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Ralph Northam on Crime

 

 


It's time to end the death penalty in Virginia

Most countries in the world have turned away from capital punishment. There are a lot of reasons. It doesn't work as a deterrent. It's expensive. And the drug companies refuse to supply the lethal chemicals. There's another important reason: What if the system gets it wrong?

It's time to change the law and end the death penalty in Virginia.

Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature , Jan 13, 2021

Release unthreatening older or terminally offenders

Criminal justice reform includes reforming parole. If offenders are older, or terminally ill, and they've paid their debt to society, and they're no longer a threat--what's the benefit in keeping them from being eligible for parole? This is about simple justice and fairness. When you've paid your debt, we should welcome you back, encourage you to participate in civil society, and restore your right to vote. The data show that, and it's just the right thing to do.
Source: 2020 Virginia State of the State address , Jan 8, 2020

Capital crime for murder of law enforcement officers

SB 1501: Capital murder; punishment if against law-enforcement officers and fire marshals [OnTheIssues note: Virginia conducted 113 executions since the Supreme Court ruling in 1976, the second most in the country, behind only Texas. SB 1501 intended to apply the death penalty for cop killers. Virginia's last execution was in 2017; it was formally abolished in 2021.]

Analysis by WTVR 6-News 2/18/19: Senate Bill 1501 would make the mandatory minimum sentence for those convicted of the capital murder of a law enforcement officer life in prison. "If you're going to attack our law enforcement officers you're going to spend the rest of your life in prison or you're going to die and I think that helps us kind of take that target off of their back," said Sen. Bill Carrico.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 35-5-0 on Feb/4/19; Passed House 93-5-2 on Feb/20/19; Signed by Governor Ralph Northam on Mar/21/19

Source: WTVR 6-News on Virginia Legislative voting records SB1501 , Mar 21, 2019

Raise threshold for felony larceny; 2nd chance after mistake

On the first day of this session, Governor McAuliffe spoke to you about the importance of second chances in our criminal justice system. I was proud to stand beside him as he made history by restoring more civil rights to former offenders than any governor in American history. My team and I will continue that policy over the next four years so that men and women who make mistakes and serve their time can reenter society as full partners in our democracy, not second-class citizens.

We should also work together this session to join the rest of the nation and raise the threshold for felony larceny. Virginia's threshold has not changed since 1980. It is the lowest in America.

There is no excuse for the criminal act of theft, but a teenager who steals one used iPhone or a pair of boots should not have her entire life defined by that one mistake.

Source: 2018 State of the State speech to Virginia legislature , Jan 16, 2018

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

Other governors on Crime: Ralph Northam on other issues:
VA Gubernatorial:
Amanda Chase
Bob McDonnell
Frank Wagner
Jennifer Carroll Foy
Jennifer McClellan
Justin Fairfax
Ken Cuccinelli
Kirk Cox
Lee Carter
Mark Herring
Robert Sarvis
Terry McAuliffe
Tim Kaine
Tom Perriello
VA Senatorial:
Amanda Chase
Corey Stewart
Daniel Gade
Mark Warner
Scott Taylor
Tim Kaine
Gubernatorial Debates 2021:
CA Recall:
S.D.Mayor Kevin_Faulconer(R)
vs.Former Gov. nominee John Cox(R)
vs.Former U.S.Rep Doug Ose(R)
NJ: Incumbent Phil Murphy(D)
vs.State Rep. Jack Ciattarelli(R)
vs.Candidate Hirsh Singh(R)
vs.GOP Hair Doug Steinhardt(R)
VA: Incumbent Ralph Northam(D,term-limited)
vs.A.G. Mark Herring(D)
vs.State Sen. Amanda Chase(R)
vs.Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax(D)
vs.State Rep. Jennifer Carroll Foy(D)
vs.State Rep. Lee Carter(D)
vs.Former Governor Terry McAuliffe(D)
vs.State Sen. Jennifer McClellan(D)
vs.State Rep. Kirk Cox(R)

Gubernatorial Debates 2022:
AK: Incumbent Mike Dunleavy(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
AL: Incumbent Kay Ivey(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
AR: Incumbent Asa Hutchinson(R,term-limited)
vs.Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin(R)
vs.Trump Adviser Sarah Huckabee Sanders(R)
vs.A.G. Leslie Rutledge(R)
AZ: Incumbent Doug Ducey(R,term-limited)
(no prospective opponents yet)
CA: Incumbent Gavin Newsom(D)
vs.S.D.Mayor Kevin_Faulconer(R)
vs.Former Gov. nominee John Cox(R)
CO: Incumbent Jared Polis(D)
vs.Mayor Greg Lopez(R)
CT: Incumbent Ned Lamont(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
FL: Incumbent Ron DeSantis(R)
vs.U.S.Rep. Val Demings(? D)
vs.Former Gov.Charlie Crist(? D)
GA: Incumbent Brian Kemp(R)
vs.Minority Leader Stacey Abrams(D)
vs.Senate candidate Shane Hazel(L)
HI: Incumbent David Ige(D,term-limited)
vs.State Rep. Andria Tupola(R)
IA: Incumbent Kim Reynolds(R)
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IL: Incumbent J. B. Pritzker(D)
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KS: Incumbent Laura Kelly(D)
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MD: Incumbent Larry Hogan(R,term-limited)
vs.State Rep. Robin Ficker(R)
vs.State Rep. Peter Franchot(D)
vs.DNC chair Thomas Perez(D)
vs.RNC chair Michael Steele(? R) 		Gubernatorial Debates 2022 (continued):
ME: Incumbent Janet Mills(D)
vs.Former Gov. Paul LePage(R)
MI: Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer(D)
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NM: Incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham(D)
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NV: Incumbent Steve Sisolak(D)
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vs.U.S.Rep. Mark Amodei(? R)
NY: Incumbent Andrew Cuomo(D)
vs.Lt.Gov.Kathy Hochul(D)
OH: Incumbent Mike DeWine(R)
vs.Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley(? D)
OK: Incumbent Kevin Stitt(R)
vs.State Sen. Ervin Yen(R)
OR: Incumbent Kate Brown(D,term-limited)
vs.Gov. nominee Bud Pierce(R)
PA: Incumbent Tom Wolf(D,term-limited)
vs.U.S.Rep. Lou Barletta(? R)
RI: Incumbent Gina Raimondo(D,to Cabinet)
vs.Gov. Dan McKee(D)
vs.Secy.Matt Brown(? D)
vs.Mayor Allan Fung(? R)
SC: Incumbent Henry McMaster(R)
vs.State Rep. James Emerson Smith(? D)
vs.U.S.Rep. Joe Cunningham(? R)
SD: Incumbent Kristi Noem(R)
vs.State Rep. Billie Sutton(? D)
TN: Incumbent Bill Lee(R)
vs.Senate nominee Marquita Bradshaw(? D)
TX: Incumbent Greg Abbott(R)
vs.U.S.Rep. Allen West(? R)
VT: Incumbent Phil Scott(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
WI: Incumbent Tony Evers(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
WY: Incumbent Mark Gordon(R)
vs.Minority Leader Chris Rothfuss(D)

Gubernatorial Debates 2023:
KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D)
vs.Former Gov. Matt Bevin(? R)
Senator Rand Paul(? R)
LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited)
vs.Biden Adviser Cedric Richmond(? D)
vs.Senator John Neely Kennedy(? R)
MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R)
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Page last updated: Apr 10, 2021