Press Releases

Hundreds of Virginians held in prolonged solitary confinement join ACLU of Virginia class action lawsuit

A federal judge allowed hundreds of Virginians in prolonged solitary confinement to join our lawsuit against the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform

ACLU-VA submits letter urging Gov. Youngkin to amend solitary legislation

On March 7, 2023, the ACLU of Virginia submitted a letter on behalf of fifteen additional organizations to Governor Youngkin urging him not to sign legislation on solitary confinement currently on his desk.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform

Lawmakers fail to advance bipartisan Second Look bill

ACLU-VA's statement on House committee killing a bipartisan criminal legal reform bill that would establish a means for incarcerated people who have already served at least 15 years of their sentence to petition their sentencing judge for a Second Look at their sentence.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform

Virginia Department of Corrections denies equal services to visually impaired people who are incarcerated

Today the ACLU of Virginia, the disAbility Law Center of Virginia, and the law firm of Brown, Goldstein, and Levy filed a complaint against the for denying equal services to people who are blind or visually impaired in custody.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform

Lawmakers prove once again political agendas outweigh the will of the people

ACLU-VA's statement on House committee killing two important, bipartisan criminal legal reform bills that would establish independent oversight over VDOC and provide no-cost prison communications for Virginia families.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform

Bipartisan Recommendations for Ending Prison Profiteering Delivered to Virginia General Assembly

This month a state working group delivered a report to the Virginia General Assembly with policy recommendations for eliminating or reducing the costs and fees of products and services.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform

Virginia Department of Corrections improperly withholds earned sentence credits from people eligible for early release

ACLU of Virginia challenges rollback of earned sentence credit program before Virginia Supreme Court.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform

ACLU of Virginia Challenges Rollback of Earned Sentence Credit Program

The ACLU-VA challenges the continued incarceration of Antoine Anderson and demands his immediate release. Mr. Anderson and hundreds of other incarcerated people who earned sentence reductions through good behavior were told at the last minute that their promised release would not be honored.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform

ACLU-VA Statement on Gov. Youngkin's 2022 Budget Amendments

On his inauguration day, Gov. Youngkin said that he would serve all Virginians. Yet, his actions continue to tell a different story.  
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform