See the various issues on which NACDL has conducted criminal justice advocacy in Virginia. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see active legislation in Virginia that NACDL is tracking. 

The Press Is Finally Getting It Steven D. Benjamin

Recent legislative changes to Virginia Code 16.1-272 give the judiciary greater guidance and discretion in sentencing youth convicted of felony offenses in Virginia. This program features an overview of the blended sentencing provisions for juveniles transferred to circuit court followed by a discussion of the new sentencing provisions passed earlier this year.

Explore the mechanisms that incentivize police to engage in pretextual traffic stops and examine state and local efforts to stop law enforcement from enforcing minor traffic infractions.

22^nd Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
August 16-17, 2023 | Held Virtually

State and local law enforcement agencies are employing dystopian technology like face recognition, drone cameras and predictive policing programs to investigate, charge and prosecute people. These powerful tools are criminalizing communities, often with little transparency of how they were acquired and how they are used. Learn how to uncover and confront these technologies at the state and local level.

NACDL's 19th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
August 17-19, 2020 | Held Virtually

The absence of uniform reporting and standardization requirements for criminal justice data makes meaningful transparency into court, jail, prison, and law enforcement practices nearly impossible. This panel will highlight legislative efforts to collect comprehensive criminal justice data for reform, including recent legislative efforts in Colorado, Connecticut, and Virginia, pertaining to pretrial, prosecutorial and policing data collection.

NACDL's 19th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
August 17-19, 2020 | Held Virtually

Before bail reform, 60% of people in New York jails were being held pretrial. Reforms reduced jail numbers in 93% of counties, but misinformation about public safety fueled rollbacks. Hear lessons learned from advocates in New York, as well as receive tips and strategies around responding to critics and addressing concerns of court actors, legislators, and others.

NACDL's 19th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
August 17-19, 2020 | Held Virtually

NACDL advocated for legislation to raise the daily compensation rate for jurors in Virginia.

Brief of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Innocence Project as Amici Curiae in Support of Terrence Jerome Richardson

In 1975, Virginia enacted a general prohibition against abortion.

We write to ask that you rescind your support, as members of the Virginia Municipal League, for racial profiling practices by Virginia law enforcement—euphemistically known as “pretextual policing”—and to invite you to an informal presentation on this important criminal justice issue.

On behalf NACDL, I write to express support for House Bill 2317/Senate Bill 789, which would increase the daily compensation rate for jurors in Virginia from its current rate of $30 to $50. This is a critical step needed to increase the diversity of juries in the Commonwealth.

Public defense issues and developments in Virginia

NACDL is working with partners to oppose efforts to expand the use of facial recognition technology in Virginia.

Coalition letter to the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate regarding proposed legislation to allow law enforcement to use facial recognition technology for criminal investigations.