Parole for Those Eligible

To:  The Honorable Mark Warner

Re: Virginia Parole Board

Dear Governor Warner:

Virginia CURE has received a growing number of complaints from family members and prisoners alike regarding the decisions, or lack of decisions, of the Virginia Parole Board. We understand the problems involved in organization of a new Board and that staff cuts have exacerbated the functioning of the staff.

We would be remiss if we did not bring to your attention the continuing denial of parole for prisoners convicted prior to January 1, 1995. Parole has been denied for some prisoners 20 or more years for the scripted reason "serious nature of the crime." The numbers of three-year deferrals continue and family members are denied appointments with a Board member each year a prisoner is considered for parole. Obviously, these prisoners have served their time under many different administrations and Parole Boards.

Without a means to investigate individual cases, Virginia CURE doesn't try to second- guess a Parole Board decision about an individual unknown to us. However, we have been personally acquainted with many prisoners and family members over the past 16 years and can sincerely tell you that some of these men and women have vigorously applied themselves during their years of incarceration by following the rules and in pursuit of self-improvement, including using what they have learned to help others.

Virginia prisoners on Interstate Compact who were reviewed by the parole entity in the state where they are held have not received a response from the Virginia Parole Board in more than a year. The Interstate Compact office advises that the Virginia Parole Board continues to be "backlogged." Virginia families and prisoners have also advised of long delays in Board responses.

Last year, Virginia CURE even had a prisoner send a copy of his parole denial dated on a Sunday, and this was brought to the attention of the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety. The peculiar thing about this particular case was that the denial letter was identical to the previous year’s letter. The only change being the date that now fell on a Sunday, when it is doubtful that Parole Board members and staff were preparing parole decisions.

Virginia CURE members and other supporters strongly advocate for a reasonable parole release rate with reentry assistance. We know the plight of PAPIS services as well as cuts in funding for vital services of all kinds. However, put into balance, we are certain the cost savings would be great for the Commonwealth if a reasonable prison and reentry system were put into place that would give convicted men and women the chance to become productive, contributing citizens instead of wards of the Commonwealth.

Delegate Watts’ bill (HB 2245), that you recently signed, is a beginning for community and faith-based reentry centers. In our estimation, the use of such services could start by saving the Commonwealth upwards of $14 million dollars in the first full year alone. This doesn’t even take into account the additional contributions that returning prisons would then be making to the local economy and tax base.

If men and women continue to be incarcerated beyond the years that they can work towards Social Security eligibility, many will have no means of support when released.

In closing, we want to emphasize that the Parole Board must concentrate on becoming better educated in the effectiveness of treatment programs. It is time to look beyond a crime that occurred 10, 20, 30, or 40 years ago and recognize that as men and women mature and concentrate on self-improvement their chances for successful reentry are significantly enhanced. We also must encourage the Parole Board to look at all those who are eligible under guidelines repeatedly refined by previous Boards, and release those who actually qualify for parole regardless of how much time they have served. It is obvious that the courts which sentenced these individuals took into account the standard amount of time served before release on parole. Thus, so many prisoners in Virginia are actually being held far passed the expectations of the sentencing courts.

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that you address these issues and determine ways to adhere to the intended parole eligible dates that were considered by the courts, who original had jurisdiction to confine the men and women now eligible for parole in Virginia.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Parole for Those Eligible Petition to The Honorable Mark Warner was created by members of Virginia CURE and written by Keith DeBlasio.  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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