DN-R Justice Matters Column Promotes Reform

Delegate Tony Wilt's bill HB1030, requires the Virginia Parole Board to use objective criteria in determining eligibility for release. As noted above, it would not add any taxpayer expense, but would help free tons of tax dollars by releasing people who are no longer a threat to public safety.

Debra Turner, legislative advisor for the Valley Justice Coalition, wrote the following Justice Matters column published in today's Daily News-Record:

Delegate Tony Wilt Files A Groundbreaking Parole Bill

Remember how important the dreaded report card was when we were in school? Even now, as adults, we endure job performance evaluations in which we are evaluated based on preset criteria, and expect to receive either the benefits of, or the penalties for, our performance.

But what if no matter how well we performed, we never received the benefits, and were continually penalized for offenses committed 20 or 30 years ago?

Del. Tony Wilt and the Valley Justice Coalition believe that those who have committed crimes and are eligible for parole should be able to meet measurable criteria for release. The Virginia Parole Board’s mission is to “release (those) compatible with public safety.” Unfortunately, the Parole Board has failed to live up to its mission statement.

Many citizens are unaware that the State of Virginia eliminated parole in 1995. However, there are still several thousand individuals who are grandfathered under the old parole laws and continue to be eligible to earn parole. Of those potential parolees, only 26 were granted parole in 2025. That is a grant rate of less than 1%. How could such a performance rating system seem fair?

With insightful ideas from two detainees at the Lawrenceville Correctional Center, Delegate Wilt has filed House Bill 1030 with discretionary parole eligibility guidelines. This bill includes a checklist of 10 measurable criteria for parole release, such as being infraction free, length of time served, age at time of offense, and verified home and work plans. Those who are parole eligible gain or lose points based on their individual incarceration histories. Anyone who has a total score of 25 points or less receives no hearing and a negative consideration. Anyone who has a total score of 50+ points, is guaranteed a hearing and positive consideration. This would not guarantee release, but the Parole Board would need to provide an individualized written explanation for any failure to follow the recommendation indicated by the checklist score.

With the passage of HB1030, the Parole Board would finally be held accountable for a release rate of less than 1%. Their current explanations for a parole denial often include “release at this time would diminish the seriousness of the crime,” or “has an extensive criminal record.” These are subjective assessments rather than being based on the clear data that a checklist of criteria would generate.

No matter how extensive or serious, past crimes can never be changed. What matters, after many years of incarceration, are the positive changes that are demonstrated by the individual. What have they done, or not done, to show they are no longer a danger to public safety? Only by examining their carceral history through the completion of an objective checklist can the Parole Board justify their decision to grant or not to grant parole.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, Virginia inaugurated our 75th governor. As I listened to Governor Spanberger’s inaugural speech, one word was highlighted over and over. Affordability. Virginia is facing a period of fiscal challenge that will require bipartisan cooperation. For example, our economy has suffered tremendous loss of income after the elimination of 24,000 federal jobs. We will need to economize in every area possible to make up for this lost revenue.

Consider the currently 1200 eligible for geriatric parole, being sixty years old or older. Due to overly long sentences and an aging prison population, this number is expected to rise by more than 40% in the next few years. The independent watchdog group JLARC reports that 2% of Virginia’s prison population uses nearly 20% of the Department of Corrections healthcare funds. This aging population needs specialized health care that costs the taxpayer an average of $70,000 per person per year. The cost is enormous and will only continue to grow.

Ask yourself this question. Can Virginia continue to morally and financially support a system that warehouses individuals who could be safely returned to family and friends? The answer is a resounding NO.

The Valley Justice Coalition would like to thank Delegate Wilt for attempting to improve this system by filing HB1030 Discretionary Parole Eligibility Guidelines.

Monthly Justice Matters columns are provided by members of the Valley Justice Coalition, a local citizen voice for criminal justice reform in our community and in the Commonwealth since 2014.

It's The Money We Trust, Not The Motto

 

Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari writes, "Money is the most successful story ever invented and told by human beings because it is the only story everyone believes… Not everyone believes in God, not everybody believes in human rights, not everybody believes in nationalism, but everybody believes in money.”

Is this true?

Many Americans share the belief expressed in the motto "In God we Trust," a slogan that became popular during the Civil War and was widely used by supporters of both the Union and the Confederacy. According to a lengthy Wikipedia article, the last bill President Lincoln signed before his assassination was to have that motto inscribed on US coins, and it has since been printed on all US currency.

While we may affirm the words "In God We Trust," what most of us actually rely on for our security and wellbeing is a US economy based more on the Almighty Dollar than on the worldwide reign of Almighty God, who has charged us to care for the earth and all of its inhabitants.  

Money itself is worth no more than the paper or silver currency its inscribed on. In other words, a $1 bill is not intrinsically worth more than a $1000 one.  And none of the gold stored in Fort Knox to back up its value is capable of feeding us or providing for any of our needs.  It is only our common faith in the "worth-ship" (as in the word "worship") of that gold (currently valued at an all time high of over $5000 per troy ounce) that gives it any value. 

Our ultimate security comes through being members of mutually supportive human communities like families, congregations and communities committed to serve and care for each other to the extent that no one starves unless everyone starves. Every other supposed source of security is subject to the kind of economic collapse the nation experienced in the Great Depression, and which the Confederacy experienced at the end of the Civil War, when its money became worthless.

"Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home." 

- Jesus (Luke 16:9 New Living Bible)

https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2023/12/are-we-more-polytheistic-than-we-realize.html

Thirty Years of Local Marriage & Divorce Stats

For each of the past 30 years I have asked for divorce and marriage statistics from our local court, numbers graciously provided since 1996. While our Rockingham-Harrisonburg population has grown by over 50% since then, the number of annual divorces has remained fairly constant, 414 in 2025. But last year did see a record number of marriage licenses issued, 1053, 28 more than last year's record of 1025. 

Of those experiencing marital breakups last year, 314 were uncontested (no-fault divorces), 24 were contested cases and the rest were marked as unknown. 

Meanwhile, while we have good records of documented marriages in our community, we have no statistics on the increased number of partners living together without registering their undocumented marriages (many, by the way, do not realize that Virginia gives no legal status to "common law" marriages). Also, we have no record of how many of our unregistered marriages are experiencing de facto divorces, with the same kinds of stressful effects such breakups can have on children and other close family members and friends.

Here are the numbers of registered marriages and divorces over the past 30 years:

Year       Marriages     Divorces

1996           873                 387    (fewest annual marriages)

1997           950                 405

1998           964                 396

1999           932                 405

2000           947                 365

2001          1003                438     

2002           976                 421

2003           961                 399

2004           959                 437

2005           889                 381

2006           929                 389

2007           925                 434

2008           950                 405

2009           903                 347 

2010           879                 358     

2011           933                 433

2012           995                 445

2013           924                 484    

2014           972                 427

2015           955                 474

2016           985                 612     (most annual divorces)

2017           983                 426

2018           935                 476

2019           947                 487

2020           882                 445

2021           994                 466

2022           954                 332     (fewest annual divorces)

2023           961                 366

2024          1025                400     

2025          1053               414     (most annual marriages)

It should be noted that an unknown percentage of these represent people who are from other localities. Clerk of Court Chaz Haywood believes that number may be significant, particular in the case of divorce, in that uncontested divorces are known to be more easily obtained here than in some localities. 

It should also be noted that we cannot assume a rate of divorce based on any one year's numbers, as in "over 40% of first time marriages in our community will end in divorce,” since, for example, many of the above couples are marrying or divorcing for a second, third or fourth time, and future divorce rates could increase or decrease for a variety of reasons. But with numbers like these over a period of decades, we can safely conclude that the odds of a given first marriage surviving are well above 50%.

As a long time marriage and family counselor, I celebrate any signs of our having more stable and healthy marriages and families. I know that not all divorces are preventable, and that some, regrettably, are even necessary, but our communities, congregations and extended families need to provide all of the support and encouragement we can to existing marriages and our families. Children still want, and deserve, happily married parents.

Evangelicals And The Second Beast (False Prophet) of the Revelation

The cruelty of the military-industrial alliance of
world empires would never be tolerated without
some form of civil religion to legitimatize and
rationalize it. See link.

Should we be concerned about the number of evangelicals (including Mennonites) who earnestly and vocally defend the policies and actions of the current head of the US (or any other) empire?

Here are some current examples: 

1. Unqualified support for the Biden/Harris and Trump/Vance administrations' uninterrupted military aid to Israel as it continues to utterly destroy Gaza and murder and maim thousands of men, women and innocent children. 

There has been far too much silence on the part of many Christians  about the clear teachings of Jesus and the prophets against any brutality toward even our enemies. Biblical promises of land and refuge for the descendants of Abraham cannot  be used to justify any and all means of retribution used against the barbaric acts of Hamas on October 7.

2. Justification of heavy-handed deportation tactics against immigrants who are without updated or proper legal status, regardless of the effect on innocent family members. 

Statements in support of border security and for the strict application of immigration law appear to supersede any Biblical concerns for welcoming aliens and refugees, even those who have fled here for their lives. And there has been too little support by way of offering legal and other help for otherwise law abiding immigrants to gain legal status, maintain employment, and keep their families together, a large percentage of whom are fellow Christians.

3. Unquestioning support of whatever means necessary to depose a dictatorial head of state, in spite of the dangerous precedent such unilateral action sets for other nations around the globe. 

In the case of the recent military invasion of Venezuela the primary justification I hear from many evangelicals is that it successfully rid the country of its dictator and that it will be to the economic advantage of the US and ultimately the citizens of that country. What I hear is simply, "Let's see how this works," and "We pray this will result in a good outcome." In other words, might makes right, and the ends justify whatever Machiavellian means necessary, including the killing of as many as 80 people, an unknown number of them civilians, 

Surely evangelicals and other followers of Jesus have a far different calling than to simply endorse the Beast-like policies or actions of whatever empire or emperor of which they are a part. We can expect that kind of support from those the seer of Revelation identifies as speaking with the voice of the Second Beast, or False Prophet, described in chapter 13 as seconding and supporting whatever the First Beast  decrees. While we are to pay tribute to, and show respect for, our Caesars, we are clearly not to render them our ultimate allegiance or support their every policy.

So to what extent has the evangelical community become a mouthpiece for the False Prophet, described in the Revelation as having "horns like a lamb" but whose words are those of the Dragon?

New Year Revelations For 2026 And Beyond

"Your elders will dream dreams," writes the prophet Joel, speaking of a time when God's Spirit inspires new visions by both men and women, slave and free, young and old, everywhere.

While the following reflections may not seem like new insights to many of you, here are three dreams I'm praying will transform our lives in the New Year and the years to come. 

1. I'm seeing Spirit-birthed community as essential in re-visioning who we are and motivating us to live purpose-driven and other-centered lives. We cannot become whole persons or effective servants of God without deep relationships with fellow believers, since the Bible is not simply a source of inspiration for personal enrichment but is addressed to members of a God-inspired movement meant to celebrate the shalom of heaven here on earth. 

https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2013/08/should-bible-be-tethered-to-our-churches.html

2. I'm seeing divine love as the mother of all virtues, and the command to love God passionately and every neighbor compassionately as the sum of everything found in scripture. If love is our greatest mandate, our failure to demonstrate it is our greatest sin. On the other hand, every act of Christ-like love and mercy we show will result in untold blessing.

https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2025/12/where-there-is-love-there-is-christian.html

3. I'm seeing people around the globe as one God-blessed neighborhood in which each of its 8 billion inhabitants deserves an equitable share and no one is in want anywhere unless all are in want. As wealthy North Americans we dare not "fare sumptuously every day" while masses of impoverished people are denied the equivalence of scraps from our bountiful tables. I see adopting a kind of internationalist mindset as a needed antidote to our individualism and nationalism.

https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2025/03/an-alternative-to-two-heresies.html

I believe all of this could be revolutionary and life changing, and dream of being a part of a joyfully repentant people who proclaim peace on earth and goodwill toward people everywhere. 

Thanks for your prayers and for taking time to reflect on posts like this recent widely read one:

https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-heresy-too-many-of-us-embrace.html

Reforming Virginia’s Criminal Justice System

This was published Friday as the twelfth of the Valley Justice Coalition's monthly Justice Matters columns in the Daily News-Record

So far, over 300 concerned Virginia taxpayers, mostly from our local community, have signed the Valley Justice Coalition petition as introduced in our October Justice Matters column, as follows:

A Petition in Support of Safer and More Just Communities:
To: Public servants in Virginia involved in criminal justice issues
By: Concerned taxpayers of the Commonwealth who favor the creation of an ever more just and effective criminal justice system, one that supports:
• Rehabilitation over mere punishment.
• Restorative justice alternatives that give high priority to victims' needs for reparation and restitution by offenders.
• Supervised release for aging and thoroughly rehabilitated persons behind bars.

To date we have sent copies of the above, accompanied by the entire list of names, to Senator Mark Obenshain, Delegate Tony Wilt, Commonwealth’s Attorney Marsha Garst, County Administrator Corey Armstrong, Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, Attorney General-elect Jay Jones, newly appointed Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Stanley Meador, and other public officials across the state.

The Valley Justice Coalition is not just about reaching out to public officials, however, but about engaging with ordinary fellow citizens who support criminal justice reforms. Nor are we about promoting any particular political party or platform, but about lending support to policies that reflect best practices in the field of criminal justice.

For example, in light of the concerns expressed in the petition, we can each let Senator Mark Obenshain and Delegate Tony Wilt know there is grass roots support for legislation in the upcoming General Assembly such as the following:

• Repeal of Mandatory Minimum Sentences. Returns to judges and juries the discretion to make sentences that are fair and in keeping with the law.

• HJ2 Constitutional Amendment: Automatically restores voting right to felons who have completed their sentences.

• Ban Fourth Amendment Plea Waivers. Individuals pressured into taking plea agreements would no longer be forced to forgo all Fourth Amendment search and seizure protections (except in child sex cases). Passed the General Assembly in 2024 but vetoed by the Governor.

• Protect People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Disorders. Allows a judge or jury to charge a person in an assault and battery case with a misdemeanor rather than a felony if a mental health or cognitive disorder has contributed to the assault.

• Counsel at First Appearance. Provides for an attorney to represent an accused person at his or her first court appearance.

• Consistency of Dress Code. Rules and standards regarding attire for prison visits would be the same for all facilities. 

• Objective Set of Criteria for Determining Parole Eligibility. The Parole Board would be required to provide a clear explanation for any denial of a person with a high (good) score.

• Protect Family Connections. This would walk back COVID era rules, and get rid of Enhanced Sanctions that take away all communications/visits for certain violations.

• Expand Earned Sentence Credits. Time served in jails would count as well as time spent in prison.

• End Mass Surveillance. Ban the use of Automatic License Plate Readers by law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, we thank our community for its support, and the Daily News-Record for publishing our monthly Justice Matters columns. 

May all have a blessed New Year!

Harvey Yoder

One Of My Neighbor's Daily Appeals For Peace

Here's the link to the daily updates: https://www.epaxoc.org/stay-updated

One of our friends and neighbors, Kathleen Temple, sends a daily email prompt, without fail, to everyone on her growing list, with a suggested topic to use in contacting their legislators to urge them to end their support for war-making. Here is a sample reminder, one that arrived today:  

Hello advocates,

Today, I want to draw my legislators’ attention to an article about France. And Algeria. Your legislators might need to see the article too. It shows a basic fact, that the Algerian people, formerly brutalized by France, are not going to “let bygones be bygones”. The dead may, in a way, be rising again.

It must’ve been exhilarating to be in that legislative chamber in Algiers when they voted unanimously for their bill!

I want my legislators to read the little article as a “heads up”. Because the persons holding our public purse strings —our legislators!— seem not to realize fully that the victims of their wars could, in fact, rise again.

The story can give hope to current victims of colonial brutality (e.g. Palestinian, Venezuelan, indigenous communities everywhere) but it also WARNS legislators that they had better never enable colonial brutality. (i.e. stop handing our money over to the war machine!)

Could you help me to distribute the warning by sending the article to your legislators?

Suggested wording follows. Convey the gist in any way that works for you. Me, I’m going to print out the image (above), write the “To” and “From” names and addresses along the top of the page, and add at the bottom this message:

[Legislator],

You may not be fully aware that you put yourself in grave jeopardy every time you fail to protest state violence. The victims of state violence may not get justice right away, but they surely never do just roll over and give up.

Please check out the story from Algeria: https://thecradle.co/articles/algerian-parliament-declares-french-colonial-rule-a-crime-seeks-reparations 

Algerians are far from vanquished. French colonial elites would have done well to avoid exploitative murderous violence back in the day. The bill for all of that evil is coming due.

You would do well to protest colonial violence now. Get our money OUT of the war machine.