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Terry McAuliffe on Crime

Democratic nominee for Governor; previously DNC Chair

 


Shift from military-style equipment to support services

For too long, Virginia has embraced a "tough on crime" approach to criminal justice that has focused on punishment rather than rehabilitation. Terry will deliver the criminal justice reforms necessary to create an equitable criminal justice system, one that is focused on second chances. He will invest resources in education, housing, and behavioral health services, shifting resources away from military-style tactics and equipment.

He will invest in key areas to professionalize law enforcement agencies and improve accountability--through training and accreditation, community policing, and increased community engagement. He will examine areas including pretrial incarceration, investing in prevention and re-entry services, making sure that addiction is treated like the health crisis it is, and breaking down barriers that prevent individuals with criminal records from being productive members of our society.

Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign website Terry McAuliffe.com , Dec 22, 2020

Second chance for youthful offenders

A guiding principle that has served this administration well is the incredible importance of second chances. I believe that should apply to everyone, even men and women who commit a crime. That approach guided the transformation of our Commonwealth's juvenile justice system as we reduced the population by nearly 2/3 and began to close our two huge adult-style youth prisons. [Let's] advance the reforms that will prepare these young people to lead more productive lives, while saving taxpayers millions.
Source: 2018 Virginia State of the State address , Jan 10, 2018

Lowest adult recidivism rate in America

I am particularly proud of the work we have done on cyber security. This is a critical issue for Virginia. Last year, we experienced more than 70 million cyber-attacks, or one every 4 seconds. We have a responsibility to protect our data from cyber criminals and to realize the economic opportunity this industry presents.

We made Virginia safer by reforming our juvenile justice system, and posting the lowest adult recidivism rate in America.

Source: 2017 State of the State address to Virginia Legislature , Jan 11, 2017

Grant 200,000 convicted felons the right to vote

Virginia is granting more than 200,000 convicted felons the right to vote in the November elections, part of a large-scale effort Gov. McAuliffe says is intended to reverse the state's long history of suppressing the voting rights of African-Americans.

The move expands voting rights to every Virginia felon who has completed their sentences and any supervised release, parole, or probation. It will also allow ex-offenders to run for public office, to serve on a jury, and to become a notary public.

The denial of rights has a particularly bitter history in Virginia, which is seen as a crucial swing state, the governor says: "Too often in both our distant and recent history, politicians have used their authority to restrict people's ability to participate in our democracy," he said. "Today we are reversing that disturbing trend." In Virginia, 1 in 5 African-Americans is disenfranchised, according to the Sentencing Project.

Source: Christian Science Monitor on 2017 Virginia governor race , Apr 22, 2016

Secret purchase of lethal injection drugs, not electrocution

Legislative Summary: State agencies may contract with pharmacies for compounding drugs necessary to carry out an execution by lethal injection. The compounding of such drugs is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Pharmacy, the Board of Medicine, or the Department of Health Professions; and is exempt from the provisions of the Drug Control Act. The identities of any pharmacy that enters into a contract for the compounding of drugs necessary to carry out an execution by lethal injection, any employee of such pharmacy, shall be confidential, exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, and shall not be subject to discovery as evidence in any civil proceeding.

Legislative Outcome:: Passed House 59-40-1 on Feb. 10; passed Senate 22-16-1 on March 7; Gov. McAuliffe vetoed on April 8 and then signed substitute amendment

Source: Virginia Legislative voting records on HB815 , Apr 8, 2016

Restore voting rights to former offenders

Virginians like James Ray, a Vietnam veteran who returned from war a changed man. James made mistakes, but he did his time and he reformed his life. He deserved a second chance to be a productive member of society.

I have made restoration of civil and voting rights of former offenders a central focus of my administration, and I'm proud to say that in just one year, we restored the rights of more than 5,200 former offenders.

Source: State of the State address to 2015 Virginia Legislature , Jan 14, 2015

Other governors on Crime: Terry McAuliffe 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
Ralph Northam
Robert Sarvis
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)
vs.U.S.Rep. Cindy Axne(? R)
ID: Incumbent Brad Little(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
IL: Incumbent J. B. Pritzker(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
KS: Incumbent Laura Kelly(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
MA: Incumbent Charlie Baker(R)
vs.Harvard Professor Danielle Allen(D)
vs.State Sen.Ben Downing(D)
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)
(no prospective opponents yet)
MN: Incumbent Tim Walz(DFL)
vs.Mayor Mike Murphy(R)
NE: Incumbent Pete Ricketts(R,term-limited)
vs.U.S.Senator Bob Krist(R)
NH: Incumbent Chris Sununu(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
NM: Incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
NV: Incumbent Steve Sisolak(D)
vs.A.G.Adam Laxalt(? R)
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)
(no prospective opponents yet)
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Page last updated: Apr 10, 2021