CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Attorney General Jason Miyares expressed strong concerns about the recent expansions of the Virginia earned sentence credit program during his podcast appearance on WINA Morning News. He warned that releasing violent offenders early poses significant risks to public safety and undermines the justice system. “My biggest fear is always that there’s going to be an innocent Virginian… going to be the victim of a violent felony by someone that otherwise should have been behind bars,” Miyares stated.

Miyares highlighted that the program, initially intended for nonviolent offenders, has inadvertently allowed reduced sentences for individuals convicted of serious crimes, including attempted murder and violent sexual offenses. He noted that these offenders have been deemed by the Department of Corrections as having a high risk of violent recidivism, meaning there is a strong likelihood they will commit another violent crime upon release.

He also criticized the lack of victim consultation in early release decisions, arguing that it is both cruel and unjust to victims who were promised justice and closure through lengthy prison sentences for their offenders. “Part of your redemption and part of your taking back the narrative… is by testifying that this person is going to serve an appropriate amount of time and punishment for their crime,” Miyares explained.

Addressing the broader issue of repeat offenders and the effectiveness of sentencing, Miyares emphasized that lenient policies on nonviolent crimes can contribute to an increase in repeat offenses. He pointed out that a small subset of repeat violent offenders drives a significant portion of violent crime, making it crucial to keep such individuals off the streets to protect public safety.

You can listen to the full podcast episode here: