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  • Attorney David Coolidge of Raleigh, NC Talks Improving Virginia Juvenile Justice System

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    David Coolidge
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    Last week, Senator David Marsden (D) introduced a bill to the Virginia State Senate that would allow juvenile prisoners to petition for sentence reductions provided that A, they have served for at least 20 years, and B, they can prove their rehabilitation and maturity to a panel of judges. While opposition is expected from other members of the House of Delegates subcommittee, including Rob Bell (R) of Albemarle, the introduction of the measure signals a step forward in human rights. Many Americans don’t realize that the United States is the only country in the world that sentences juvenile offenders with life in prison and no parole. Eleven states, including Virginia, imposed these strict life sentences on non-homicide crimes when the U.S. Supreme Court intervened in 2010, banning the practice. Yet the Virginia Supreme Court has upheld these sentences, given that teenage offenders will have a chance at freedom when they turn 60, through geriatric parole. As of today, there are at least 22 prisoners in Virginia jails serving life sentences without parole for non-homicide crimes they committed as teenagers. The bill in question, SB142, would offer inmates incarcerated for long periods of time the possibility of petitioning for sentence review every five years, either after they turn 35 or once they have served 20 years, whichever happens last. SB142 instructors the Supreme Court to set up a panel of four active or retired Circuit Court judges to hear evidence (testimony from probation officers, victims of the associated crime, and the prisoners themselves) to determine whether the sentence should be changed or not. Depending on the hearing, an inmate could even be released immediately with particular conditions. Senator Marsden served the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice as acting director, under both Governor Jim Gilmore and Governor Mark Warner. After dedicating years to improving the juvenile justice system of Virginia, Marsden strongly believes that people have the ability to change, and that laws should provide a mechanism that appreciates this ability.

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    Last week, Senator David Marsden (D) introduced a bill to the Virginia State Senate that would allow juvenile prisoners to petition for sentence reductions provided that A, they have served for at least 20 years, and B, they can prove their rehabilitation and maturity to a panel of judges. While opposition is expected from other members of the House of Delegates subcommittee, including Rob Bell (R) of Albemarle, the introduction of the measure signals a step forward in human rights. Many Americans don’t realize that the United States is the only country in the world that sentences juvenile offenders with life in prison and no parole. Eleven states, including Virginia, imposed these strict life sentences on non-homicide crimes when the U.S. Supreme Court intervened in 2010, banning the practice. Yet the Virginia Supreme Court has upheld these sentences, given that teenage offenders will have a chance at freedom when they turn 60, through geriatric parole. As of today, there are at least 22 prisoners in Virginia jails serving life sentences without parole for non-homicide crimes they committed as teenagers. The bill in question, SB142, would offer inmates incarcerated for long periods of time the possibility of petitioning for sentence review every five years, either after they turn 35 or once they have served 20 years, whichever happens last. SB142 instructors the Supreme Court to set up a panel of four active or retired Circuit Court judges to hear evidence (testimony from probation officers, victims of the associated crime, and the prisoners themselves) to determine whether the sentence should be changed or not. Depending on the hearing, an inmate could even be released immediately with particular conditions. Senator Marsden served the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice as acting director, under both Governor Jim Gilmore and Governor Mark Warner. After dedicating years to improving the juvenile justice system of Virginia, Marsden strongly believes that people have the ability to change, and that laws should provide a mechanism that appreciates this ability.

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    Attorney David Coolidge of Raleigh, NC Talks Improving Virginia Juvenile Justice System

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    David Coolidge
    Last week, Senator David Marsden (D) introduced a bill to the Virginia State Senate that would allow juvenile prisoners to petition for sentence reductions provided that A, they have served for at least 20 years, and B, they can prove their rehabilitation and maturity to a panel of judges. While opposition is expected from other members of the House of Delegates subcommittee, including Rob Bell (R) of Albemarle, the introduction of the measure signals a step forward in human rights. Many Americans don’t realize that the United States is the only country in the world that sentences juvenile offenders with life in prison and no parole. Eleven states, including Virginia, imposed these strict life sentences on non-homicide crimes when the U.S. Supreme Court intervened in 2010, banning the practice. Yet the Virginia Supreme Court has upheld these sentences, given that teenage offenders will have a chance at freedom when they turn 60, through geriatric parole. As of today, there are at least 22 prisoners in Virginia jails serving life sentences without parole for non-homicide crimes they committed as teenagers. The bill in question, SB142, would offer inmates incarcerated for long periods of time the possibility of petitioning for sentence review every five years, either after they turn 35 or once they have served 20 years, whichever happens last. SB142 instructors the Supreme Court to set up a panel of four active or retired Circuit Court judges to hear evidence (testimony from probation officers, victims of the associated crime, and the prisoners themselves) to determine whether the sentence should be changed or not. Depending on the hearing, an inmate could even be released immediately with particular conditions. Senator Marsden served the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice as acting director, under both Governor Jim Gilmore and Governor Mark Warner. After dedicating years to improving the juvenile justice system of Virginia, Marsden strongly believes that people have the ability to change, and that laws should provide a mechanism that appreciates this ability.

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    VIRGINIA

    STATE SENATOR AIMS TO


    IMPROVE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM
    By Attorney David Coolidge
    January 28, 2014

    Last week, Senator David Marsden (D) introduced a bill to the Virginia State Senate
    that would allow juvenile prisoners to petition for sentence reductions provided
    that A, they have served for at least 20 years, and B, they can prove their
    rehabilitation and maturity to a panel of judges.

    While opposition is expected
    from other members of the
    House of Delegates
    subcommittee, including Rob
    Bell (R) of Albemarle, the
    introduction of the measure
    signals a step forward in
    human rights. Many Americans
    dont realize that the United
    States is the only country in the
    world that sentences juvenile
    offenders with life in prison
    and no parole. Eleven states,
    including Virginia, imposed
    these strict life sentences on non-homicide crimes when the U.S. Supreme Court
    intervened in 2010, banning the practice.

    Yet the Virginia Supreme Court has upheld these sentences, given that teenage
    offenders will have a chance at freedom when they turn 60, through geriatric parole.
    As of today, there are at least 22 prisoners in Virginia jails serving life sentences
    without parole for non-homicide crimes they committed as teenagers.

    The bill in question, SB142, would offer inmates incarcerated for long periods of
    time the possibility of petitioning for sentence review every five years, either after
    they turn 35 or once they have served 20 years, whichever happens last. SB142
    instructors the Supreme Court to set up a panel of four active or retired Circuit
    Court judges to hear evidence (testimony from probation officers, victims of the
    associated crime, and the prisoners themselves) to determine whether the sentence
    should be changed or not. Depending on the hearing, an inmate could even be
    released immediately with particular conditions.

    Senator Marsden served the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice as acting


    director, under both Governor Jim Gilmore and Governor Mark Warner. After
    dedicating years to improving the juvenile justice system of Virginia, Marsden
    strongly believes that people have the ability to change, and that laws should
    provide a mechanism that appreciates this ability.


    Attorney David Coolidge graduated at the top of his class from Duke University School
    of Law. He has extensive misdemeanor and felony criminal practice, and has also
    represented thousands of clients facing speeding tickets and other moving violations
    with The Coolidge Law Firm in Raleigh, NC. David Coolidge is also an active member of
    a number of the states legal organizations, including the North Carolina Bar
    Association, Wake County Bar Association, Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial
    Lawyers, and North Carolina Advocates for Justice.

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