State of Virginia secondary Archives: on Crime

Bob McDonnell: Make Virginia gang-free; with tougher penalties & prevention

Appoint a new State "Anti-Gang Coordinator," at the deputy secretary level using existing resources
Aid individual localities in replicating Richmond's successful Gang Reduction and Intervention Program (GRIP)
Expand prevention programs like "Class Action" and "Badges for Baseball"
Expand the role of the State Police in Anti-Gang Task Forces, gang investigations, and the development of gang intelligence
Support Community Corrections efforts and require effective implementation of prisoner reentry plans
Expand "gang-free school zones" into "gang-free zones"
Toughen penalties for gang recruitment at all levels
Broaden gang recruitment statute to specifically include new electronic mediums
Amend the gang participation statute to include "any felony" committed on behalf of a gang, as well as certain misdemeanors

Source: 2009 VA Gubernatorial campaign site, bobmcdonnell.com Jul 21, 2009

George Allen: Leader for three decades in enacting truth-in-sentencing

George Allen says he has been a leader for more than three decades in defending Second Amendment rights, enacting truth-in-sentencing, and supporting victims, their families and law enforcement professionals. He says he has consistently earned an A or A+ rating from the National Rifle Association but Allen is under fire from Virginia conservatives for his record in the U.S. Senate. Source: Richmond Republican Examiner on 2012 VA Senate debate May 11, 2012

Glenn Youngkin: $5000 retention bonus for "our law enforcement heroes"

Stop the exodus of our law enforcement heroes from the force with a $5,000 retention bonus
Keep first responders safe with significant investments in critical equipment and continued legal protection
Fund Virginia's mental health care crisis plan

Source: 2021 VA Governor campaign website YoungkinForGovernor.com Aug 4, 2021

Jim Gilmore: Reformed the juvenile justice system as attorney general

Gilmore touted his accomplishments and experience as "what a real record is in law enforcement." He cited his four years as Henrico County commonwealth's attorney. Gilmore said that as attorney general and governor, he reformed the juvenile justice system, helped put an end to a rash of black church burnings, provided money for more school resource officers and pushed a program to provide more substance abuse treatment for drug offenders. Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Roanoke Times Sep 19, 2008

Jim Gilmore: Endorsed by four County sheriffs

Four sheriffs, including Bedford County's Mike Brown and Radford's Mark Armentrout, endorsed Gilmore on Tuesday. Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Roanoke Times Sep 19, 2008

Lee Carter: Reduce police budgets, supports defelonization

We will have to reduce the size and scope of policing. That means taking tasks like traffic enforcement, mental health checkups, and substance use interventions out of the purview of police, creating new non-police agencies to handle them, and reducing police budgets to pay for it. Lee supports defelonization across the board. Lee also steadfastly opposes the creation of new mandatory minimum sentences, supports eliminating all current mandatory minimums. Source: 2021 VA Governor campaign website CarterForVirginia.com Aug 5, 2021

Mark Warner: Endorsed by Virginia Police Benevolent Association

Warner's speech was followed by a news conference in which he was endorsed by about 30 law enforcement officials as well as the Virginia Police Benevolent Association. Warner was endorsed last month by the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police. Floyd County Sheriff Shannon Zeman, a Republican, said that despite his party affiliation, he's supporting Warner, calling him "a friend of mine, a friend of law enforcement." Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Roanoke Times Sep 19, 2008

Mark Warner: Initiated statewide Amber Alert system

Both men started out by citing what they'd done to boost law enforcement during their respective political careers. "It's easy to stand up here and say I support you. The best evidence of that is not the talk, but the actions when you have the opportunity," Warner said. He said he'd shown that support by helping initiate the statewide Amber Alert system, investing in a new radio system, toughening anti-drunken-driving laws and helping to fund salaries with the hard-fought 2004 budget. Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Roanoke Times Sep 19, 2008

Ralph Northam: Spare our first responders from devastating budget cuts

Our first responders put their lives on the line every day to make Virginia a safe place to live. We owe it to them to provide the tools they need to do their jobs effectively. In the state Senate I have fought hard to spare our sheriffs, police, and firefighters from devastating budget cuts. Especially in these difficult economic times, it is important that we are prepared to combat criminal activity in our Commonwealth. Source: 2016-17 VA gubernatorial campaign website NorthamForLG.com Nov 1, 2013

Tom Garrett: Due process against abuses of civil asset forfeiture

Our civil liberties are a critical part of what makes America great. Infringement of our rights to due process, privacy, and property are part of what launched our War for Independence. Tom's concerns over abuses of things like civil asset forfeiture are what prompted him to co-patron SB 108 to require that citizens be convicted of a crime before law enforcement agencies can confiscate and sell their property. Tom has voted to protected our civil liberties in Richmond, and will continue to do so in Washington. "Protecting civil liberties is one of the cornerstones of maintaining a free country. When any government begins cracking down on civil liberties you end up with a citizenry that fears its government. When a citizenry fears its government, no good can follow. Protecting and maintaining civil liberties is mandatory to preserving a free society." Source: 2016 VA House campaign website TomGarrettForCongress.com Nov 8, 2016

Tom Perriello: Get local police forces the resources they need

We must invest more in local law enforcement agencies. One of the greatest successes of the 1990s was the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Policing Services (COPS) program. But funding for this program has declined from $1 billion a year for most of the late 1990s to just $5 million in fiscal year 2005. In Congress, Tom will make sure local police forces have the resources they need to enforce the law and hold criminals accountable. Source: 2008 VA House campaign website PerrielloForCongress.com Nov 1, 2008

The above quotations are from Commonwealth of Virginia Politicians: secondary Archives. Click here for definitions & background information on Crime. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
*2016 Presidential contenders on Crime:*
	*Republicans:* ~~Gov.Jeb Bush~~(FL) ~~Dr.Ben Carson~~(MD) ~~Gov.Chris Christie~~(NJ) Sen.Ted Cruz(TX) Carly Fiorina(CA) ~~Gov.Jim Gilmore~~(VA) ~~Sen.Lindsey Graham~~(SC) ~~Gov.Mike Huckabee~~(AR) ~~Gov.Bobby Jindal~~(LA) Gov.John Kasich(OH) ~~Gov.Sarah Palin~~(AK) ~~Gov.George Pataki~~(NY) ~~Sen.Rand Paul~~(KY) ~~Gov.Rick Perry~~(TX) ~~Sen.Rob Portman~~(OH) Sen.Marco Rubio(FL) ~~Sen.Rick Santorum~~(PA) Donald Trump(NY) ~~Gov.Scott Walker~~(WI)	*Democrats:* ~~Gov.Lincoln Chafee~~(RI) Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY) ~~V.P.Joe Biden~~(DE) ~~Gov.Martin O`Malley~~(MD) Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT) ~~Sen.Elizabeth Warren~~(MA) ~~Sen.Jim Webb~~(VA) *2016 Third Party Candidates:* ~~Gov.Gary Johnson~~(L-NM) Roseanne Barr(PF-HI) Robert Steele(L-NY) Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023