Higher Education in Virginia Prisons
Defense Counsel at First Court Appearance

Important Issues in Our Justice System

Presented
Thursday, December 5, 2024

Since our inception, prison (in)justice has been an important concern for Justice Advocates. In this session, we focused on two upcoming legislative priorities in the 2025 Virginia General Assembly sponsored by the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. You are invited to watch the recording, learn the details, and then lend your support.

We welcomed these presenters as they educated and empowered us.

Kenneth Hunter

HEP (Higher Education in Prison) Organizer, VICPP

Taj Mahon-Haft

Director of The Humanization Project

Maisie Osteen

Senior Supervising Attorney

Legal Aid Justice Center

Expanding Higher Education in Prison

Creating access to higher education in prison changes lives;
Sponsored by the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison, an initiative of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
- “We believe education has transformative value – for all people, in all contexts, at all times.”
- “We are committed to building consensus for expanding college degree programs throughout Virginia prisons.”
- More information on the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison can be found here.

CAFA: Counsel at First Appearance

Counsel At First Appearance (CAFA) legislation will mandate that all defendants receive an initial appearance promptly after arrest, at which they will have an attorney and an opportunity to receive bail. Adequate time for the attorney to consult before the hearing, and access to all charge- and bail-related information will be mandated, as well, in order to avoid the common collateral consequences of being detained for an extended time without a conviction or representation.

More information about this issue can be found here.

"Lament, Reflect, Act: An Interfaith Election Response"

A JA event from Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024

What now? No seriously, what now?

We just lived through an election that left some celebrating and others devastated.

How do those of us that are suffering recover?

How do we deal with our fear and uncertainty?

How do we interact with those folks with whom we disagree?

What do we do now?

Recording

Dr. David Jones, Williams Memorial Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA

Rabbi Kathy Cohen, Temple Emmanuel, Roanoke, VA

The Honorable Sam Rasoul, Delegate 38th District

Jim Borling, Heart of the Blue Ridge Sangha, Buddhist

Moderator: Rev. Jon Greene, Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern VA

Quick Links

Recordings of all JA events (when available) can be accessed through the Advocates in Action tab for each year

(located on the header bar above) .

JA Videos on Facebook

Session with Dr. Matthew Taylor on the role of Christian Nationalism in the January 6 insurrection, including insight into the New Apostolic Reformation movement, a key component of the larger world of Christian Nationalism. Click on the image for a link to the recording of this session and here for more information.

Statement Opposing Christian Nationalism

Resources for Further Study

Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism's Unholy War on Democracy (2024) is an excellent resource for understanding the historical and political background of this movement that will survive any election cycle. Information and the film's trailer can be found here. For a viewer's guide to this documentary, click here. A resource listing can be found here. The film can be viewed on multiple screening platforms.