THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 5, 1994 TAG: 9410050013
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
The General Assembly last Friday overwhelmingly passed a bill abolishing parole and reforming sentencing in Virginia, fulfilling in part Gov. George Allen's central campaign promise. The House and Senate, however, did not at the same time approve a funding mechanism to make the plan a reality. No time should be lost on this. Virginians want something done about the repeat offenders and violent offenders, who are often one and the same.
The vote in favor of abolishing parole and instituting truth in sentencing was 89-7 in the House and 34-4 in the Senate. Almost all the opposition came from the General Assembly's African-American members, a vote that is hard to understand given that African Americans are disproportionately the victims of violent crime and have been calling for stronger measures to control it. Richmond, for instance, has already set a record for murders of and by young black men, and the year isn't over yet.
It is gratifying that most Democrats joined with their Republican colleagues in backing the plan, but the former's claim of ``bipartisanship'' rings a bit hollow. Democrats had unchallenged control of the state's political and judicial machinery for 12 years before George Allen took office. Gov. L. Douglas Wilder talked about reforming the sentencing system and the Assembly had a legislative committee researching the issues for a couple of years, but nothing concrete was done. The public effectively voted ``no confidence'' that Democrats would get the job done when then-Attorney General Mary Sue Terry was rejected in favor of Republican George Allen.
Gov. Allen wanted the legislature to give him $367 million in public authority bonds to start construction of the new prisons the program will require. But by last Friday, he had gotten only $56.5 million and a promise from the legislature to think about the rest later. House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, wants voter approval of any new debt issued to fund the reforms.
Voters' approval should be sought for major bond issues, of course. But if Del. Cranwell thinks the public will reject the proposal at the polls because of cost, he is likely to be mistaken. As former Gov. Wilder said during his recently aborted Senate campaign, the No. 1 issue he heard on the campaign trail is crime. Most people think government should spend money putting criminals behind bars. Only a little more than 5 percent of the state's general-fund budget goes for prison spending of all kinds, so it's not as though prisons are breaking the bank right now.
All Virginians deserve at least minimal protection from the depredations of their fellow citizens. This plan will not solve the crime problem, but it is a very good place to start. Fund it, now. by CNB