SALT UPDATES from the most recent session of the Virginia General Assembly (VGA) and an update on a solitary confinement court case:
- Earned sentence credits: The governor was successful, unfortunately, in narrowing a 2020 law (HB 5148) allowing inmates to earn sentencing credits for good behavior or participation in rehabilitation programs after three Senate Democrats sided with Republicans to pass his amendment…read more. Also, see the VIRGINIA PRISON JUSTICE NETWORK NEWSLETTER.
- Thanks to all that sent an advocacy letter to legislators opposing the Republican position on earned sentence credits. Unfortunately, not many advocates sent letters supporting the earned sentence credits.
- Please note: Although 243 advocates visited the SALT web page for sending an advocacy letter on earned sentence credits, only 47 sent a letter. We fear that some may not have read all the instructions on the web page for sending their letter --“REMEMBER TO CLICK ON THE SEND BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AFTER ENTERING YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS.”
- A Solitary Confinement case in federal court that you will want to follow...read more.
- Some web sites that may be of interest for SALT advocates: NETWORK, The Humanization Project, Virginia Mercury, Catholic Charities USA, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Who’s my legislator, and League of Women Voters of Virginia.
ADVOCACY DIGEST and NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
- Important information from Virginia Organizing:Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to help people afford health insurance by extending subsidies that were originally passed under the 2021 American Rescue Plan. These subsidies have allowed a record 14.5 million people to afford health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).However, unless the Senate acts soon, all of the gains we’ve made in insuring millions more people will come crashing down. Please write a comment to Senator Mark Warner and Senator Tim Kaine to make sure they understand how vital these subsidies—sometimes called "premium tax credits"—are to Virginians, or call them at 202-224-3121.
- Family Security Act: The Family Security Act proposed by Senator Mitt Romney requires one parent to be employed to receive a monthly child benefit (families must earn at least $10,000 and less than $400,000 ($200,000 for single parents); families could claim the benefit for up to six children; the act would provide assistance to expectant mothers to claim the credit four months before their due date. Read more here.
- DACA Action Alert: CCUSA (Catholic Charities USA) published an action alert requesting advocates to contact their members of Congress and urge them to enact permanent protections for all Dreamers. To participate in the action alert, please follow this link.
- After months of bargaining and debate, Virginias budget is done…read more.
- Virginia House Minority Leader Don L. Scott Jr.– story of redemption.
- Florida class-action settlement ends 'automatic' solitary confinement on death row
- The Brady Plan to end gun violence.