Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, said that high rearrest rates among individuals released early indicate systemic issues rather than isolated incidents. He made these remarks on the social media platform X.
“Dr. Lindsey Braun’s death wasn’t a “one-off,” Senator Scott Surovell,” said Jason Stuart Redding Miyares. “Roughly 50% of the 9,600 criminals you let out early were rearrested within a year. That’s not a “one-off. Criminals first, victims last—again.”
Virginia’s earned sentence and early release policy, which allows for sentence reductions based on good behavior and rehabilitation efforts, was expanded in 2022. However, it quickly faced opposition due to concerns about violent offenders being released and potential public safety risks. The law has since been narrowed following bipartisan criticism and high-profile incidents, highlighting an ongoing debate over balancing rehabilitation with community protection, as reported by The Washington Post.
According to the Virginia Department of Corrections, approximately 31% of individuals released early under the earned sentence credit program were rearrested within three years. This rate closely matches those who served their full sentences, suggesting that early release has not significantly increased recidivism compared to traditional release methods based on the latest official report.
Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics reports an average three-year rearrest rate of 44% for state prisoners. In contrast, Virginia’s early release rearrest rate is 31%, indicating that the state’s outcomes are more favorable than the national average and consistent with similar programs in other states.
Miyares was elected in 2021 as Virginia’s Attorney General after serving in the House of Delegates representing the 82nd District. He is noted as the first Hispanic-American statewide officeholder in Virginia and is recognized for prioritizing public safety, criminal justice reform, and victims’ rights according to his official biography.
