July 1, 2025 Virginia Justice Reforms

*** There have been NO changes to the 2020 Enhanced Earned Sentence Credit bill. Advocates/legislators were able to defend multiple repeal attempts in 2025. There is no new ESC bill. 

HB 2222 (Cousins/Sewell) & SB 1255 (Bagby) prohibits youth shackling while in court to ensure fairness, due process rights, and our children’s well-being in our courts. Virginia was one of eleven remaining states that allowed the indiscriminate shackling of children in court. 

HB 2242 (Callsen/Will Davis) requires VADOC to inform the court when someone is in their custody. Until 7/1/25, probation officers could arrest someone and put them in jail without informing anyone, leaving people sitting in jail for weeks without anyone knowing they were there. 

HB2235 (Cousins) prohibits the use of restraints on pregnant prisoners unless under some limited circumstances

SB1193 (Deeds) requires prosecuting attorneys to provide copies of a defendants criminal history to defense counsel as part of discovery going forward, a step towards improving fairness and due process. 

SB 901 (Russet-Perry) & HB 1757 (Hernandez/Bennett-Parker) fixes a 2024 bill by capping fees for indigent clients, recognizing that punishing people with excessive fees doesn’t help public safety. In 2024, Russet-Perry championed a bill to increase compensation for court appointed counsel. 

SB 965 (Carroll-Foy) allows an audio recording of proceedings in a district court—which includes both general district and juvenile & domestic relations district court—to be made their counsel. Under current law, such recordings are only allowed in a general district court.

HB1955 (Gardner/Convirs-Fowler) /SB888 (Russet-Perry) fixes crack/powder sentencing disparities

SB847 (Carroll-Foy) makes improper driving a lesser offense of reckless

HB1643 (Hayes) allows courts to dismiss driving w/o a license or suspended/revoked license

SB1466 (Surovell) / HB2723 (Herring) pushed the effective date for the expungement/record sealing bill to July 1, 2026

SB936 (Craig) / HB2252 (Williams/Callsen)  – Decreasing probation period; criteria for mandatory reduction, effective clause, report. 

SB1460 (Locke/Emily Jordan) / HB2393 (Mundon-King/Willett) Human trafficking; issuance of writ of vacatur for victims

HB2328 (Cousins) Admission to bail; pregnant person who has recently given birth

HB1661(Jones) Establishes guidelines for court payment plans based on the defendant’s ability to pay

HB1665 (Jones/Cherry) Requires the clerk of court to provide an itemized statement of all fines and costs imposed on a defendant found guilty of a crime or traffic infraction

HB2657 (Thomas) / SB746 (McDougle) Allows involuntary manslaughter charges to be brought against manufacturers and distributors of drugs containing fentanyl if the drugs cause a death

SJ249 (Ebbin/Boysko) / HJ9 (Sickles/Laura Jane Cohen) Constitutional amendment; marriage between two adult persons

SJ248 (Locke/Carroll Foy) / HJ2 (Bennett-Parker/Clark)  Constitutional amendment; right to vote

SJ247 (Boysko/Locke) Constitutional amendment; right to reproductive freedom

HB2116 (Keys-Gamarra/Bonita Anthony) Driver’s licenses and identification cards; indication of non-apparent disability

HB1877 (Callsen/Rasoul) Barrier crimes; peer recovery specialists; screening requirements

HB2692 (Glass/Clark) Custodial interrogations; false statements to a child prohibited, inauthentic replica documents. Officers are now prohibited from making false statements or using fake documents to secure confessions from minors.

HB2560 (Lopez/Simonds) Requires courts to advise defendants that the outcome of their criminal case may have federal immigration consequences

Here is a link to see all of the 2025 bills that have passed. Additionally, the Division of Legislative Services (DLS) puts together “In Due Course,” a selection of laws going into effect. You can find the publication here.


Interested in the Legal System After Your Experiences? Try These 3 Careers

Category : justice impacted

Congratulations on seeking a new career! After you’ve served your time, it’s important to take the steps you need to begin your life again. Luckily, there are many careers out there for you even if you spent some time away from the job market due to a conviction.

You may have spent some time studying law and the legal system and are now interested in potential employment in the field. Here are three careers you can look into.

Bounty Hunter

According to Jobs for Felons Hub, “a bounty hunter, or fugitive recovery agent, is in charge of locating individuals who are wanted for a warrant or have skipped their court date. Applicants are said to need a requirement of communication and understanding the law.”

To obtain a job as a bounty hunter, you must be 21 years of age with a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. Having knowledge of law enforcement and the military is also a plus, and training includes how to use force reasonably and how to track suspects. Note that some states do require a background check and a private investigator license.

Forensic Psychologist

According to Maryville University, “a degree in forensic psychology blends the foundational social sciences such as human development, sociology, and various disciplines of psychology with professional skills such as critical thinking, research methodology, and criminal theory and investigation, and psychological testing.”

Forensic psychology requires a degree that can be obtained at a local campus or university. This field is competitive, but you can work towards your goal by studying and succeeding.

Attorney

When you have been studying law and gained enough experience, perhaps it’s time to look into a career as an attorney. Educating yourself when you were inside is effective; however, you may need more schooling. According to Learn How to Become, “for those who answer affirmatively, the following guide outlines the various academic, skill building, and licensing steps required to begin a career practicing law. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement for admission to law school.”

The Bar test requires a judge to determine your character before you can become an attorney. A background check is also generally required to see if you’re in good standing. Most states need to determine if you are in good moral standing to get the job; however, it may not matter if you were convicted of a felony or spent time behind bars.

When you want to start fresh and work in the legal system, these careers can be great for you. Take time to research and see what works best. We hope your knowledge and education provide the perfect path to success.

If you want more information and have questions about the legal field, get in contact with us!


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