BREAKING: Drug residue can’t be used, but possession of it is a felony carrying up to 10 years in prison. HB637 eliminates the unnecessary felony. And after almost a decade of work our bill is headed to the Governor with bipartisan support! Thanks @katrinacallsen.com and the many patrons before her!
BREAKING: Senator Jennifer Boysko’s (@jenniferboysko.com) SB335 to Protect People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) & Mental Health Disorders is on its way to the Gov’s desk with broad bipartisan support! Six years in the making! Thank you, Senator & our countless partners!
![In Staunton’s case, an unsolicited email from Flock’s CEO to its chief of police helped to turn the tide against the tech by baselessly casting residents’ objections to the technology as a “coordinated attack” by “activist groups who want to defund the police, weaken public safety, and normalize lawlessness.”
Edwards echoed this framing, saying that “there [are] a lot of powerful entities that want to see this technology go away.”
When asked to clarify, he alluded to “certain lobbyists that go to the General Assembly trying to tear this down,” but did not identify any critics by name.
Flock, for its part, has powerful entities behind it as it pushes to expand in Virginia and across the country. … Flock touted its value at $7.5 billion. By contrast, Justice Forward Virginia, which has emerged as a key opponent of Flock’s lobbyists at the General Assembly, reported revenues of just $126,200 on its most recent filing with the IRS.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:miqxzx56ytakczwpmev5fsj2/bafkreifl6nlltcwsrjoicxj52qx2dydhvpb35sq6rjwafn422tdn66dwoe)
In Staunton’s case, an unsolicited email from Flock’s CEO to its chief of police helped to turn the tide against the tech by baselessly casting residents’ objections to the technology as a “coordinated attack” by “activist groups who want to defund the police, weaken public safety, and normalize lawlessness.” Edwards echoed this framing, saying that “there [are] a lot of powerful entities that want to see this technology go away.” When asked to clarify, he alluded to “certain lobbyists that go to the General Assembly trying to tear this down,” but did not identify any critics by name. Flock, for its part, has powerful entities behind it as it pushes to expand in Virginia and across the country. … Flock touted its value at $7.5 billion. By contrast, Justice Forward Virginia, which has emerged as a key opponent of Flock’s lobbyists at the General Assembly, reported revenues of just $126,200 on its most recent filing with the IRS.
According to Flock and the Richmond Police Chief, we are “powerful entities” using “coordinated attacks” to take down their mass surveillance … with 1/10th of the budget RPD has spent on cameras alone and 1/60,000th the money of Flock.
ROFL 🤣
www.richmonder.org/rpd-has-spen...
Virginia House Courts Criminal Subcommittee votes 8–2 in support of HB 637 on 2/6/2026
Ending a long week with bipartisan support for smarter drug policy in Virginia. HB637 creates a misdemeanor for possession of an unmeasurable quantity of a drug, rather than the current felony that carries 1–10 years in prison.
Thank you, @katrinacallsen.com and @bradleyrhaywood.bsky.social!
Image: Teal background with Justice Forward Virginia logo. Text: Breaking News.
BREAKING: The VA House passed FIVE of our legislative priorities—Deferred Dismissals, Preserve Access to Diversion, Fix Discovery, VLDS, & Aligning Robbery with the Code! The bills are aimed to address outdated laws, expand research opportunities, or make technical fixes. #VALeg
Image: woodgrain background with Justice Forward Virginia logo. Text: On the docket.
ON THE DOCKET: Feb 4, 2026
House Crts of Justice Crim Sub—15 min after adjournment of committee—Eliminate the Prejudicial Use of Prior Convictions at Trial, JIRC Reform, Eliminate Felony Charge for Possession of Drug Residue, admin action on Repealing Man Mins house.vga.virginia.gov/subcommittee...
ON THE DOCKET: Friday, Jan 23, 2026 House Courts of Justice will meet sometime after adjournment of the House. Marijuana Resentencing, Aligning Class 5 & 6 Robbery Offenses with the Code, CAFA, Fix Discovery, local funding for Public Defenders, and more. house.vga.virginia.gov/subcommittee...
Former Public Defender and President-Elect of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers—Chris Leibig—has announced his run for Delegate for HD5. We love to see it! Voting for the Firehouse Primary in Alexandria takes place THIS Tuesday, Jan. 20! www.alxnow.com/2026/01/17/d...
rob poggenklass of justice forward va speaking at richmond public library
I'm at Richmond Public Library's main branch, where a capacity crowd organized by @richmonddsa.bsky.social has assembled to hear @rpogge.bsky.social of @justicefwdva.bsky.social and other community members speak about the dangers of Flock Safety and other ALPRs.
The Department of Homeland Security released a Maryland woman who was held for 25 days despite evidence that her lawyers say proves she was born in the United States and is a citizen.
Image: Justice Forward Virginia logo on map of Richmond, Virginia. Text: Legislative Priorities: Repeal Mandatory Minimums, Defelonize Drug Possession, End Mass Surveillance, Ban 4A Plea Waivers, Mental Health, Deferred Dismissals, Strengthen the Fourth Amendment, Eliminate Prejudicial Use of Prior Convictions, Preserve Access to Diversion, Fix Criminal Discovery, Pretrial Reform and more.
Over the last 4 yrs, the GA passed some remarkable—bipartisan—CJR aimed to address basic unfairness, yet the Gov aligned himself with the harshest opponents of reform, vetoing most. Well, we have a new 4 yrs ahead of us! Our 2026 Legislative Priorities: justiceforwardva.com/blog/2025/12...
For those in #Virginia, @rpogge.bsky.social of @justicefwdva.bsky.social will be presenting a "Flock Mass Surveillance Teach-In" community event hosted by @richmonddsa.bsky.social at #Richmond Public Library on Sat Jan 10. 🗓️
Virtual attendance also available. 🧑💻
#deflock #surveillance #alpr #flock
FLOCK camera at the corner of McIntire/Ridge/Preston/Market St
This shit better be removed soon. Happy to lend City Hall a hand if needed.
After a local activist collected more than 400 signatures on a petition to Staunton city council asking to cancel its contract with Flock, Flock CEO Garrett Langley sent an unhinged, unsolicited email to council. The city then canceled the contract.
augustafreepress.com/news/staunto...
It was only a matter of time before a Virginia law enforcement officer abused the ALPR network. This one used it to track the movements of a fellow officer who was dating his ex-girlfriend.
ALPRs make Virginians less safe.
www.wric.com/news/local-n...
This law will be life-changing for people looking to move on from the burden of a Virginia criminal record.
For more information on the sealing law, see @JusticeFwdVa's resource page: www.justiceforwardvafoundation.org/expungements....
5/5
On July 1, 2026, some 612,998 individuals with a single misdemeanor conviction will have the opportunity to petition a court to seal those records. Another 120,405 individuals may petition a court to seal their low-level felony convictions.
4/5
The VSP scrubbed 333k MJ possession police records and 64k misdemeanor MJ distribution records back in 2020, when VA decriminalized MJ. All those court records will finally be sealed in 2026. People with felony PWID MJ convictions can petition for sealing.
3/5
virginiamercury.com/briefs/virgi...
112,231 misdemeanor convictions will be automatically sealed. Another 942,143 non-conviction records will be automatically sealed for people who have never been convicted of a crime in VA.
That's 1,054,374 offenses automatically sealed—and VSP didn't even count marijuana!
2/5
For the first time in Virginia history, people will be able to seal criminal convictions starting July 1, 2026. @vastatepolice.bsky.social released estimates of how many charges will be eligible for automatic sealing, and how many people can petition for relief.
1/5
vscc.virginia.gov/2025/Dec2VSC...
BIG & BREAKING: The City of Charlottesville, Virginia has announced they’ve made the decision to cease the use of Flock ALPR cameras and the mass surveillance technology will be removed!!! Justice forward! cvillerightnow.com/news/208802-...
Very cool! Hard to believe I interned for him in the CR office 24 years ago. Supervised by then-professor Dave Loebsack.
Image: Virginia highway lined with mas surveillance cameras. Text: action alert. Oppose mass surveillance.
ACTION ALERT: Unbelievably, Virginia lawmakers are considering bringing forth legislation to expand mass surveillance in 2026. Take an easy one click call to action to ensure no bill is presented to expand automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). Here: actionnetwork.org/letters/oppo...
Image: Justice Forward Virginia logo and Giving Tuesday logo. Text: Criminal Justice Reform (CJR): Helps prevent harm to people & communities.It decriminalizes race, poverty, mental health, substance use, and disabilities. Just a few of Justice Forward VA's CJR Accomplishments: 1. First in the nation law banning most pretextual policing. 2. Ended mandatory jury sentencing, a colonial era relic. 3. Provided for intro of mental health evidence at trial. 4. Unraveled Flock Safety's mass surveillance lobby. 5. Passed and protected probation reform. 6. Helped abolish the death penalty, legalize marijuana, & enact record sealing. We rely on individual donations to continue our critical work. Contribute: donorbox.org/justiceforwardva
Criminal justice reform (CJR) decriminalizes race, poverty, mental health, substance use, & disabilities. We’re matching $100 donations to celebrate #GivingTuesday! Support CJR and help prevent harm to people and communities. Please contribute here: donorbox.org/justiceforwa... @rpogge.bsky.social
Yes, a grassroots movement can defeat mass surveillance. @justicefwdva.bsky.social is proud to be part of that movement.
truthout.org/articles/a-v...
Confirmed: Katie Wilson will be mayor of Seattle, ousting the incumbent from his left.
And Erika Evans will be the new city attorney, ousting the GOP city attorney after promising to take the office in a more progressive direction.
What do progressives' win mean for law enforcement? NEW IN BOLTS:
Image: Friday Power Lunch logo and pictures of the three special guests. Text: Friday Power Lunch From Kings to Authoritarianism "What Would a King Do with Mass Surveillance?" Register: FridayPowerLunch.com November 14, 2025 at 12pm Michael Soyfer, Attorney Institute for Justice. Alec Karakatsanis, Author Founder & Director of Civil Rights Corps. Rob Poggenklass, Attorney & Advocate Executive Director Justice Forward Virginia.
Got lunch plans Friday? Join the Power Lunch Podcast to chat with our ED @rpogge.bsky.social, Michael Soyfer of IJ, & special guest @equalityalec.bsky.social! Friday’s episode focuses on the rise of mass surveillance and its growing threat to justice—12PM. Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
The people were fired up for criminal legal reforms at Justice Reform Happy Hour! Many thanks to @parisaforjustice.bsky.social @hopeforvirginia.bsky.social @salimvasenate.bsky.social for joining us! And to advocates and indigent defenders committed to restoring justice to our communities and courts!
Imagine getting a 67% funding hike and begging for more
“The budget for Virginia State Police has grown significantly in the past several years. In 2020, the agency received $374 million in general funds. This year, it has budgeted around $557 million.”
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Border Patrol agent Lairmore testifies that he was not injured by the sandwich, but he felt the impact through his ballistic vest.
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
