Home » Bipartisan probation reform modeled off DeSantis and Jay-Z efforts primed for passage in VA

Bipartisan probation reform modeled off DeSantis and Jay-Z efforts primed for passage in VA

A bipartisan criminal justice reform bill is making its way through the Virginia State Senate this week, but the last iteration of similar reforms was vetoed.

BipartisanVirginialawmakersareputtingforwardacriminaljusticereformbillproponentssayismodeledaftera2022FloridalawthatfeaturedtheunlikelypairingofGov.RonDeSantisandrapmogulJay-Z. StateDel.WrenWilliams,R-Stuart,isspearheadingtheeffortthatalreadygarneredthesupportoftheentireDemocraticmajorityinVirginia’slowerHouseearlierthismonth. TheDemocratic-majoritystateSenateissettovoteonitsversionofthelegislationonWednesday,afterwhichitwillthenbeconferencedintoafinalbillforGov.GlennYoungkin’sreview. Williams’legislationwillofferconvictsonsupervisedprobationtheabilitytofulfillcertaincriteriainexchangeforlightertreatment. Oneexampleisthatprobateswhocanprovetheyareholdingajob,seekingeducationalopportunitiesorpartakinginrehabilitationprogramsforseveralmonthscouldseetheirprobationaryperiodshortened. ThoseprovisionsandothersinthebillaresimilartoDeSantis’leg