Policing & Criminal Justice Reform

Senator Favola is committed to reforming the criminal justice system at every step. She has worked to address racial disparities and violence in policing, including supporting legislation banning the use of no-knock warrants; prohibiting pretext stops; and requiring racial bias and de-escalation training for police. She has also pushed for funding to support the Marcus Alert system, which aims to ensure that the emergency response to an individual experiencing a behavioral health crisis includes trained mental health professionals.

Senator Favola believes we must fight to end mass incarceration and stop criminalizing poverty and mental illness. She played a significant role in the passage of legislation to allow juries to consider evidence of mental illness or developmental or intellectual disabilities. She has supported sentencing reforms, including eliminating mandatory jury sentencing and allowing parole for those convicted of crimes committed as juveniles.

As the chair of the Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services, Senator Favola has worked to reform Virginia’s prisons and jails to orient them more towards rehabilitation. She worked on legislation to limit the use of solitary confinement, and to curb prison profiteering, including reducing commissary prices and fees for phone calls. Senator Favola has also increased funding for mental health and substance use treatment in our jails and prisons.

Senator Favola believes it is critical that those who have served their time are able to reintegrate back into society and are given a real second chance. She has supported legislation to allow for the expungement of many misdemeanor and some low-level felony convictions. She has also supported a bill to “ban the box” on college and job applications so returning citizens can be fully considered for these opportunities.  Senator Favola supports a constitutional amendment to grant those who are reentering society the right to vote, a measure which has been shown to reduce recidivism.

Senator Favola was also a longtime advocate for ending capital punishment, and her persistence in fighting to limit its use paved the way for Virginia to become the first Southern state to abolish the death penalty. In recognition of her efforts, she received a Legislator of the Year award from the Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.