Jason Miyares, the Attorney General of Virginia, has criticized the Richmond Times-Dispatch for allegedly misreporting an inmate’s early release. He called for accountability and reiterated his commitment to supporting victims in a statement made on Facebook.
“Lies run. Truth endures,” said Jason Stuart Redding Miyares, Virginia State Executive – Attorney General. “The Applewhites never deserved to have their pain deepened by sloppy reporting. I will always stand up for victims, even if it means being smeared by the liberal media. The Richmond Times-Dispatch owes the public the truth through a full retraction and public apology.”
Virginia’s Enhanced Earned Sentence Credits program, established by a 2020 law, has been controversial. According to Virginia Mercury, lawmakers delayed its full implementation in 2022 but allowed expansions to begin in July 2024. The policy permits eligible inmates to earn up to 15 days of credit for every 30 days served, thereby reducing their time behind bars. Supporters argue that it aids rehabilitation, while critics express concerns about risks to victims and public safety.
In its first year, the expanded program resulted in the early release of 9,638 inmates in FY2023 and an additional 7,193 within the first six months of FY2024. The attorney general’s office reported that nearly half of those released were rearrested within a year, which has intensified the debate over the policy. These statistics were outlined in a July 2025 release from the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.
Virginia’s corrections system has also come under scrutiny for reporting failures. According to the Associated Press, a 2023 investigation revealed that the Parole Board violated victim-notification rules 83 times and prosecutor-notification rules 66 times during early-2020 cases. This led to the release of approximately 130 violent offenders and the discharge of 137 from supervision. Although these findings are time-barred for prosecution, they have prompted transparency reforms.
Miyares, a Republican who has served as Virginia’s attorney general since January 2022 after six years in the House of Delegates, is focused on strengthening public safety, consumer protection, and government accountability. His background as a former prosecutor in Virginia Beach informs his priorities as detailed by the National Association of Attorneys General.
