Support Increase Grand Theft Larceny to $1,500
Currently the felony threshold for Grand Theft Larceny is $200; this was last increased from $100 in 1980 more than 36 years ago.
Based on the Consumer Price Index, $200 in 1980 is now worth over $585.00. The following everyday items could land a person in jail with a felony conviction causing them to lose their right to vote.
- used iPhone
- leather coat
- Wal-Mart 15 pack of Similac Advance Formula with Iron
- Four cartons of cigarettes
The Felony Grand Larceny Threshold in nearby states are significantly higher than Virginia.
- $1000 - District of Columbia
- $1500 - Delaware
- $2000 - South Carolina
- $2500 - Pennsylvania
We support only a Grand Larceny Threshold of at least $1,500.00
State spending on incarceration in 2014 (Over $1 billion)
-Adults $30,000 per year per inmate
-Juveniles $150,000 per inmate
(based on educational, clothing, special services and other needs)
Reasonable thinking is that GA lawmakers would relish an minimal increase to $500
simply to get Virginia out of the gutter in terms of the few states with the lowest FGLT.
Given such a modest increase - that does not even keep pace with the CPI over the
past 38 years) it might be another 40 years before it is increased again.
Major opposition comes from the Virginia Retail Merchants Association (Virginia
Alliance Against Mass Incarceration has met with them multiple times in the past).
Their MAIN concern is Employee Theft and using the $200 FGLT as a deterant
against an internal problem here in Virginia that seems to have been solved by
merchants in other states with higher amounts.
