Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – In recent discussions on WINA Morning News, local leaders, including Joe Platania and Chief Michael Kochis, shared their insights on the rising concerns surrounding public safety in the community. They highlighted the challenges posed by repeat offenders and the complexities of the current criminal justice system, urging a reevaluation of rehabilitation methods and accountability. 

Chief Kochis emphasized the need to separate rehabilitation from incarceration, noting, “You’re not getting rehabilitated while you’re locked up… for us, you know, we have to protect the community as well.” He expressed the difficulty in addressing offenders’ underlying issues within a jail environment, underscoring the importance of providing reentry support for individuals transitioning back into society. 

Platania highlighted the increasing sophistication among younger offenders, including their awareness of surveillance and tendency to conceal their identities. He noted they’re covering their faces because they don’t want to get caught, but they have no fear in what they’re doing. 

Local officials like William Washington have contributed to the discussion by publishing letters addressing the need for a systemic shift, advocating for a balance between accountability and effective rehabilitation to address the community’s safety concerns comprehensively. 

Listen here for the full conversation: