We Support the 2nd Amendment 100%
Get In Touch (434) 515-2429
Virginians For America First Virginians For America First Virginians For America First
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Agenda
    • Training
    • Resources
  • Volunteer
  • Events
  • News
  • Contact
Donate

Virginia lawmakers vote to roll back open records reform

Repost from 6 News Richmond.

Virginia lawmakers gave final passage Saturday to a measure that would undo a recent reform intended to expand public access to certain law enforcement files in closed criminal investigations.

Under the bill that both the Senate and House of Delegates approved Saturday, the disclosure of such records to the press and general public would no longer be mandatory under the state’s freedom of information act. Instead, disclosure would again be up to the discretion of the law enforcement agency.

The measure’s sponsor, Republican Del. Rob Bell, said the bill was intended to increase protections for crime victims and their families by prohibiting the public release of sensitive information that might cause additional suffering. But opponents, including some relatives of crime victims, said the changes would reduce transparency and accountability and hinder work on wrongful convictions.

Bell’s measure would still require the criminal investigative files to be released to victims, victims’ immediate family members under certain conditions, and certain attorneys, including those working on post-conviction proceedings or pardons.

The Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys supported the measure, as did the parents of two young women murdered in what became high-profile cases.

Read more…

Share:
prev post next post

CONTACT VFAF

  • Donate
  • Get In Touch
  • Become a Volunteer
Facebook Youtube
Footer logo

Virginians for America First (VFAF) is a 501(c)4 established in early 2021 by the Reverend Leon Benjamin. The goal of VFAF is to unify the citizens of the Commonwealth and focus their efforts to regain the majority in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2021. This is the first step in stopping Virginia’s slide into the totalitarian abyss, and the first step in the restoration of our American republic as envisioned by the founders - a republic that provides and protects the freedom and liberties of all it citizens based on the meaning of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”

GET VFAF NEWSLETTER!

Copyright © 2021 Virginians For America First VFAF. All Rights Reserved.