Virginia Delegate Wren Williams (R-Patrick) said on Thursday that House Bill (HB) 2252, his legislation to create an incentive structure that would allow those released from prison with probational conditions to end their probation period earlier if they complete certain conditions set by the commonwealth.
Williams said the legislation, which passed both the House of Delegates and State Senate with bipartisan support, would streamline Virginia’s probation system while encouraging those released from prison to readjust to society, during an appearance on “The John Fredericks Show.”
“You’ve got people who come out on probation, and the current situation is that they’re basically told to stay out of trouble for so many years and they’ll have to check in,” Williams told John Fredericks, the publisher of The Virginia Star. “This would allow them to receive incentives for doing well, and if they’re doing well and they check off these certain criteria, these certain boxes over a six month period, they’ll be able to reduce their probation without going in front of a judge or having a hearing or anything like that.”
Asked by Fredericks about the marginal Republican support for the bill, Williams said the legislation does not increase the number of prisoners released, and suggested Republicans should view it as an extension of President Donald Trump’s First Step Act of 2018.
The legislation would specifically allow probation periods to be reduced through participation in qualifying educational programs, maintaining long term, buying health insurance, and establishing a permanent place of residence.
Williams told Fredericks, “I just think that there’s a new mindset, as far as criminal justice reform, and probation and recidivism, as you said, Trump’s First Step Act? That’s dramatically different from what we’ve seen in the past coming from Republican leadership, so I think this is just a new take on an approach to bring our people back into society, have them be the best people they can possibly be, and for those who aren’t willing to do the extra work, for those who aren’t willing to step up, they’re not going to have the benefits of this privilege.”
He told the radio host that as these individuals have already served there time, it is in the best interest of Virginia to see those on probation become productive members of the commonwealth.
“These people are being monitored to make sure that they don’t step off the path, one way or another, but we don’t need to police them every day,” said Williams. “We need to make sure they are coming out, getting their health insurance, getting their stable homes, getting their employment, getting their education going good, and making sure they are productive members of society.”
Watch Williams’ full appearance on “The John Fredericks Show”:
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
