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justicefwdva.bsky.social
Justice Forward VA
@justicefwdva.bsky.social
930 followers 170 following 140 posts
Founded by public defenders. Promoting criminal justice reform in Virginia by drafting & lobbying for humane, evidence-informed legislation, and educating & mobilizing advocates for action.
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thedailyshow.com
The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 16h
The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.
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Reposted by Justice Forward VA
phillewis.bsky.social
Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 11h
The Trump admin reportedly plans to deploy the FBI, DHS, DOJ, IRS and the Treasury Dept. against left-wing groups it accuses of 'funding and organizing political violence'
INSIGHT-Trump’s War On The Left: Inside The Plan To Investigate Liberal Groups
The Trump admin plans to deploy America's counter-terrorism apparatus against left-wing groups it accuses of funding and organizing political violence, the officials said.
www.huffpost.com
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justicefwdva.bsky.social
Justice Forward VA @justicefwdva.bsky.social · 22h
They surveilled her with the same Flock automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) some Virginia lawmakers are trying to install on over 60k miles of state highways. Virginians don’t want mass surveillance technology, we must ensure our electeds block Flock. #VALeg
404media.co
404 Media @404media.co · 2d
NEW: Cops in Texas told 404 Media in May they used Flock to find a woman who self-administered an abortion out of concern for her safety.

Documents now show police were conducting a “death investigation” and discussed whether they could charge her with a crime: www.404media.co/police-said-...
Police Said They Surveilled Woman Who Had an Abortion for Her 'Safety.' Court Records Show They Considered Charging Her With a Crime
Court records show that the narrative Flock and a Texas Sheriff's Office has told the public isn't the whole story, and that police were conducting a 'death investigation' into the abortion.
www.404media.co
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Reposted by Justice Forward VA
dlknowles.bsky.social
Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · 2d
Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.

Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race

southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...
Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children
Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.
southsideweekly.com
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jesspish.bsky.social
Jessica Pishko @jesspish.bsky.social · 4d
Liberals and Democrats will call for "funding local police" as a way to solve the problem of DHS/ ICE and no one will think about the fact that this is how we got here.
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Reposted by Justice Forward VA
npr.org
NPR @npr.org · 4d
The White House said Trump "authorized" the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard members, after vowing to send troops into Chicago. Meanwhile, Guard members arrived in Oregon from California.
Trump federalizes the National Guard in Chicago, while troops arrive in Oregon
The White House said Trump "authorized" the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard members, after vowing to send troops into Chicago. Meanwhile, Guard members arrived in Oregon from California.
n.pr
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justicefwdva.bsky.social
Justice Forward VA @justicefwdva.bsky.social · 4d
Join the Virginia State Bar—Tuesday—for a free virtual conference to learn about the support & systems designed to unlock the power of volunteer attorneys, including a CLE on VA’s new record sealing laws featuring Justice Forward Virginia’s @rpogge.bsky.social

Register: vsb.org/Site/Event_D...
Text: Virginia State Bar An agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia VSB Pro Bono Conference Find Your Fit: Increase Your Impact Tuesday, October 7, 2025 1:15-2:45 pm Session 4: An Introduction to Virginia's Clean Slate Law: Eligibility, Process, and Opportunities for Service • Speakers • Colin L. Drabert, Deputy Director, Virginia State Crime Commission • Rob Poggenklass, Executive Director, Justice Forward • Cris Gantz, Virginia State Bar
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jennburrill.bsky.social
Jenn Burrill @jennburrill.bsky.social · 5d
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Reposted by Justice Forward VA
dburbach.bsky.social
David Burbach 🌹 @dburbach.bsky.social · 5d
“I never thought federal officers could behave this way. I really didn’t,” she said. “I always thought people must be provoking them or something, that they would never do this unprovoked. Obviously, I was wrong.”
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Reposted by Justice Forward VA
jahd.bsky.social
Jahd Khalil @jahd.bsky.social · 7d
ICE detains lawfully present Richmond father as son waits for school bus www.vpm.org/news/2025-10...
ICE detains lawfully present Richmond father as son waits for school bus
Silviano Mora Vera's U visa should have insulated him from detention.
www.vpm.org
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justicefwdva.bsky.social
Justice Forward VA @justicefwdva.bsky.social · 7d
“I don’t want to live in an increasingly surveilled police state. I trust the police to do their jobs well, without cameras. Why do I need AI police when I have you?” said a resident of Bridgewater, VA. www.dnronline.com/news/public_...
Bridgewater police host meeting on controversial Flock cameras
Bridgewater police held an informational meeting for the public about Flock Safety security cameras Monday amid public fears that the cameras are an invasion of privacy.
www.dnronline.com
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Reposted by Justice Forward VA
paleofuture.bsky.social
Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 8d
DHS includes a bunch of false and defamatory statements in their tweet about Kilmar Abrego Garcia as they prepare to send him to Uganda.
DHS: With today's ruling, Kilmar Abrego Garcia's final order of removal stands. This MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, domestic abuser, and child predator will never be loose on American streets. His lawyers tried to fight his removal from the U.S. but one thing is certain, this Salvadoran man is not going to be able to remain in our country. He will never be allowed to prey on innocent Americans again. Never forget the Democrats flew to a foreign land on the US taxpayer's dime to break bread with this terrorist gang member and visit him in prison. While they continue to fight for criminal illegal aliens, we will continue to put the safety of the American people FIRST. 4:49 PM • 10/1/25 • 153K Views
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parisaforjustice.bsky.social
Parisa Dehghani-Tafti @parisaforjustice.bsky.social · 10d
So he got the weekend off
taniel.bsky.social
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 10d
The ICE officer who was recorded shoving a woman outside an immigration court in NYC was suspended on Friday. And he was returned to duty already today, one business day later. www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-off...
ICE officer seen on video pushing woman to ground has returned to duty
An ICE officer who was initially relieved of his duties after being captured on video pushing a woman to the ground has been returned to duty, two U.S. officials familiar with the matter told CBS News...
www.cbsnews.com
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qjurecic.bsky.social
Quinta Jurecic @qjurecic.bsky.social · 10d
DOJ’s attempts to charge these cases in DC and LA have been resoundingly unsuccessful. Grand juries have rejected a huge proportion of the attempts to indict. One case in LA that went to trial as a misdemeanor recently ended in acquittal
dbernstein.bsky.social
David S. Bernstein @dbernstein.bsky.social · 10d
“…arrest every person suspected of threatening or assaulting a federal law enforcement officer…”
New memo drop from AG Bondi
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jazmineulloa.bsky.social
Jazmine Ulloa @jazmineulloa.bsky.social · 10d
As immigration agents have escalated their tactics, US citizens, many of them Latino men, have been stopped and in some cases taken into custody by law enforcement officers. Allison, Jenny and I took a closer look at the encounters. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/u...
‘I’m From Here!’: U.S. Citizens Are Ending Up in Trump’s Dragnet
www.nytimes.com
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justicefwdva.bsky.social
Justice Forward VA @justicefwdva.bsky.social · 10d
What’s for lunch? Join the @urichmond Carrico Center for Pro Bono & Public Service for its virtual Law Over Lunch series today from 12-1:30PM. Today’s speakers: @rpogge and Julie McConnell. The program is free, but advance registration is required. calendar.richmond.edu/page.html?ev...
Image: overhead view of the University of Richmond campus. Text: Law Over Lunch - Criminal Charges Without Conviction: Expungement, Sealing, and What the New Laws Mean Speakers: Rob Poggenklass, Esq., Justice Forward Virginia; Prof. Julie McConnell, Esq., University of Richmond School of Law September, 29, 2025
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mcopelov.bsky.social
Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 12d
Today in "neither our media nor our political system is designed to deal with a far right authoritarian party"
dlthings.bsky.social
Matthew @dlthings.bsky.social · 12d
# of paragraphs for news orgs to mention there's no discernable need to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon

The Guardian: 1st paragraph
BBC: 4th paragraph
AP: 5th paragraph
Time: 6th paragraph
Politico: 8th paragraph
NPR: 9th paragraph
CNN: 10th paragraph
NBC: 12th paragraph
Fox News: never mentions
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jennburrill.bsky.social
Jenn Burrill @jennburrill.bsky.social · 12d
How is this happening in America?

📌 Los Angeles
📌 Washington. D.C.
📌 Chicago

Next Portand
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Reposted by Justice Forward VA
alexhairysun.bsky.social
Alex Harrison @alexhairysun.bsky.social · 15d
Flock around, find out: Flock apparently decided to reinstall all of the ALPRs they recently took down in Evanston. One problem though: they didn't consult Evanston about it. The city sent a cease & desist letter, and Flock has "committed to promptly removing the cameras." Full story here ⬇️
Evanston orders Flock to remove reinstalled cameras - Evanston RoundTable
Private surveillance vendor Flock Safety reinstalled all of its stationary license plate cameras in Evanston that had previously been removed, apparently
evanstonroundtable.com
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justicefwdva.bsky.social
Justice Forward VA @justicefwdva.bsky.social · 14d
Our brief argues that proper advice on the disparity between jury and judge sentences would’ve been relevant to a decision to plead guilty or go to trial and that the court decision should be reversed. Dillon’s counsel has since been disbarred. Oral arguments are expected to be scheduled soon. 4/4
Image: Front page of amicus brief, Justice Firward Virginia logo. Faint, blurred image of a page from the amicus brief in the background. Text: In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit SHEBRI DILLON, Petitioner-Appellant, V. CHADWICK DOTSON, Respondent-Appellee. On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Hon. James P. Jones W.D. Va. Case No. 7:22-cv-215 BRIEF FOR JUSTICE FORWARD VIRGINIA AMICUS CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF APPELLANT
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justicefwdva.bsky.social
Justice Forward VA @justicefwdva.bsky.social · 14d
Justice Forward Virginia advocated for SB 5007 that ended mandatory jury sentencing in Virginia on July 1, 2021. Current Virginia law now provides that the accused be given the option of whether to be sentenced by the judge or the jury in cases in which the jury decides guilt. 3/4
List of lawmakers who voted to end mandatory jury sentencing: The VA House of Delegates (A-K) GOVERNOR RALPH NORTHAM CHIEF PATRON SEN JOSEPH MORRISSEY MADAM SPEAKER EILEEN FILLER-CORN MAJORITY LEADER CHARNIELE HERRING THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SB5007; JURY SENTENCING REFORM. YOU ARE THE HISTORY MAKERS-YOU HAVE BROUGHT EQUITY AND FAIRNESS TO A BROKEN SYSTEM. WE ARE SO PROUD TO STAND WITH YOU. Del. Dawn Adams Del. Lashrecse Aird Del. Alex Askew Del, Hala Ayala Del. Lamont Bagby Del. Jeff Bourne Del. David Bulova Del. Betsy Carr Del. T. Carroll Foy Del Lee Carter Del. Joshua Cole Del. Convirs-Fowler Del. Carrie Coyner Del. Karrie Delaney Del. G. Gooditis Del. Nancy Guy Del. E. Guzman Del. Cliff Hayes Del. Dan Helmer Del. Stephen Heretick Del. Patrick Hope Del. Sally Hudson Del. Chris Hurst Del. Clinton Jenkins Del. Jay Jones Del. Mark Keam Del Kaye Kory Del. Paul Krizek List of lawmakers who voted to end mandatory jury sentencing: The VA House of Delegates (A-K) GOVERNOR RALPH NORTHAM CHIEF PATRON SEN JOSEPH MORRISSEY MADAM SPEAKER EILEEN FILLER-CORN MAJORITY LEADER CHARNIELE HERRING THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SB5007; JURY SENTENCING REFORM. YOU ARE THE HISTORY MAKERS-YOU HAVE BROUGHT EQUITY AND FAIRNESS TO A BROKEN SYSTEM. WE ARE SO PROUD TO STAND WITH YOU. Del. Dawn Adams Del. Lashrecse Aird Del. Alex Askew Del, Hala Ayala Del. Lamont Bagby Del. Jeff Bourne Del. David Bulova Del. Betsy Carr Del. T. Carroll Foy Del Lee Carter Del. Joshua Cole Del. Convirs-Fowler Del. Carrie Coyner Del. Karrie Delaney Del. G. Gooditis Del. Nancy Guy Del. E. Guzman Del. Cliff Hayes Del. Dan Helmer Del. Stephen Heretick Del. Patrick Hope Del. Sally Hudson Del. Chris Hurst Del. Clinton Jenkins Del. Jay Jones Del. Mark Keam Del Kaye Kory Del. Paul Krizek List of lawmakers who voted to end mandatory jury sentencing: The VA Senate GOVERNOR RALPH NORTHAM CHIEE PATRON SEN. JOSEPH MORRISSEY SEN MAJORITY LEADER RICHARD SASLAW THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SB5007; JURY SENTENCING REFORM. YOU ARE THE HISTORY MAKERS-YOU HAVE BROUGHT EQUITY AND FAIRNESS TO A BROKEN SYSTEM. WE ARE SO PROUD TO STAND WITH YOU. Sen. G. Barker Sen. John Bell Sen. J. Boysko Sen. Creigh Deeds Sen. Adam Ebbin Sen. John Edwards Sen. Barbara Favola Sen. G. Hashmi Sen. Janet Howell Sen. Lynwood Lewis Sen. Mamie Locke Sen. Louise Lucas Sen. David Marsden Sen. Monty Mason Sen. J. McClellan Sen. Jeremy McPike Sen. J. Petersen Sen. Lionell Spruill Sen, William Stanley Sen. Scott Surovell
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justicefwdva.bsky.social
Justice Forward VA @justicefwdva.bsky.social · 14d
Virginia’s old mandatory jury-sentencing laws chilled the exercise of trial rights producing excessive sentences untethered to VA’s sentencing guidelines. The system was prone to arbitrariness because juries lacked comparative sentencing info & weren’t guided by the same framework judges use. 2/4
Image: cover of 2020 blog on Justice Forward Virginia’s website. Picture of courtroom. Text: Jury Sentencing, a broken process. July 17, 2020 Reforming Jury Sentencing - Reducing Virginia's Trial Penalty. Virginia's current law allows prosecutors to force a defendant into a jury trial, which means a jury sentence, if convicted. Sentencing ranges often require juries to give a minimum sentence that don't apply to judges and juries are not allowed to be told about or recommend alternatives to incarceration, such as probation, drug or mental health treatment, or community service. A simple change that allows defendants to choose sentencing by a judge is one step toward a more fair system. Read More →
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justicefwdva.bsky.social
Justice Forward VA @justicefwdva.bsky.social · 14d
Sentencing guidelines called for 1 day to 6 months of incarceration, yet Shebri Dillon was sentenced to 30 yrs in a Virginia prison! We’ve filed an amicus brief highlighting how old mandatory jury sentencing laws support Shebri’s ineffective counsel claims. 1/4
justiceforwardva.com/blog/2025/9/...
Image: picture of a blog post on Justice Forward Virginia’s website. Text: September 24, 2025 Sentencing guidelines called for 1 day to 6 months, Shebri Dillon was sentenced to 30 years.
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justicefwdva.bsky.social
Justice Forward VA @justicefwdva.bsky.social · 16d
Fairfax is a little complicated, but yes, the BOS approved grant money to lease the surveillance tech. Here’s a pretty comprehensive background of the history of ALPRs in FFX. Happy to chat about it more, just email [email protected] www.ffxnow.com/2023/11/21/c...
County approves funds to expand FCPD’s automatic license plate reader program | FFXnow
Fairfax County officials are gearing up to expand the police department's use of automated license plate readers (ALPR). The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a $136,270 grant from the U.S....
www.ffxnow.com
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justicefwdva.bsky.social
Justice Forward VA @justicefwdva.bsky.social · 16d
Your community is doing a stellar job of pushing back. Keep applying that pressure. Localities all across the U.S. are ending their Flock contracts, Cville is on its way.
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