MESSAGE FROM RABBI CHARLES FEINBERG, INTERFAITH ACTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (IAHR)

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed HB 5148 that changed the calculation of time served for inmates. Instead of having all inmates serve 85 percent of their sentence, some criminals would receive “good time credit” automatically and only need to serve approximately 60 percent of their sentence.

As the Department of Corrections began examining the data, thousands of criminals were going to be released between July 1, 2022, and August 30, 2022. Some offenders were excluded from earning these credits based on their underlying offense. Many of those being released have been identified by Department of Corrections as being a high-risk of violent recidivism. How the Department made this evaluation has not been made public.

On June 17, the Governor Youngkin's amendment to the HB 5148 earned sentence credit bill was approved by both the House and Senate denying mixed charges eligibility to be included in the earned sentence credit law. This meant that this budget line item would remove an estimated 556 inmates from eligibility for release on July 1. Two weeks before their expected release, 556 were denied their expected freedom from incarceration. This was a cruel and unnecessary act motivated by fear. 

A  rally is set to protest the action of the Governor and the Legislature  for Saturday July 9th From 10am -1pm at 5701 Springfield road Glen Allen, Virginia. This is a moment for the families and advocates to focus on voting power in order to achieve more victories. 

MESSAGE FROM THE UNITY GROUP ADVOCACY

We are inviting ALL Organizations/Advocates to bring flyers and to use the event to broaden your exposure. The focus of the Rally will be to heal and strategize in response to the Governor's amendment. We will also focus on our Voting Initiative, arming families to be advocates and so much more. We will have a voters registration, Virginia Prison History education, 25 FREE gas card giveaways, food voucher giveaways, 15 influential speakers, toys for kids, and an inspirational musical performance. We need you to come out and JOIN THE UNITY IN CREATING CHANGE!

BEST,