencement date, thereby preventing any further instances of unlawful over-detention. It is paramount to recognize that this reform represents a fundamental imperative, not a discretionary option. Its passage will enforce the unambiguous intent of the law, fostering a framework of fairness, consistency, and legal accountability in sentence calculations across the entire Commonwealth.

It is time to enact ong overdue reform in our prisons, jails, and courts.

I am writing in support of HB449. Virginia remains only one of two states in the U.S. without state class actions. The absence of this remedy means that small dollar fraud and other legal violations do not get addressed. The company committing the fraud or violation can continue to take these unlawful amounts because they are so small. It is not worth it for an individual to take action and the company's practice gets to continue. I recently spoke with an elderly person who was charged an unlawful $70 fee in the form company loan documents. This was an unlawful practice affecting hundreds of Virginians that could have been stopped with a class action. Without that tool, this company gets to keep up this illegal action with impunity and make money off of Virginians. Practices like these that are allowed to continue harm the law-abiding businesses. The shady company makes more money and profit than the company with integrity. You will likely hear from industry representatives talking about how it will harm businesses, run them out of the state and other things in the "parade of horribles." Please do not ignore fact that state class actions operate in 48 other states and businesses manage to operate there and follow the law.

OPPOSE HB 73 ON ACCOUNT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DON'T KNOW RELATIONSHIP HISTORY/SURROGATES AND WASTE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS. OPPOSE HB 202 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION. SUPPORT HB 273 ON ACCOUNT OF LIFE SAVING OPPORTUNITIES ARE NECESSARY AND PROPER. OPPOSE HB 133 ON ACCOUNT OF FRAUD/WITNESS_TAMPERING OF WILLS/TRUST. SUPPORT HB 350 ON ACCOUNT OF WITNESS_TAMPERING JURY TRIAL. SUPPORT HB 364 ON ACCOUNT OF COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASE. SUPPORT HB 449 ON ACCOUNT OF SLAVERY/REPARATIONS/VICTIMS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY. OPPOSE HB 510 ON ACCOUNT OF PERVERTING-THE-COURSE-OF-JUSTICE. SUPPORT HB 538 ON ACCOUNT OF JEFFREY_EPSTEIN/CASE LAW... WITNESS_TAMPERING/INTIMIDATION OF VICTIM OF PEDOPHILIA/INCEST/CHILD SEX ABUSE. SUPPORT HB 671 ON ACCOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE/GED. OPPOSE HB 803 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION.

OPPOSE HB 73 ON ACCOUNT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DON'T KNOW RELATIONSHIP HISTORY/SURROGATES AND WASTE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS. OPPOSE HB 202 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION. SUPPORT HB 273 ON ACCOUNT OF LIFE SAVING OPPORTUNITIES ARE NECESSARY AND PROPER. OPPOSE HB 133 ON ACCOUNT OF FRAUD/WITNESS_TAMPERING OF WILLS/TRUST. SUPPORT HB 350 ON ACCOUNT OF WITNESS_TAMPERING JURY TRIAL. SUPPORT HB 364 ON ACCOUNT OF COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASE. SUPPORT HB 449 ON ACCOUNT OF SLAVERY/REPARATIONS/VICTIMS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY. OPPOSE HB 510 ON ACCOUNT OF PERVERTING-THE-COURSE-OF-JUSTICE. SUPPORT HB 538 ON ACCOUNT OF JEFFREY_EPSTEIN/CASE LAW... WITNESS_TAMPERING/INTIMIDATION OF VICTIM OF PEDOPHILIA/INCEST/CHILD SEX ABUSE. SUPPORT HB 671 ON ACCOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE/GED. OPPOSE HB 803 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION.

Vote "yes" on this bill. Abusing a child is one of the most despicable crimes, and there is no reason to have a statute of limitations. Children are too young to speak up, sometimes the memories get cordoned off in the mind to protect themselves, and the average age to speak up is 52. If you vote "no", then you are protecting the abuser instead of the abused. A man spoke at a previous presentation of this bill to say that if you remove the statute of limitation, then it might cost more for insurance for some companies. Well, Virginia legislators, who are you protecting? The child victims, the abuser or the companies? You should protect the child victims and vote "yes." If insurance companies gouge customers, then maybe that's who legislators should target. When a child is abused, the crime last forever, so there should be no limitation in punishing the abuser.

Support this bill. Children often will not reveal abuse until years after it has occurred. Abusers often tell the victim that no one will believe them or that they will be blamed and hated if they reveal the information. It often takes many years for the victim to reveal the information and the perpetrators need to be prosecuted.

Child USA 2024 Disclosure of CSA is a complex, lifelong process. The process of disclosure often takes decades, and the “ideal” timing of disclosure should be up to the victim. Over 70% of victims do not disclose within five years of their experience of abuse. Most victims are only able to acknowledge and describe the abuse in adulthood. Approximately 1 in 5 victims of CSA never disclose their experiences of abuse. the average length of time before disclosure is around 20 years. Those who have experienced institutional abuse face an additional hurdle that appears to further delay disclosure. The average age of disclosure is 53. The Department of Justice estimated that 86% of CSA went unreported by victims before adulthood Immediate disclosure is rare. Most victims are not able to disclose to a mandated reporter or legal authority for decades because of the barriers they face. CSA victims face a variety of barriers to disclosure. There are profound long-term psychological, physical, and behavioral impacts of CSA trauma, and many victims do not report their experiences of abuse at the time due to social, psychological, or institutional barriers. Barriers include Trauma response: Early experiences of trauma impact the child’s brain development and functioning. Inability to communicate: Young children are typically unable to fully understand CSA and lack the language to describe the abuse Psychological barriers: Following abuse, victims may respond to the trauma by blaming themselves for what happened and feeling a sense of guilt. Gender: Although girls are more likely to be abused, male victims tend to disclose abuse later in life. One study found that men needed nearly 30 years before they were able to have a helpful, in-depth discussion about the abuse. Relationship to Perpetrator: Perpetrators are most likely to be a family member or someone known to the child. For their victims, the abuse is confusing, and the child may even feel like they need to protect the abuser Dysfunction in the family- CSA often occurs with other forms of child abuse or domestic violence, and survivors have reported fearing the reactions of others if they disclosed or the consequences of disclosure if police or other authorities became involved. Institutional setting- Many perpetrators of institutional CSA have a close relationship with the victim and are often a trusted adult in a position of authority or power. Abusers use their authority and power to take advantage of children who are isolated or have unmet needs Environmental & Cultural Barriers: Neighborhood or community conditions also act as a barrier, especially if there is a lack of family, school, or community support. Statutes of limitations (SOLs) were created centuries ago to promote fairness, assuming that evidence grows stale, witnesses disappear, and memories fade with time. But child sexual abuse is not like a breach of contract or a car accident case ; these are unique and devastating harms against children. Survivors often cannot speak for decades, silenced by trauma, shame, or fear. Many carry their painful shame to their grave. Under strict SOLs, survivors are told you are too late. The courthouse doors close not because the abuse did not happen, but because the arbitrary time limit has passed. abuse does not respect the clock, and healing may take decades, and for some —a lifetime.

I write in strong support of House Bill 538 and respectfully urge the Justice Committee to advance this legislation. My support for this bill is deeply personal and rooted in public safety. As a child, I was sexually abused by a teacher entrusted with my care. Like many survivors, I did not disclose the abuse at the time. The power imbalance, fear, grooming, and institutional silence surrounding abuse by authority figures made disclosure feel impossible. Years later, as an adult, I encountered my abuser on school property. That moment reopened trauma I had spent a lifetime trying to survive quietly. In 2019, I reported my assault for the first time after seeing him present in a school environment. Even then, the system did not protect children the way it should have. In 2024, legislation allowed my abuser to be removed early from the sex offender registry for crimes involving another child. That removal created a dangerous gap in community protection. Fearing for the safety of others, I cooperated with law enforcement, including undercover work, and obtained a confession. That cooperation ultimately resulted in felony charges, including rape, sodomy, and kidnapping. As a result, he is now back on the registry as a Level 3 offender for life. I did not take these actions only as a survivor. I took them as a paramedic. My professional life is built around crisis response, prevention, and protecting the public when systems fail. I am trained to assess risk, act decisively under pressure, and intervene when delay means harm. From that public-safety perspective, I saw firsthand how existing law created an opening that placed children at risk. Warning systems exist for a reason, and when they are weakened, communities pay the price. House Bill 538 recognizes a fundamental truth that survivors and first responders understand well: trauma does not operate on a timetable. Survivors often need years—sometimes decades—before they are emotionally, psychologically, or physically able to come forward. Artificial deadlines do not promote justice; they protect perpetrators and silence victims. This bill is not about punishment without due process. It is about ensuring that when survivors are finally able to speak, the law does not turn them away. It aligns Virginia’s legal framework with well-established medical and psychological understanding of trauma and delayed disclosure. As a parent, a paramedic, and a lifelong advocate for community safety, I believe House Bill 538 is a necessary step toward accountability, prevention, and healing. Children deserve protection that does not expire. Survivors deserve a justice system that does not retraumatize them by telling them they waited too long to be heard. I respectfully ask this committee to move House Bill 538 forward. Virginia has an opportunity to lead with courage, compassion, and common sense—and to stand unequivocally on the side of survivors and child safety. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Please vote "yes" to HB538. There should be no statute of limitations to the sexual abuse of an infant or child. It is a most heinous crime, and, obviously, the victims are too little to speak for themselves. These crimes don't get revealed by victims until the average age of 52. Why would any legislator want to protect the abusers of children due to an arbitrary cut-off point? FYI, the U.S. Congress is introducing a bill to incentivize states to remove the statute of limitations (HR5560). Allow for justice for these child victims. Vote "yes."

OPPOSE HB 73 ON ACCOUNT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DON'T KNOW RELATIONSHIP HISTORY/SURROGATES AND WASTE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS. OPPOSE HB 202 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION. SUPPORT HB 273 ON ACCOUNT OF LIFE SAVING OPPORTUNITIES ARE NECESSARY AND PROPER. OPPOSE HB 133 ON ACCOUNT OF FRAUD/WITNESS_TAMPERING OF WILLS/TRUST. SUPPORT HB 350 ON ACCOUNT OF WITNESS_TAMPERING JURY TRIAL. SUPPORT HB 364 ON ACCOUNT OF COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASE. SUPPORT HB 449 ON ACCOUNT OF SLAVERY/REPARATIONS/VICTIMS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY. OPPOSE HB 510 ON ACCOUNT OF PERVERTING-THE-COURSE-OF-JUSTICE. SUPPORT HB 538 ON ACCOUNT OF JEFFREY_EPSTEIN/CASE LAW... WITNESS_TAMPERING/INTIMIDATION OF VICTIM OF PEDOPHILIA/INCEST/CHILD SEX ABUSE. SUPPORT HB 671 ON ACCOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE/GED. OPPOSE HB 803 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION.

WE NEED THIS TO PASS!!!!! PROTECT MYLGBTQIAP+ FRIENDS. LOVE IS LOVE!!!

The Virginia State Conference supports HB 650 HB 221 HB 1265

Tahirih Justice Center respectfully supports HB 650. Please see submitted attachment.

I am a sworn law enforcement officer in the Commonwealth of Virginia and I respectfully submit this testimony in opposition to House Bill 650. While the bill is framed as limiting “civil arrests” in courthouses, its language makes clear that it is specifically directed at civil administrative warrants issued on behalf of state or federal agencies for civil immigration purposes, including enforcement actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The bill also defines that “arrest under civil process” and “civil arrest” do not include arrests for contempt of court or other lawful enforcement of court orders. HB 650 is constitutionally problematic. Federal immigration enforcement is a matter of national sovereignty governed by the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. State laws cannot nullify or impede lawful federal immigration authority. By attempting to restrict civil administrative arrests in courthouses, this legislation invites legal conflict and potential litigation, placing Virginia in opposition to the federal government while offering no clear public safety benefit. Beyond its federal implications, the bill raises broader operational and public safety concerns. Its sweeping language could unintentionally prevent the enforcement of other civil orders or warrants issued under state law, including family court protective orders, civil detainers, or court-issued arrest warrants for violations of civil mandates. In practice, law enforcement officers may face confusion or hesitation, unsure whether executing a legitimate civil warrant in a courthouse could expose them to legal penalties. This could undermine compliance with court orders, delay justice, and place both officers and the public at risk. Courthouses are public spaces where justice is administered. Limiting the ability of law enforcement to enforce valid civil process—even inadvertently—compromises the rule of law. Civil enforcement, whether for immigration purposes or other judicially authorized civil orders, serves an essential public safety function. HB 650 imposes barriers that could chill enforcement, create unnecessary legal exposure for officers, and obstruct timely execution of lawful court orders. While the intent of the bill may be to limit certain federal civil enforcement actions, the broad language and lack of clarity expose Virginia law enforcement to operational ambiguity, unintended legal conflicts, and public safety risks. Any reforms aimed at regulating civil enforcement should be carefully tailored to avoid interfering with federal authority or lawful state civil processes and to ensure officers can execute their duties without fear of unintended liability. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the members of this committee to oppose House Bill 650. The legislation is constitutionally vulnerable, operationally problematic, and risks undermining both the enforcement of lawful civil orders and public safety in Virginia.

OPPOSE HB 73 ON ACCOUNT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DON'T KNOW RELATIONSHIP HISTORY/SURROGATES AND WASTE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS. OPPOSE HB 202 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION. SUPPORT HB 273 ON ACCOUNT OF LIFE SAVING OPPORTUNITIES ARE NECESSARY AND PROPER. OPPOSE HB 133 ON ACCOUNT OF FRAUD/WITNESS_TAMPERING OF WILLS/TRUST. SUPPORT HB 350 ON ACCOUNT OF WITNESS_TAMPERING JURY TRIAL. SUPPORT HB 364 ON ACCOUNT OF COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASE. SUPPORT HB 449 ON ACCOUNT OF SLAVERY/REPARATIONS/VICTIMS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY. OPPOSE HB 510 ON ACCOUNT OF PERVERTING-THE-COURSE-OF-JUSTICE. SUPPORT HB 538 ON ACCOUNT OF JEFFREY_EPSTEIN/CASE LAW... WITNESS_TAMPERING/INTIMIDATION OF VICTIM OF PEDOPHILIA/INCEST/CHILD SEX ABUSE. SUPPORT HB 671 ON ACCOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE/GED. OPPOSE HB 803 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION.

The Arc of Northern Virginia and REV UP Virginia support this bill. We have talked to people who wanted to serve on a jury but were not given basic accommodations, and feel this bill would remedy that issue and bring us in line with the long standing Americans with Disabilities Act (1990).

On behalf of the Virginia Young Democrats Disability Caucus, we'd like to express our full support and endorsement for HB 671. This bill would prohibit the exclusion of individuals with disabilities from jury service on the basis of disability, and would require that any determination of competency be made only after reasonable accommodations have been provided.

OPPOSE HB 688 ON ACCOUNT OF CONSPIRACY/GUILT OF ASSOCIATION/DISCOVERY/INVESTIGATION OF OTHER CRIMINALS... TRUMP/EPSTEIN/GHISLAINE MAXWELL CASE LAW... PERVERTING_THE_COURSE_OF_JUSTICE OF MY/KEVIN NEWBY REGINA MOBLEY CASE/VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT

OPPOSE HB 73 ON ACCOUNT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DON'T KNOW RELATIONSHIP HISTORY/SURROGATES AND WASTE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS. OPPOSE HB 202 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION. SUPPORT HB 273 ON ACCOUNT OF LIFE SAVING OPPORTUNITIES ARE NECESSARY AND PROPER. OPPOSE HB 133 ON ACCOUNT OF FRAUD/WITNESS_TAMPERING OF WILLS/TRUST. SUPPORT HB 350 ON ACCOUNT OF WITNESS_TAMPERING JURY TRIAL. SUPPORT HB 364 ON ACCOUNT OF COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASE. SUPPORT HB 449 ON ACCOUNT OF SLAVERY/REPARATIONS/VICTIMS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY. OPPOSE HB 510 ON ACCOUNT OF PERVERTING-THE-COURSE-OF-JUSTICE. SUPPORT HB 538 ON ACCOUNT OF JEFFREY_EPSTEIN/CASE LAW... WITNESS_TAMPERING/INTIMIDATION OF VICTIM OF PEDOPHILIA/INCEST/CHILD SEX ABUSE. SUPPORT HB 671 ON ACCOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE/GED. OPPOSE HB 803 ON ACCOUNT OF GENTRIFICATION.

Good afternoon, My name is Colleen DeLeo, and I am writing to express my strong support for HB839, which would allow the Judicial Council of Virginia to review court failures related to Kayden’s Law and Grace’s Law. I am reaching out because I would be honored to assist with the efforts to advance this legislation and to share my personal testimony if it would be helpful. I am a mother, an elementary education major at Regent University, a Substitute Teacher with Virginia Beach City Public Schools, and an advocate for children, families, and survivors of domestic violence, with over 10 years of experience in early childhood education. Through both my professional work and my lived experience as a survivor, I understand how court failures impact children and families and the lasting trauma these systems can create. Prior to relocating to Virginia Beach in August, I was part of a coalition in Massachusetts that helped pass the coercive control law. Through my testimony and advocacy as part of that coalition, I contributed to efforts that have helped thousands of survivors of domestic violence obtain orders of protection in Massachusetts, strengthening safety and legal accountability for victims and their children. As a direct result of that legislation—and after a two-year divorce and custody battle—I was awarded my divorce and sole legal and physical custody of my child. Those protections, alongside federal safeguards under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), were instrumental in helping me secure safety, stability, and the ability to rebuild our lives and relocate to Virginia Beach. Since moving to Virginia, my children and I have been thriving, and I am deeply grateful for the community we have found here. However, my continued advocacy work has shown me that many families are still facing similar court failures. I currently advocate for children and families navigating these systems, and I see the urgent need for accountability, review, and reform. As an educator working toward Virginia teacher licensure and as someone who has spent the past two years advocating for children and families, I strongly believe that HB839 is a necessary step to ensure children’s safety and prevent future harm. Kayden’s Law and Grace’s Law deserve careful review so that court failures are identified and addressed before more families are harmed. I will be organizing and leading an Advocacy Day on February 16 through my organization, Rooted by the Shore, and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your staff to discuss HB839, Kayden’s Law, Grace’s Law, and how these efforts align with the intent of VAWA. I am also willing to provide testimony or additional context at any time. https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-deleo-rootedbytheshore/ Thank you for your time, your service, and your commitment to protecting children and families across the Commonwealth. I sincerely appreciate your consideration and hope to connect soon. Sincerely, Colleen DeLeo Founder Rooted By The Shore

I am a former resident of Winchester, VA. In 2010 I was abducted, assaulted, and raped which resulted in pregnancy by someone that I knew or so I thought. I pressed charges against him and he was jailed and later took a plea deal. He asked if I would let him take a plea and in turn he would not interfere with raising of the child. I was given a 2 year protective order for me and my child but that did not stop the torment. I moved with permission of the court to Texas and he followed me here. He continued abuse and threats to kill me. He eventually went back to Virginia, but maintained residency in Houston, TX. He has utilized litigation abuse and has drug me back and forth to Virginia. My son and I have not been protected on any level. My son is currently with our abuser with assistance of a system that was supposed to protect us. My case has been going on for 13+ years and the abuse caused my son PTSD as well as myself. I reached out multiple avenues for help with nothing. I would be glad to give further testimony about all of the things that have happened including a judge that I consulted with refusing to recuse himself and hearing the things I consulted with him about (how to protect my son and myself having been raped). I was told to basically play nice and it has put my family in danger. The courts have denied us due process and have violated our constitutional rights and the laws that are supposed to govern Virginia. It is truly criminal to be victims of Domestic/Family Violence then to be failed by the courts and further abused and traumatized by those who took an oath to the constitution and follow the law. We urgently need HB839 for Judicial Council of Virginia to evaluate how the courts have failed our children and us as victims of family abuse.

VOTE YES FOR HB839 and all other bills that align with Biden’s 2022 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and oppose any bills that mandate “shared parenting”, “equal parenting”, and use “parental alienation” and fail to address the gender and racial biases intentionally written into our laws. I am the founder and lead policy advisor for MRCI. The “study group” for HB839 is required by the House Subcommittee for the Courts of Justice, due to their failure to form one in 2024 for Kayden’s Law, “Keeping Children Safe from Violence”, and punt the problem to the “Family Law Coalition”, which is a severe conflict of financial interest, protect family law attorneys, future judges, GALs, custody evaluators, parent coordinators, etc. if VA adopts Kayden’s Law, it will unlock $25 million federal dollars. This study group must be composed of 49% or judges, family law attorneys, and anyone else who have conflicts of interest and profits from any component of child custody proceedings and rulings. The research data and information this Judical Council of Virginia needs already exists, so their work should be a minimal burden. Practically all laws, policies, and guidance pertaining to child abuse and domestic violence in Virginia are not in compliance with VAWA. Fairfax County is in gross violation of VAWA, despite receiving almost $16 million federal dollars from VAWA but has the LEAST number of DV and victim advocate services available to children and women, of all the regions in Virginia.

VOTE YES TO HB839. I am the protective mother of a daughter who was wrongfully removed from my custody on June 7th 2022 due to numerous false allegations of “kidnapping” by my ex-husband and due to multiple constitutional rights violations, namely due process. These kidnapping charges were eventually dismissed after 2.5 years of court-ordered torture and stalking/cyberstalking/hacking/deleting evidence from my electric devices and so much more. Both my daughter and I suffer from severe complex PTSD and dissociative seizures. Why did he do this? It’s simply due to lack of self-love, a love for others, and a moral compass. And because I am an exceptional mother by any metric and my ex-husband had minimal physical access to me after we separated, so he continued to weaponize our own daughter as revenge for me refusing to be a stay-at-home mother and refusing to allow him to control every part of me, including my own body and mind, attempted strangle/rape me, imprison us inside our own home multiple times, including forcing me to wear his clothes and shoes so I couldn’t run away, tricked me into his car, and essentially kidnapped me in the middle of the night on April 30, 2015 to the ER, and said there was a surprise inside there for me. Later he said I didn’t commit myself to a psychiatric ward and do other things he demanded, I would never see our daughter again. I was so traumatized, I seized over and over again for hours and the ER staff was unable to figure out what was wrong with me and perplexed. I was misdiagnosed me with “postpartum psychosis”, aka the Andrea Yates baby killer syndrome, because my ex lied and told them I was “manic” “off my meds”, had “postpartum depression”, and “suicidal”. Not one ER staff member asked me any questions about my medical history or took me aside privately to screen me for domestic abuse. For years, my ex threatened, manipulated, and weaponized our daughter against me. My ex-husband repeatedly told me I would never see her again if I didn’t obey him and other highly disturbing When I sought help, the courts failed us. My reports of abuse were dismissed, while I was arrested on false allegations. The result: court-ordered trauma, stolen birthdays, and a lifetime of fear and instability. This abuse is part of a documented pattern called Child and Mother Sabotage (CAMS). Research shows: • Gendered Pattern: Over 97% of cases involve fathers deliberately undermining mothers and sabotaging the mother-child relationship. • Strategic Control: Abusive fathers manipulate children, extended family, and professionals to isolate mothers, often using sexist stereotypes to paint mothers as “hysterical” or “vindictive.” • Weaponization of Children: Children are coerced to align with the abusive parent; courts sometimes honor children’s expressed “wishes” despite clear histories of abuse. • Severe Impact: Children experience loss of contact with their safe parent, trauma, and often become suicidal. Post-separation abuse is a pervasive societal problem. Studies of 48 U.S. and Canadian cases (2011–2022) show fathers use psychological, legal, and economic abuse — including weaponizing children — putting mothers and children at serious risk of trauma and deprivation of basic needs. HB 839 is about accountability. Protection from harm is not optional and only for the privileged, wealthy, white, and male. It is a basic human right for all children, all women, ALL HUMANS.

My name is lacey swift my sons name is odin swift hes 5 years old. I had sole legal and physical custody of odin for 4 years. Until his father punished me for moving on. My ex filed false reports that were proven false and used those false reports to file false paperwork for custody. Cumberland County Virginia should have only transferred my custody to chatham va since we no longer lived in Cumberland County. They didnt instead they illegal took my son in 2 hearings in 6 months without real cause. My son should be returned to my care immediately and his father and all parties involved the gal his attorney the judges involved should all be held responsible for violating my constitutional rights and my parental rights. They also should be prosecuted for perjury as both of them committed perjury. I tried to get the court hearing records and the clerks office informed me they dont keep records of hearings. There is a huge lack of accountability and it runs so deep that reporting to other agencies is a dead in . Cps in Cumberland County defended hoarding . The victims witness coordinator didnt help me . Theres no help or justice for families hurt by the judges gals and other government officials. They are supposed to uphold the laws and constitutional rights not strip them away from me. The police did not help when i finally had the courage to speak up about the things my ex had been doing to me for years. Should we all sue the countys and officials responsible because the amount of damages caused by these judges will absolutely cause the government financial collapse. And we deserve to be compensated for our pains and suffering and injustice. This is not a dictatorship but it sure does seem like its being run like one. We the people want our kids back we want accountability for the judges responsible. Thank you for your time i truely hope you hear my plea and understand that you do have the power to make things right so do it .

I am writing to express support for HB839 and to urge its advancement as a critical step toward protecting children and survivors of family abuse. I speak from both professional experience and firsthand knowledge. I have witnessed the devastating impact that domestic violence has on children as they navigate fear, instability, and trauma in environments they cannot control. Far too many children fall victim in domestic violence situations, experiencing not only physical harm but also profound psychological and emotional abuse. Many become primary or secondary victims of violence, carrying lifelong trauma that shapes their development, behavior, and future opportunities. Research confirms what advocates and survivors have long known. Most child abuse occurs within the family and is often perpetrated by a parent or caregiver. Intimate partner violence and child abuse overlap in the same families at rates between 30 and 60 percent. Children who witness intimate partner violence are approximately four times more likely to experience direct maltreatment than children who are not exposed to such violence. Alarmingly, a child’s risk of abuse often increases after a perpetrator separates from an intimate partner, even when the perpetrator has not previously directly abused the child. Through my work as a domestic violence advocate, I have seen firsthand how children are impacted. Too often, children are the ones who end up hurt. The court system, while essential, can be confusing, retraumatizing, and ill-equipped to fully recognize the dynamics of power, control, and manipulation that exist in abusive relationships. The cycle of abuse is vicious. This is why the work group proposed in HB 839 is so vital. Understanding the complex realities of family abuse and how they intersect with custody decisions is essential to meaningful reform. The bill’s focus on examining power dynamics in custody cases, the misuse of court proceedings as tools of harassment, and the perceptions and biases that influence outcomes reflects a deep and necessary awareness of the challenges survivors face. It is also critically important that judges recognize and apply the principles outlined in HB 839. Judges play a pivotal role in determining whether children remain in environments where violence and trauma persist. Children cannot control their circumstances or advocate for their own safety in the way adults can. When courts fully understand the intent of this bill and act decisively, they have the power to interrupt cycles of abuse and remove children from situations where they are being traumatized and victimized. By studying improvements such as expanded access to legal representation for survivors, mandatory judicial education on trauma and abuse, enhanced guardian ad litem training, increased accountability measures, and the potential limitation of custody for alleged abusers when credible allegations exist, HB 839 offers a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to reform. Supporting HB 839 is not merely a policy decision—it is a moral obligation. Protecting children from violence within their homes is fundamental to building safer families, stronger communities. This bill represents hope for children whose voices are often unheard and whose safety depends on the decisions made within our courts. For these reasons, I urge you to support Virginia House Bill 839 and the creation of this essential work group.

I am a 36 year old mother of 7. I have been in and out of court for the past 3 years and I’ve encountered some very dangerous and alarming behavior in this town. We have people in positions of power who are unlawfully and inhumanly taking children from good loving homes. There is no due process. There is no evidence. There is no help for us parents who have been affected. There are several key players who have been active in several different cases all needing up with the children being removed. Judge Nancie Williams is one of the worst criminals I have ever seen. Please investigate her. We as a group have so much evidence against her and we are continuously ignored. Karen Holeman GAL. Is also just as guilty of criminal activity. Please investigate her. There are no laws in place to protect families from vicious and damning allegations in jdr court. There are no cameras in court to record these heinous crimes.there is no record of what was said by who. There are no transcripts of these hearings and these people have NO ONE to answer to! Nancie Williams took my 13 and 11 year old from me on august 22,2023 and I’ve been fighting ever since. My kids where given to MY ABUSER. The gal never did a home visit. I have so much evidence and so many people to come testify to my character and Nancie Williams threw every single bit of it out and wouldn’t hear from ANYONE. The law firm Bauchbaugher and Mcquire has never lost a custody case and I was pro se for much of my trial. There where so many allegations made against me by my ex and this law firm and Nancie Williams took every single allegation to heart and punished me SEVERELY! I went from having my kids to only seeing them every other weekend from 10am to 5pm. She tried to throw me in jail for posting on Facebook about this! She even court ordered my ex and my abuser to be aloud to DRUG TEST ME AT EVERY VISIT ! He himself! Not a professional lab! There are so many red flags in my case and in the families around me! Please help us! These bills have to change! There are laws that need to be put in place to prevent this from happening. There are other laws that need abolished to prevent physical misconduct and abuse at the highest level! My family and I have been through absolute HELL because of our local government. Please help me!

This bill is absolutely necessary. As a domestic violence survivor who fled due to what was happening to my children, I’ve seen first hand how the system treats victims of coercive control. We have a 90% chance of losing custody to the abuser. In my case, I was labeled as malicious for reporting, as a mandatory reporter who faced fines and jail time for not reporting, only 4 of the hundreds of things my children told me their father did or continued to do. I ultimately got put on supervised visitation for this because I was emotional and no proof was ever looked at. The evidence and studies are clear on coercive control and domestic violence but the courts, GAL’s and CPS have no idea what is going on. He who has the most money and can remain calm (after years of abuse), wins. This in no way goes to the best interest of children and causes them further harm, which also harms the future of our Commonwealth and takes more tax dollars in the long run. Due to my extreme experience with the system, I vowed to prevent this from happening to anyone else. I am on the Parent Advisory Council for VDSS, the Family First Workgroup and various other groups to help reform the family justice system for domestic violence survivors and victims of child abuse and coercive control. I have spent time and money building relationships with legislators to help protective survivors and their children while reforming the system so that it does the job it was tasked to. I also work with children who have behavioral issues and are on the spectrum since I have the experience trying to help my children navigate through the violence and coercive control they have and are currently experiencing. In spite of this, one judge, who did not get complete information from one GAL who did not do her job, was able to label me as something I am not based solely on the word of my violent ex-husband. Something needs to change in our system and this bill is one of the best chances we have to make that change. Thank you for your time and consideration of my experience.

United Cherokee Indian deserve recognition stop playing with us .. our history speaks stop playing with us again you steady playing with us in our faces oblivious you folks need to step down from your position due to your actions ain’t working

My name George Craig and I live in Winchester,, VA. I am writing in favor of HB 8 and ask for your support and "yes" vote. It is important for Virginia to be prepared when there is an Article V convention called and to ensure the commissioner sent follow the limitation of their authority. Thank you.

Dear Members of the Virginia House of Delegates Rules Committee and Subcommittee on Studies), I'm writing to request your support for HB 839. This study is urgently needed to examine how Virginia’s juvenile and domestic relations courts handle child custody cases involving family abuse and to move Virginia toward implementation of federal law under Title VX, Keeping Children Safe from Family Violence. In October 2012, my fifteen month old son Prince was murdered by his father Joaquin Rams in Manassas, VA on his fourth unsupervised visitation. Despite the fact that several witnesses testified that Rams was abusive to both women and children, and a police officer admitted in open court that he was the sole suspect in the murder of his older son's mother (Shawn Mason) and possibly the murder of his other mother (Alma Collins), a judge gave him unsupervised visitation. While my case straddled Maryland and Virginia, Maryland has made progress on this issue in the last decade in ways that Virginia has lagged behind. After a similar working group years ago in Maryland, child protective legislation has been passed (Such as legislation to ensure judges are properly trained to handle child custody cases involving domestic violence). I urge you to consider investing in obtaining a better understanding of the civil rights crisis that our children are facing in family court. If you'd like to learn more information about the case that happened in your own backyard, I invite you to visit my website www.heramcleod.com and check out my book "Defying Silence: A Memoir of a Mother's Loss and Courage in the Face of Injustice". Link to where you can find the book is here: https://heramcleod.com/books/defying-silence/ Thank you so much for taking the time today to read a little about my story and thank you for considering putting your support behind this bill. Sincerely, Hera McLeod

I am a survivor of domestic violence, including coercive control and psychological abuse, and I share a child with my abuser. Although I left the relationship over ten years ago, the abuse did not end. It shifted into the family court system, where my child has been used as a means of control. Despite credible concerns, the focus has repeatedly been placed on the abuser’s convenience rather than my child’s safety, health, education, and emotional well being. HB 839 is critically needed to study how power dynamics, post separation abuse, and bias against protective parents affect custody outcomes in Virginia. This bill is an important step toward aligning Virginia practice with federal law under Title VX, Keeping Children Safe from Family Violence. I urge you to support HB 839 so children can be better protected in custody proceedings.

OPPOSE HB 1084 ON ACCOUNT OF VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 1. BILL OF RIGHTS SECTION 12... ABUSE OF RIGHT... CASE LAW/EGGSHELL RULE/ JURISPRUDENCE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION/SYMPATHIZERS/ICE AGENTS/THEODOR_HERZL/ISRAEL SYMPATHIZERS WITNESS_TAMPERING/INTIMIDATION RENEE GOOD/ALEX PRETTI/PALESTINIANS.

I write in support of House Bills 1260, 1265, 1438, 1440, 1441, 1442, and 1482. In combination, these bills form a framework to protect civil liberties, reinforce the integrity of public institutions, and clearly define the appropriate scope of law enforcement authority in Virginia. These bills ensure that schools, courthouses, polling places, and other civic spaces remain accessible and safe; that individuals can participate in education, the justice system, and elections without fear or intimidation; and that enforcement actions are transparent, accountable, and grounded in judicial authorization. Collectively, they strengthen public trust by drawing clear boundaries between state and federal roles, prioritizing due process, and strengthening public safety by upholding constitutional rights.

The Virginia State Conference supports HB 650 HB 221 HB 1265

I oppose this bill HB1314. No one is above the law no matter who they are or what their position is in the state.

Please vote YES on this bill. Our membership ask this! Qualified immunity, which this bill effectively addresses in a timid way, was born out of desire of a US Supreme Ct of originalists to protect the police from unfair prosecution. It appears no place in the U.S. Constitution nor in Virginia's and so over and over again, we have seen rogue police officers acting unlawfully secure in the knowledge that they can hide their unfair and illegal deeds from effective legal remedy. Police officers acting well and with the best interests of the public under color of law, and so have no need to fear lawsuits which they are already covered for by current law. Currently, police are held up higher in importance than regular citizens, and this is not right in a democratic republic. They tell those of us who are citizens that if we do nothing wrong, we have nothing to fear from cops. Well, turnabout is fair play. Many of our members around the U.S. have suffered from police abuse, both in person and online. The arrogant nature of police, the insistence that we cannot film them from a distance, that we cann ot question them, but they can us with impunity, are just some of the minor items police abuse. We have seen repeatedly that when cops have little scrutiny, they abuse their authority. The civilian oversight boards have become toothless tigers, and police acting online in social media sites continue to abuse Va Code 18.2-374.3 computer solicitation to attack adults acting lawfully online in order to craft a crime around them. They continue to do with no effective review by this body, and no appetite to protect citizens because other benefits acrue by not doing so. PLease VOTE YES on this bill.

Please oppose this bill.

I am a sworn law enforcement officer in the Commonwealth of Virginia with nearly eighteen years of service and extensive experience in criminal investigations and public safety operations. I respectfully submit this testimony in opposition to House Bill 1314 because, if enacted, it would have a significant and detrimental impact on law enforcement officers, agency leadership, and public safety across Virginia, and would force myself and many other experienced officers to seriously consider leaving the profession. As written, HB 1314 would effectively nullify the doctrine of qualified immunity for Virginia law enforcement officers by exposing officers and their supervisors to expansive civil liability for actions taken in the course of their official duties, even when those actions are consistent with training, policy, and clearly established law at the time. Qualified immunity is not, and has never been, a shield for misconduct. It is a narrowly tailored doctrine that protects officers from personal civil liability when they act in good faith and within established constitutional standards while performing inherently dangerous duties that often require split-second decision-making. Current Virginia and federal law already provide robust mechanisms for accountability. Law enforcement officers may be criminally charged, civilly sued, disciplined, decertified, or terminated when they violate constitutional rights, statutory law, or professional standards. Qualified immunity does not prevent lawsuits from being filed; it only limits personal liability where no clearly established law has been violated. Courts routinely deny qualified immunity when officers exceed lawful authority. The existing framework appropriately balances accountability with the realities of modern policing. HB 1314 disrupts that balance by dramatically expanding personal and supervisory liability without clear standards or procedural safeguards. Supervisors who were not present or directly involved could face liability based on hindsight rather than the facts reasonably known at the time. This creates a chilling effect on supervision, mentorship, and training, as leaders are incentivized to limit exposure rather than actively develop officers. The bill also raises serious concerns regarding indemnification and will increase insurance costs, litigation expenses, and financial strain on already resource-limited localities. This legislation encourages defensive policing, hesitation during critical incidents, and reluctance to take lawful enforcement action. At a time when Virginia agencies face severe recruitment and retention challenges, HB 1314 will accelerate the departure of experienced officers like myself and discourage qualified applicants from entering the profession, particularly in rural and high-need communities. Finally, HB 1304 risks undermining constitutional policing by replacing clearly established legal standards with after-the-fact civil litigation. Public trust is best preserved through clear laws, consistent training, and fair accountability—not by exposing officers to unpredictable personal liability for good-faith actions. For these reasons, I respectfully urge this committee to oppose House Bill 1314 and preserve the current qualified immunity framework, which already ensures accountability while allowing law enforcement to effectively serve and protect the citizens of the Commonwealth.