Virginia Republicans hope to push through the General Assembly a package of tough anti-crime measures that would impose longer prison sentences on repeat drug dealers and incarcerate the state’s most heinous sexual deviants for life. In presenting his 2012 public-safety legislative agenda Thursday, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell also proposed allowing localities to create new drug courts — a cheaper more effective means of handling nonviolent substance abusers — but only if the communities agree to pay for the courts themselves.
The state must take a comprehensive approach to dealing with criminals, McDonnell said, giving them a second chance once they leave prison but punishing them more severely if they commit additional crimes.
Anyone caught a second time dealing drugs other than marijuana would get a minimum five-year sentence, 10 years for a third offense.
“If you’re going to deal drugs in Virginia, be on notice: You’re going to go to prison for a long time after this session,” McDonnell said.
The Republican governor allocated an additional $11 million in his two-year budget to offset the costs of the stricter sentences.
Republicans also want to crack down on sexual predators, enacting a minimum mandatory life sentence for anyone convicted of rape, forcible sodomy or object sexual penetration of a child younger than 13.
Drunk drivers face stiffer penalties as well. Those convicted of involuntary manslaughter or aggravated involuntary manslaughter while driving drunk face minimum sentences of one and five years, respectively.
“On average, drunk drivers kill one person a day,” said House Courts of Justice Committee Chairman Dave Albo, R-Fairfax. “Drunk driving is a serious crime and will not be tolerated.”
McDonnell proposed creating a pilot program, similar to the D.A.R.E. program, that returns drug education and awareness to classrooms. The federal government yanked funding for D.A.R.E. years ago after studies failed to prove it was an effective deterrent to drug and alcohol use.
