Dozens of violent criminals were made eligible for parole in Virginia as the state attempts to slim down inmate populations amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report.
At least 35 people convicted of killings were granted parole in March, according to the Associated Press. Dozens more who have been found guilty on charges of assault, rape, and kidnapping were also released due to an expedited parole system.
“The Parole Board, already inclined to grant parole prior to the pandemic, felt that expediting certain cases was appropriate due to age of the offender, underlying health conditions, and the Board was confident that the release was compatible with public safety,” the board told the AP.
Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam’s office said it was confident the state parole board would exercise good judgment when considering which inmates to make eligible for early release.
“These are tough cases,” said Brian Moran, Virginia’s secretary of public safety and homeland security, noting that only a fraction of the nearly 30,000 inmates being held in state prisons are eligible for parole.
