12 - 1 pm at the Richmond Federal Courthouse
701 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Resolution on Iran Unanimously Adopted at the 2012 session of the Virginia People’s Assembly:
RIHD - Prison and Ex-Offender Legislation Alert
About the Bills Download Copy Click Here: CRC 2012 Focus.doc
Earned Second Chance – The
focus on education and rehabilitative programs that include the Earned
Second Chance legislation and the Volunteerism Tax Deduction as well as a
Focus
on arts in the prison educational environment in order to provide
tactile learning for those approximately fifty percent of inmates with
specific learning disabilities. While we may
Not support the use of discretionary and often arbitrary parole; we do support a person’s ability to reduce their sentence through hard work and positive contributions to their community.
Ban the Box – Starting with legislation focused on removing barriers to ex‐offender
employment, including the ‘Ban the Box’ approach, the campaign will
promote equal opportunity in employment as well as developing healthy
relationships with employers. All persons
should have the right to support themselves and their families without
remaining forever reliant on government and community handouts.
Restoration of Civil Rights – A focus on a complete and automatic restoration
of voting rights upon completion of a term of incarceration. While a
ballot resolution could not be put forward this year, we should
challenge the right of the government to tax a citizen at any time while
he is unable to vote under the law. A government should not be able to tax a citizen who is not permitted a stake in his own destiny.
Opt Out of All Bans on Drug Offenders – This focus will include legislation to finally
opt out
of the TANF ban on formerly incarcerated person with drug offenses. In
addition, since drug use and addiction is a medical and mental health
issue, the campaign should stand against any and all bans that preclude
former drug offenders from receiving any type of service, particularly
when it has negative effects on their families. An ADA challenge might be made here. Government should not be allowed to punish individuals and their families for medical or mental health conditions.
Protecting Our Children – A multifaceted focus on keeping children
in the juvenile system and not permitting unprotected transfers to
adult court for a greater focus on restorative justice practices for
youth. Also, a focus on mentoring and protecting children from the
constant influx of violence needs to be legitimately addressed. Children
should be nurtured, and a government should not treat children as
adults until such time as they can determine that they are adequately
prepared to be instilled with ALL the rights and responsibilities that
come along with adulthood.
Feb. 17:Virginia Immigrant People's Coalition Day of Action
- If these legislators get their way, this is what our state will look like:
- Police would be empowered to demand to see immigration papers from any person that they suspect to be an immigrant;
- Undocumented students would be banned from attending state universities, even if they are VA residents who have been paying taxes here for years;
- Government issued ID would be required to vote, disenfranchising thousands of poor, elderly and African-American voters;
- People who don’t speak English well and lose their criminal court cases would be required to pay for their interpreters. - Si estos legisladores obtienen lo que están proponiendo, esto sería como nuestro estado luciría:
- La policía tendría el poder de preguntar por documentos de inmigración si ellos sospechan que una persona es inmigrante.
- Estudiantes indocumentados no podrían asistir a las universidades del estado, aunque sean residentes de Virginia y hayan pagado sus impuestos por anos.
- Para poder votar, se requerirá una identificación dada por el gobierno de Virginia, afectando a muchas personas mayores, personas pobres y Afro-Americanos.
- Personas que no hablen ingles y pierdan su caso en la corte criminal, tendrán que pagar por sus propios intérpretes.
