VA Considers Early Release For Murderers

A bill that cleared a key Virginia Senate committee last week, would allow the early release of serious criminals including rapists and murderers at age 50.  Hans Bader of Liberty Unyielding reports that SB 624 creates a new category called “geriatric release” to allow prison inmates who are 50 years old to seek release if they have been incarcerated for 20 years.  Inmates who are 55 could be released after serving 15 years.  Only inmates convicted of Class 1 felonies, such as killing a police officer or a child, can be excluded.

Virginia law ranks first degree murder as a Class 2 felony, meaning most murderers would be eligible under the new law.  Many criminals serving life without parole for their crimes would become eligible for release in just 15 years.  Proponents claim that the low recidivism rates for 60 year old ex-cons may also occur for inmates who are 50.  Bader cites multiple examples of murderers who continued killing well into their 50s including Ted Kaczynski (the unabomber), serial murderer Albert Fish and Dorothea Puente, who killed at least 9 elderly borders for their social security checks.

The lowering of consequences for some of the worst crimes along with the early release of hundreds of serious criminals will result in more crime in Virginia.