Two Democrats in the Virginia Senate joined with Republicans on Monday to defeat a measure 21-19 that would have eliminated hundreds of mandatory minimum sentences (article available here).
It would have eliminated all mandatory minimums, except in the case of a conviction for the aggravated murder of a law-enforcement officer. Many of the penalties were adopted decades ago as part of the tough-on-crime movement, which some lawmakers blame for mass incarceration.
“It affects brown and Black defendants more than anybody else. It began in the ’80s and the ’90s when people realized you had never lost an election because you were tough on crime,” bill sponsor Sen. Joe Morrissey said as he urged his colleagues to support the bill. He said there are currently 224 mandatory minimums.
The issue had a been a top criminal justice priority at the time, with Democrats in full control of state government. But it fell apart at the last minute due to intraparty disagreement as negotiators failed to reach a compromise.