In January of 1995, the General Assembly enacted what's now considered the "new law" under the slogan of "Getting Tough On Crime" when then Governor, George Allen was in office. The "new law legislation" meant, prisoners/persons in the state of Virginia committing a crime on or after, January 1, 1995 would have no parole eligibility and would have to serve 85% of any sentence for their crime. This is what caused Virginia and the Department of Corrections to now house two different sets of prisoners doing sentences under two different laws.

The new law prisoners do not see the parole board. The the old law prisoners do, however, since the enactment of the new law, the parole board has become very stringent at granting parole release for some 9,000 prisoners who are now in the system eligible for parole.

At a time when resources are constantly shrinking, and Virginia keeps coming up with budget short-falls, and prisons eating up an increasing amount of state budgets across the nation, we would like to think our legislators would consider changing the way they're operating, to save you, the taxpayers, unnecessary burdens, particularly of footing the bill for rehabilitated, able bodied prisoners who should be released so they can now work and pay their own way . However, this is not what our legislators desire to do in order to best serve the interests of the citizens and state.

Please view what Delegate David B. Albo (R-Fairfax) has to say about new prison building in Virginia for the next 6 years in the "Washington Past", dated, Sunday, June 22, 2008 on this site. (see Article)

 These projections are about business people, prison building has become "Big Business" for some people involved, because these people reap large financial benefits, while you, the taxpayers are only stuck footing the bill for the building of these $100 million dollar prisons, the housing of the prisoners and the $25 million dollar annual costs to operate "Each" prison in Virginia. 

All this prison building business is not in the best interest of the public as they wish you to believe. This sales tactic only serves the best interest of the people involved who are prospering financially from "mass incarceration" of Virginia citizens/ The Virginia Parole Board members prosper well financially in this business. That's really what this expose is about, and the true reason the parole grant rate has declined so tremendously in Virginia.

The Parole Board Chairman, Ms Helen F. Fahey gets paid a (six) figure salary, and the remaining Parole Board members earn (five) figure annual salaries.

Virginia has the lowest parole grant rate in the nation at 5% or less presently. There are only about 9,000 prisoners left in the system eligible for parole as previously mentioned. The fact that the Virginia Parole Board has the lowest grant rate in the nation has been and still remains a topic for a number of prisoners rights advocacy groups, some concerned taxpayers, family members of prisoners, and the Legal Aid Society. Everyone involved wants to know why the Virginia Parole Board continues to deny rehabilitated, able bodied prisoners parole, year, after year, after year, based solely on the "nature and circumstances" of a crime these prisoners committed 15, 20 and even 30 years ago. The answer to this question is very simple, and the answer is not the reason Ms Fahey states, "The reason it's so hard to make decisions on the 9,000 prisoners left, they're the worst of the worst." This statement is false.

Another tactic used by the parole board to milk the cash cow (see the letter dated, December 17, 2005, on this site from Ms Fahey to one Mr. Keith W. Deblasio concerning the parole boards decision, not the legislators, the parole boards decision to do away with the Risk Assessment Guidelines) the legislators laid out as a road map to determine whether parole eligible prisoners were still a risk. Ms Fahey states, "the parole board" not the legislators" chose in the 90's to discontinue use of the guidelines because the guidelines were out of date and had no usefulness. No guidelines are currently available for the parole boards' use," she states. (see Parole Board Legislation)

You have to ask? More importantly, why haven't our Governor and/or legislators moved since 2005, to provide the board with new Risk Assessment Guidelines) if none presently exist, so the parole board can get these prisoners out and relieve the taxpayers of housing them? (see Correctional Capitalization and Privatization)

The key is, more prisoners, more business and money, in certain pockets who are not interested in truly serving the public interest. Our local public servants, have just like the servants in Washington D.C., now become self servants to their private interest partners. Your tax dollars are being wasted, while they're enjoying lots of money from prison business. You, the taxpayers have the last say in the matter, Government works for you, but presently you're allowing the Government to work on you.

Votes and demands where local government is concerned counts. You voted for change in Washington D.C. this past election because Washington D.C.  was continuing down the same old path.

Virginia government has been on the same old path for the last 12 or 13 years. Every year there's budget short-falls - ever wonder why? This prison business plays a major part!

These (5 and 6) figure annual salaries paid to the parole board is the real reason the 9,000 prisoners eligible for parole are sitting in prison at the taxpayers expense. Being turned down for parole, year after year, solely for the "nature and circumstances of 15, 20 and 30 year old crimes." The real nature is the (5 and 6) figure annual salaries that will no longer exist without a parole board.

The true circumstances are, 9,000 prisoners are being denied parole by an unscrupulous, unethical and financially greedy parole board who's' sole intent is to suck up all the easy taxpayers dollars they can get before the cash cow is dry. These parole denials are not only unjust to the prisoners, they're more of an injustice to the taxpayers who pay dearly to keep us here.

Someone, once wrote of industry, "an injustice to one citizen is an injustice to all citizens."

These actions by the parole board is a prime example of that axiom. You, the taxpayers are the ones who can make the change by demands/votes concerning our legislators.

If you're tired of this same old path of your legislators, building prisons, while cutting education, transportation and medical care, then contact your local legislator via letter, email, or phone even in person, and demand change. Contact information is available on this site at How To Help. 

Also see Legislative Bills, HB 703 is a bill brought up in the House to have the Parole Board adopt a Risk Assessment Scale but as you will see, it FAILED! WHY? That is the question you need to ask yourself.