Formerly incarcerated Virginians to lobby lawmakers for Second Look legislation

Virginians who were once themselves or whose family members are still incarcerated will join the ACLU of Virginia, The Humanization Project, Nolef Turns, Sistas in Prison Reform, and people harmed by crime for a Second Look Lobby Day to call on lawmakers to pass Second Look legislation in the upcoming 2024 General Assembly.

The Second Look Lobby Day will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond and end at the Virginia State Capitol, where impacted people will meet with lawmakers.

Press Conference: Second Look Lobby Day participants will hold a press conference from 10:30 to 11 a.m. in the Senate Briefing Room (Room 400) of the General Assembly Building. Speakers will include:

• Sen. Creigh Deeds (D)
• Del. Carrie Coyner (R)
• Del. Rae Cousins (D)
• Donald Baylor, Director of Organizing, National Coalition of Public Safety Officers
• Sheba Williams, victim of crime who supports Second Look legislation
• Jesse Crosson, formerly incarcerated person who supports Second Look legislation

Interview and Photo Opportunities: The following organizational experts will be available to speak with the media:

• Kelly Thomasson, former Secretary of the Commonwealth
• Shawn Weneta, Policy and Advocacy Strategist, ACLU of Virginia
• Ben Knotts, Legislative Director, Americans for Prosperity
• Daniel Landsman, Vice President of Policy, and Matthew Charles, Senior Policy Advisor, FAMM
• Paulettra James, Co-Founder, Sistas in Prison Reform

Formerly incarcerated people, family members of those who are still incarcerated, and people who have been harmed by crime will also be available for interviews.

Second Look legislation was passed by the full Senate with broad bipartisan support before dying in the House Courts of Justice subcommittee during the 2022 and 2023 General Assembly.

Second Look legislation would allow people who have proven they are not a threat to public safety to petition the court to review and potentially amend their long sentences.