A Plea for Second Chances: Restore Hope, Restore Parole in Virginia

We, the undersigned, believe in justice. But we also believe in redemption. We believe that a moment of terrible error should not define an entire human life. We believe that people can change, and that a system of justice should allow for that change.

In 1995, Virginia took away the possibility of parole. This means that thousands of human beings our sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers were sentenced to die in prison with no hope of review, no matter how profoundly they have transformed themselves.

This is not justice. This is despair.

We are not asking to open the prison gates. We are asking to open the door to hope.

The abolition of parole created a system that is:

· Cruel: It ignores decades of rehabilitation, profound remorse, and exemplary behavior. It tells a person who has genuinely changed that their efforts mean nothing.

· Fiscally Irresponsible: It forces taxpayers to care for a rapidly aging prison population, incurring enormous medical costs for individuals who pose little to no threat to public safety.

· Unjust: It eliminates the vital tool of a parole board to individually assess each case, considering the unique circumstances of the crime, the growth of the individual, and their readiness to contribute positively to society.

Imagine a system where a person who committed a crime at 19, who has spent 20 years becoming a mentor, an advocate for peace, and a truly remorseful soul, could make a case to a professional board that they are no longer the same person.

That system was parole. And Virginia needs it back.

Restoring parole does not mean releasing dangerous individuals. It means creating a careful, meticulous, and evidence-based process to evaluate who has earned a second chance. It means incentivizing rehabilitation and good behavior, making our prisons safer for both inmates and staff. It means honoring the principles of mercy and redemption that are fundamental to our humanity.

We plead with you—our lawmakers, our leaders, and our fellow citizens—to see the human beings behind the case numbers.

Let us be a Commonwealth that believes in accountability, but also in the power of transformation. Let us be tough on crime, but smart on justice. Let us restore the tool of parole and bring back a vital measure of hope, and fairness to our criminal justice system.

Sign this petition to tell the Virginia General Assembly: It’s time for a second chance. Bring Back parole.