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Full-Text Articles in Law
Unshackled: Stories Of Redemption Among Serious Youth Offenders, Julie E. Mcconnell
Unshackled: Stories Of Redemption Among Serious Youth Offenders, Julie E. Mcconnell
Richmond Public Interest Law Review
In a series of decisions concerning child defendants, the United States Supreme
Court has embraced the understanding, based on adolescent brain
development, that the legal system must recognize children are different than
adults concerning criminal culpability and sentencing. That recognition, culminating
in Miller v. Alabama and Montgomery v. Louisiana, led to the opportunity
for thousands of individuals across the country, initially sentenced
to death-in-prison sentences when they were minors, to gain a meaningful
opportunity for release. These cases permanently banned mandatory life sentences
for children. In Virginia, the legislature now allows reconsideration
of these cases through hearings before the parole …
Empowering The Defense To Confront The Government's Powers: Virginia Criminal Justice Legal Reform, Bryan Kennedy, Catherine F. Zagurskie
Empowering The Defense To Confront The Government's Powers: Virginia Criminal Justice Legal Reform, Bryan Kennedy, Catherine F. Zagurskie
Richmond Public Interest Law Review
During the 2021 Session and 2021 Special Session, Virginia took steps to
restore the balance between individuals ensnared in the criminal legal system
and the government. These new laws allow people who are involved in
the criminal legal system to emphasize their humanity and to hold the government
to its various burdens at all stages of the case, including pre-trial,
trials, sentencing, and appeal. This article discusses four of the most important
changes to Virginia law that ensure a more level playing field between
the government and the accused.
First, eliminating the presumption against bail challenges the government’s
power of …