In annual tradition, we’re hosting our Justice Reform “Prep Rally”—to educate and mobilize advocates for action–ahead of the 2024 Virginia General Assembly Legislative Session. Our Executive Director, Rob Poggenklass, will host many of our Justice Forward Virginia policy experts live on Facebook–Thursday, January 4th from 6:30—7:30pm to discuss this year’s legislative priorities.
Read MoreWe’re excited to be hosting our Justice Reform Lobby Day in Richmond, Virginia on Thursday, January 11, 2024, along with the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL) and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)! Please pre-register by Friday December 29, 2023. Please read more to link to the registration page.
Read MoreNolef Turns, Justice Forward Virginia, the Richmond Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, and the Richmond Public Law Library present an informational workshop on Expungement in Virginia. Learn about updates to the law, taking effect July 1 of 2023, and updates that will come in 2025.
Read MoreOn Friday June 16, 2023 at 6:00 PM EDT, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers, advocates, and impacted people will come together at New River Community College in Richardson Auditorium in Rooker Hall–5251 State Rd 373, Dublin, Virginia–to discuss public safety and how Virginia’s criminal legal system is impacting Southwest Virginia communities and families. The event is sponsored by several Virginia organizations, American for Prosperity Virginia, Justice Forward Virginia, and SALT(Social Action Linking Together).
Read MoreJoin Justice Forward Virginia, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers on February 8, 2023 in Richmond, Virginia. We're excited to be back together and gathering in person in Richmond this year. We’ll be speaking with legislators about preserving evidence-informed criminal justice reforms that eliminated presumptions against bail, reformed our probation system, and limited pretextual policing, among other priorities.
Read MoreThe Virginia General Assembly General Session is upon us. And in the annual tradition, Justice Forward Virginia is hosting its Justice Reform “Prep Rally”—to educate and mobilize advocates for action. We’re excited to have Delegate Jay Jones and Senator Jennifer Boysko join our policy experts, Rob Poggenklass and Brad Haywood on Facebook LIVE–Wednesday, January 18th at 8:00 pm
Read MoreJanuary 13th, 2022 marks the start of the Virginia General Assembly General Session. In its annual tradition, Justice Forward will host its “Prep Rally”— to better inform and mobilize advocates to effectively lobby for meaningful criminal justice reform in 2022.
Read MoreThe 2022 Virginia General Assembly Session starts Wednesday January 12th, and in preparation we’ll be hosting our annual Lobby Day(s) virtually. Sign up to advocate with us.
Read MoreGet the 2021 Legislative Lowdown straight from some our favorite lawmakers. Join Justice Forward Virginia, Senator Jennifer McClellan, Delegate Nancy Guy, and Delegate Jeff Bourne—Monday March 22nd, 2021 at 8PM on Facebook Live.
Read MoreJoin us Thursday, March 11 at 7pm for our post session roundup, “I Survived Crim Sub,” a discussion about session, success, and where we go next
Lobby Day for General Session looks a little different in 2021. Join criminal justice reform advocates across the Commonwealth, virtually, to meet with legislators on several select dates. Read more and sign up for virtual lobbying January 8th, 11th, and 12th! Meet with legislators ahead of the GA’s General Session kickoff to discuss the importance of our urgent criminal justice reform legislative priorities.
Read MoreJoin Justice Forward Virginia January 7th in preparation for the 2021 Legislative Session at our Justice Reform “Prep” Rally—you’ll hear from legislators and policy makers leading the criminal justice reform charge. During our hour long Facebook Live, the experts will roll out priority legislation being heard in the General Assembly and how advocates can support it most effectively.
Read MoreJoin FAMM, Americans for Prosperity VA, Ladies of Hope Ministries, and Justice Forward Virginia, December 8th 6:30-8pm, for a virtual town hall discussion on the need to repeal Virginia’s mandatory minimum sentences. Learn and effectively take action ahead of the 2021 legislative session. Hear from state policymakers, impacted families, and advocates working to advance reform.
Read MoreStill have questions about police reform as we approach the special legislative session? Tune in on August 12 from 6:30-8:00pm when we're bringing back some of the most popular guests from our "Get Informed About Police Reform" explainer series!
Read MoreOn August 5, join Vernida R. Chaney (President, NoVa Black Attorneys Assoc.), national justice reform expert Premal Dharia (Defender Impact Initiative) and Justice Forward's own Andy Elders for an expert panel on why mandatory minimums don't work, and why they ought to be repealed -- ALL of them, not just those applicable to nonviolent offenses.
Read MoreOn July 28, join Professor Julie McConnell and public defenders Brad Lindsay and Ashley Shapiro for an expert panel on why school resource officers are so problematic, and why Virginia's assault on police statute is much more controversial than the name would imply.
Read MorePart III of Justice Forward Virginia’s “explainer” series on criminal justice issues is Civilian Oversight Done Right: Transforming Policing Through Robust Civilian Review. We've assembled almost ALL of the statewide experts on this subject: Fairfax NAACP, Legal Aid Justice Center, and the Richmond Transparency and Accountability Project. Don’t miss this one!
Read MoreJoin us on July 15 at 6:30 for Part II of our ongoing series when experienced Virginia criminal defense attorneys will drill down on pretextual policing, and will also discuss some of the popular police reforms that do NOT work.
Read MoreWith police reform in the spotlight, there have been dozens of criminal justice reform events recently. Unfortunately, too few of them help laypeople understand the issues the way advocates do. We’re here to help! Join JFV, Sen. Scott Surovell and Del. Don Scott on July 7.
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