NEWS & MEDIA CENTER
Parole Class Action Filed by VIP Project
On February 3, 2010, eleven Virginia inmates filed a class action in federal court in Richmond to challenge the Virginia Parole Board’s denials of parole for inmates convicted of violent offenses solely because of the nature and circumstances of their crimes. Virginia law requires the Board to consider several factors including the prisoner’s behavior and rehabilitation while incarcerated. The Parole Board places almost exclusive emphasis on the nature of the crime and fails to consider the other factors. Read about the case here.
Campaign to Help Virginia Now, 2010
Last year, Virginians like you partnered with the Campaign to Help Virginia Now and asked the Virginia General Assembly to support unemployment modernization. Unfortunately, misrepresentations dominated the debate and the measure failed in a close vote. This year, the General Assembly is revisiting the issue. We are redoubling our efforts and need your support.
To see video footage of the 2009 General Assembly debate on unemployment modernization, and where it went wrong, CLICK HERE.
To Take Action, CLICK HERE.
Working Together: Third Annual Conference On Senior Care - Register Now !!
The Community Partnership for Improved Long-Term Care will host a conference for caregivers of the elderly: "Working Together: Third Annual Community Conference on Senior Care" on February 16-17, 2010. The Community Partnership for Improved Long-term Care is organizing the conference with co-sponsors The Alzheimer's Association, Central and Western Virginia chapter, Blue Ridge Long-Term Care Associates, and the Jefferson Area Board on Aging (JABA). This conference builds on the two prior successful caregiver conferences organized by U.Va. Geriatrics and partner organizations. This year's conference is being made possible in part by a training grant from the Virginia Center on Aging. Read more
Crystal Shin Awarded UVa Law's Powell Fellowship to Work with JustChildren
The University of Virginia School of Law has awarded the 2010 Powell Fellowship to third-year law student, Crystal Shin. Ms. Shin will use the Powell Fellowship to advocate for increased educational opportunities for court-involved youth. Ms. Shin is the fourth Powell winner to come to the Legal Aid Justice Center.
Click here to learn more about Ms. Shin and her project.
Access to Medication for Individuals with Mental Health Impairments Limited
Legal Aid Justice Center executive director, Alex Gulotta, comments on the reductions in access to medication for individuals with mental health impairments. Read the full story here.
Fluvanna Correctional Center Under Scrutiny
The Virginia Institutionalized Persons Project director, Helen Trainor, and long-time volunteer, Cynthia Neff, speak out on conditions at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women. Read their comments here.
It's That Time of Year - Donate to the Legal Aid Justice Center !
As the year draws to an end, consider a gift to the Legal Aid Justice Center. Your gift will help bring justice and fairness to our low-income neighbors. It just takes a couple of clicks. Donate here.
DON'T THROW AWAY THE KEY: Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Crime in Virginia
The JustChildren Program of the Legal Aid Justice Center released a new report calling on Virginia policy makers to reexamine the state’s current system for trying youth as adults. The report, Don’t Throw Away the Key: Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Crime in Virginia, examines the impact of the 1996 legislative changes in Virginia that dramatically curtailed the decision making power of juvenile court judges, and finds that the law is overly broad, unbalanced, can be unfairly applied, and can lead to increases in youth re-offending rates. The report’s findings and recommendations are timely as the Virginia State Crime Commission is currently studying the issue of trying youth as adults and is expected to issue their recommendations on December 15, 2009.
See the full report by clicking the link below:
Don't Throw Away the Key: Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Crime in Virginia
The report's release has been widely covered in Virginia newspapers:
"Juvenile Sentencing Rule Scrutinized" Daily Progress, November 17, 2009
"Study Criticizes Virginia's Handling of Youth Offenders" Richmond Times Dispatch, November 17, 2009
"Study: Courts Too Often Treat Juveniles as Adults" The News & Advance, November 17, 2009
"Teen Crime Needs Balanced Response" The Virginian Pilot, November 22, 2009
"Community Safety: Time to Rethink Our Approach to Juvenile Sentencing" Richmond Times Dispatch, November 23, 2009
This Loan Is An Example of What Went Wrong In America
One of our mortgage cases was recently featured on the Huffington Post. As the attorney on the case stated, "This Loan Is An Example of What Went Wrong In America." Read the story here.
INCARCERATION NATION A Success !
Incarceration Nation, an event to benefit the Legal Aid Justice Center, addressed the question of why our prison system is so overburdened, racially disparate, and fundamentally inhumane - and steps that can be taken to encourage change. The evening featured an episode from the documentary series 30 Days, entitled “Jail”, by Morgan Spurlock of the award-winning film, Supersize Me. Following the film, Master of Ceremonies John Grisham moderated a panel discussion of experts on the prison reform movement, including: R. Dwayne Betts, poet and author of, A Question of Freedom: A Memoir of Learning, Survival and Coming of Age in Prison, David Fathi, Director of Human Rights Watch’s U.S. program. Prior to the film The Honorable Jim Webb, U.S. Senator from Virginia, made a video address to the crowd of over 700 people.
This event was held at the Paramount Theater in Downtown Charlottesville at 7:00 PM on Monday, October 19, 2009.
Watch the event coverage from NBC29 News.
Read the follow-up story in the Charlottesville Daily Progress.
View a Short Video about our Virginia Institutionalized Persons Project (17 minutes).