Challenge Injustice ~ Virginia Parole Board

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REPORTED: "UNEQUAL JUSTICE: AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE VIRGINIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM"
April, 2001 http://www.usccr.gov (Publications)

Finding 4: Overwhelmingly disproportionate numbers of African Americans are under criminal supervision, overloading the criminal justice system in Virginia to a crisis level. Antecedents to this crisis are in the devastating consequences of educational, economic, and social disadvantages. The Committee finds that State and local governments pay little attention to the societal treatment of African Americans in general and consequences of drug law enforcement tactics in particular.

Recommendation 4.1: The Virginia General Assembly should place high priority on the work of its Joint Subcommittee Studying the Status and Needs of African American Males in Virginia, providing it with resources and staff support sufficient to fulfill its mandate to study the issues. Upon completion of the mandated study, it should take immediate action to pass corrective and ameliorative legislation.
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THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATIVE BODY: THE GOVERNOR, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE

WE RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THIS PETITION TO THE ABOVE-REFERENCE. WE INCLUDED THE ABOVE FINDINGS TO SUPPORT OUR PETITION THAT CORRECTIVE ACTION IS NEEDED POST HASTE IN THE VIRGINIA JUSTICE SYSTEM!

Re: The Governor's Commission on Sentence and Parole Reform

We are a group of family members, friends and volunteers who are concerned about incarcerated men and women. Our concerns involves more than our close relationships with these men. We also are taxpayers who are concerned about the ineffective use of public funds for building additional prisons. We believe this approach is unsound and proven by history to be an investment in failure. We believe the Virginia Parole Board, through its arbitrary and capricious administration of the parole process, is contributing to the over-crowding problem by retaining in prison thousands of inmates who have demonstrated suitability for parole.

Incarcerated individuals are given sentences by the trial judge based on laws enacted by the General Assembly and a full understanding of the good-time system. The system of earning good-time toward discretionary and mandatory parole was established by the same legislative body and administered by the Department of Corrections. In a significant number of cases, the inmates abide by the conditions imposed on their behavior, meet all the requirements dictated by their treatment plan, and prepare adequate plan for their return to society (a place to live, a job, additional treatment, etc.). Then, time after time, they are denied parole for the "serious nature and circumstances of your crime." The parole board is permitted to disregard the laws concerning length of sentence and good-time and the discretion of the sentencing judge in favor of the value judgments of the individual parole board members as to the adequacy of time served.

By their arbitrary use of "the nature and circumstances of your crime" as the basis for denying parole, they send a clear message to inmates that nothing they do while in prison counts. Efforts to rehabilitate themselves are unimportant. Conduct is irrelevant. Planning for parole is futile. Release from prison will come only when the parole decides enough time has been served. The time has come to make the parole board accountable not only for those inmates it paroles, but for those it chooses not to parole.


The Commonwealth has in its prisons a literal "captive audience" to which to address specific treatment programs. Each inmates root problem and treatment needs are known. Yet, politicians opt for short-term "fixes" such as building more prisons, increasing sentences, and reducing opportunity for parole. These solutions are temporary in that almost every inmate will return to society at some point, perhaps later if the politicians have their way, and they are more embittered and less prepared to function in society upon release. Effectively, they have been "warehoused", untreated, and driven to such a degree of poverty that they are unable to support themselves and their families when released. If the statistics quoted by many are true that 75\% of crimes are committed by repeat offenders, there appear to be only two solutions to the crime and recidivism problems - lock up everyone who commits a crime for the remainder of his/her life or address the issues which brought him to prison. The first option, which seems to be the one in vogue today, has a tremendous cost, not only in dollars but in costs to human lives and families. Revenge cannot be the only goal of the justice system.

The parole process which affects a year (or 2-3 years in the case of deferrals) in the life of an individual and his family has been reduced to an average 5-7 minute deliberation by parole board members, acting individually rather than as a board. This deliberation follows a 15-20 minute interview by a parole examiner who makes a recommendation concerning parole based on the results of the interview and the input by the inmates counselor. The inmate sees his counselor at best only about four hours per year. There is no input from the correctional officers, work supervisors, or other staff members who observe the inmate on a daily basis.

The decision is therefore made at the pinnacle of ignorance by bureaucratic body which answers to no one for its lack of logic. The board does not participate in the problems caused by its decision. It does not have to deal with the disciplinary problems for the families of those denied parole who must struggle to survive yet another year of separation and loss of family income. It's time to restore a degree of credibility in the system for both inmates and their families.

The parole board is unrestrained from considering, as part of the decision parameters, convictions which have been overturned on appeal, and routinely require in parole interviews a defense of those charges. In effect, this procedure negates the decision of the appeals court and supreme court and substitutes and additional review of a crime or crimes already deemed absolved by the judicial system.

We, as citizens, have the same concern as others about the rising crime rate. But by our observation on a personal basis we see the "system" as a large part of the problem rather than being a viable element or its solution. Until some reason is restored concerning the length of time individuals are incarcerated without credible treatment programs and some sanity is restored in the system for considering parole suitability, the problems will remain unsolved.

In your study of the issues relating to sentencing and parole we request that you consider creative alternatives to the current bankrupt system and intelligently filter out the rhetoric of the current political campaigns designed to play to and prey on the fears of the public rather than seek long-term solutions. The belief that increasing sentences, delaying parole, and building more prisons solves the problem is unfounded, unreasonable, and unending.

We thank you in advance for the corrective actions that you will implement in this regard.

Respectfully submitted,
(Electronic Signature)

734 Signatures

  • Leah Sedora
    • Comments
    • Yes, we have to become join forces
  • Pat Julian
    • Comments
    • As a reason for not granting parole--it is always 'due to the serious nature of the crime'--I would like to know how that is ever going to change for the inmate to be released if it is the serious nature involved---I would think that would never be changed and Parole would be granted if the PERSON who is incarcerated has shown HE as a person has changed----is the parole board then saying the few that are released out---that the crime they committed then is not considered to be Serious any longer????? There are those that have been confined and had been doing as the State had said they should--only to be denied Parole time and again and now--even given a higher security classification even without having no charges---working--and just doing his time without being a problem---just because of the crime he is in for---yet HE had changed---How is one suppose to ever get paroled in Va?????????.
    • E-mail
    • pjulian@webtv.net
  • Nancy Monzo
  • Minerva Smith
  • Laurie Faison
  • Amy J Scott
  • Myrna Taylor
    • Comments
    • я
    • E-mail
    • я
    • Political Affiliation
    • я
    • Suggestion for Outreach
    • я
  • Linda Trujillo
    • Comments
    • You are not able to adequately provide for the people that you have in the prisons now.
  • Pearl Barkley
  • Deborah Stuart
    • Comments
    • Virginia be the great state that you can be and make a change for the better! What about these men in Segregation because they refuse to cut their hair for religious principle. They believe in the Constitution so should we!
  • Miranda L. Barker
  • Rev. Peggy Boles
    • E-mail
    • PeggyBoles@cs.com
  • Jean Auldridge
    • Comments
    • We will continue our advocacy for fair parole policies and for the release of our men and women who have served far longer sentences than the courts expected. Public safety is not enhanced by keeping prisoners who are eligible for parole and prepared to return to our communities and our homes. Parole policies appear to be politically motivated. Prisoners, like the rest of society, deserve to be treated with dignity and consideration. Join Virginia CURE and be part of our efforts to bring attention to the needs of prisoners and their families.
    • Suggestion for Outreach
    • Virginia CURE, P.O. Box 19453, Alexandria, VA 22320-0453 - virginiacure@erols.com
  • Suzanne S. Miller
  • Tracy Ketcham
  • Lil Fossa
  • N.M. Monzo
  • Sondrah Nathaniel
    • Comments
    • What a beautiful WEBSITE
  • hondo t'chikwa
  • Pat Julian
    • Comments
    • How can a person be turned down for parole for the reason the parole board always states 'due to the serious nature of the crime'--that will never change no matter how long one is confined---it is the person that has to have changed---so how is it justified that some make parole and some don't---did the crimes the few who are finally freed then not as serious---the parole board in Va seems to be a joke.
  • Jean H. Butler
  • carol unroe
    • Comments
    • i agree wholeheartedly with this
  • James M Nordlund
    • Comments
    • viva la evolution, viva green party!
    • E-mail
    • www.greenpeace.org
    • Political Affiliation
    • www.wwf.org
    • Suggestion for Outreach
    • ACLU
  • Cindee Naylor
  • Hilde Bogaerts
  • Vicky Hayes-Porter
  • Betty Jo Nicodemus
  • Quanshateshia Pitts
    • Comments
    • I think we should put the parole system back in place
    • E-mail
    • qpitts@yahoo.com
    • Political Affiliation
    • D.
  • Reb Biker
    • Comments
    • If blacks didn't commit so many crimes, there wouldn't be so many of them in jail. Can you say, "Duh"?
    • Suggestion for Outreach
    • Go back to Africa. Whites won't discriminate against you, there.
  • Judge Dredd
    • Comments
    • I challenge you to back up[ your statement, "Reb Biker", you rascist scum
  • Earl Disbro
  • Dorrie Hazelton
    • Comments
    • Follow the example of Texas! Kill the killers, and keep the criminals locked up.
    • Suggestion for Outreach
    • It is unfair that there are more blacks in jail, our system is unfair to blacks so blacks commit more crime so there are more blacks in jail. This is a circular argument. More blacks commit crime and are thus criminals
  • H. Rap Brown
    • Comments
    • Make my niggas be free, day don mean to hurt nobody
    • Political Affiliation
    • Black Nigga Party
    • Suggestion for Outreach
    • Da Man
  • Queazzy Mafoomy
    • Comments
    • Fro da muhdafuukkin key away
    • E-mail
    • qdog@splibnet.net
    • Political Affiliation
    • Big Black Panfer Potty
    • Suggestion for Outreach
    • Try da Rotary Club
  • Johnny Rebel
    • Comments
    • Well, I like sugar & I like tea...
    • Political Affiliation
    • South
    • Suggestion for Outreach
    • There's only two things that make me puke.
  • Bonnie Seamster
  • Duborah Oya Jomo
    • Comments
    • Kindly ignore the remarks made by those who are so base they do not know any better! We must keep up the Fight To Challenge Injustice!
    • Political Affiliation
    • Prisoners' Advocacy Committee
  • Yahya Irshad
    • Comments
    • It is time for a new approach to the Criminal Justice System here in the United States of America.
    • Suggestion for Outreach
    • "Talk Back" with Hugh Hamilton radio station WBAI 99.5fm - 120 Wall Street 10th floor - New York, New York 10005
  • Legacy Mills
    • Comments
    • I totally agree and are in the same position with my family member that is incarcerated and just been denied parole for the third consecutive time for the same turn down reason, when he has met every requirement that has been required of him, if i did not know I would have thought I wrote this petition.
  • TONYA L MORRIS
  • Robin Patrick
  • charlene hairston
  • Maureen Peace
  • Janet B. Fleming
    • Comments
    • The entire correctional system and its tangent affiliations, such as the Parole Board, need to be revised. Hiding behind "political correctness" only serves to further exacerbate an already critical situation.
    • E-mail
    • 
    • Political Affiliation
    • 
    • Suggestion for Outreach
    • 
  • Mary Jackson
  • Matthew C. Kern
    • E-mail
    • mnfan@va.prestige.net
    • Political Affiliation
    • Democrat
  • Linda Stewart
    • Comments
    • Our son is at Augusta Correctional
    • Political Affiliation
    • Demorcat
    • Suggestion for Outreach
    • Need to get a whole new Parole Board in place
  • heidi holloway
    • Comments
    • i think virginia is way to tough and is inned of some help
    • E-mail
    • htwoten2000@webtv.net
  • Bassam Imam
    • Comments
    • The discrimination against people of African descent is wrong. It is our G-d given duty to speak out against all injustices! The Virginia Parole Board must cease its racist policy.
    • E-mail
    • ibassam@hotmail.com
  • SANDY SOYARS