Today, Virginia RAP joined with the ACLU of Virginia, SAARA, Justice Forward Virginia, and the McShin Foundation urging the Virginia State Senate to pass Senate Bill 411 which reclassifies possession of small amounts of Schedule I and II substances from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Why is this important?  

Virginia has some of the country's harshest penalties for possession of small amounts of scheduled substances.  As we experience record-high overdose death rates we continue to rely on an ineffective strategy of criminalizing drug use.

Felony convictions create significant barriers for individuals and families to find secure housing, education, and employment.

Passage would also potentially unlock a windfall of savings to expand community-based substance use treatment which we know offers greater public safety benefits than incarceration. Drug treatment in the community reduces recidivism more than in-prison and in-jail treatment programs and drug courts.

Finally, reclassifying the simple possession of Schedule I and II drugs to a misdemeanor would increase
second chances for thousands of Virginians so people with substance use disorder would have more opportunities to recover and contribute to their communities.