On March 1, 2024, 21 organizations submitted a letter to Virginia’s General Assembly urging lawmakers to adopt the House Budget language striking Item 390(R)(2) fully enacting expanded Earned Sentence Credit legislation passed by the 2021 General Assembly Special Session.

The joint letter responds to a misleading letter sent by Attorney General Jason Miyares on February 27, 2024 that distorted the data on enhanced credits through an inaccurate presentation of the public safety and fiscal impacts of the problem.

Earned sentence credit programs have been found in rigorous comparisons to improve work opportunities and, in the Commonwealth, have already generated millions in savings. Expanding earned sentence credits is principled, evidence-based policy. It’s shameful to see the Attorney General attempt to represent it otherwise. 

Read the full letter below.