qm_spring

irginia

apitol

onnections

, S

pring

2016

During the General Assembly’s recent

biannual budget session, many policymakers

focused on public safety reforms as an

avenue to not only enhance the equity of the

criminal justice system but also to ensure its

fiscal efficiency and responsiveness to the

needs of Virginia’s citizens.

The recent 2016 Commonwealth Poll:

Public Safety—conducted by the Office

of Public Policy Outreach in the Center

for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder

School of Government and Public Affairs

at Virginia Commonwealth University—found strong support for

reforming the juvenile justice system, parole practices, firearms

ownership and marijuana policies.

More specifically, more than eight out of 10 (84 percent) support

juvenile justice reforms that would reduce the use of large, adult-style

incarceration facilities and instead use smaller, community-based

therapeutic centers for juvenile offenders.

The poll was conducted in a first-ever partnership with the office

of the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

“The poll confirms our belief that a strong, bipartisan majority

of Virginians understand that we must treat juvenile offenders

differently than adults in order to improve public safety, reduce

recidivism and provide the best opportunity for these young people

to become productive citizens,” said Brian Moran, Virginia Secretary

of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Along with juvenile justice, reforming the parole system in

Virginia has also been the focus of recent debate. This past summer,

the governor’s parole review commission examined the current

policies and practices in an attempt to reform the state’s current

process. Over three-quarters of Virginians (76 percent) polled agreed

Public Safety Poll

By Robyn McDougle, PhD

that parole should be reinstated in the state.

“However, the fact that more than 75 percent of those supporting

reinstating parole limited it to nonviolent offenders, and the impact

of ‘truth in sentencing’ highlights the complexities surrounding this

policy debate,” said Robyn McDougle, Ph.D., faculty director of the

Office of Public Policy Outreach and associate professor of criminal

justice at the Wilder School.

Lawmakers in Virginia and around the country regularly debate

firearms ownership, and this year is no different. Poll responses

indicated strong support for certain aspects (those focused on

domestic violence) of firearms purchase reforms that were included

in the bipartisan firearms bill passed by both chambers this year.

Most people (64 percent) support denying firearms purchases

to people with outstanding restraining orders. Eighty-eight percent

support current Virginia law denying firearms purchases to anyone

with a domestic violence conviction.

Along with supporting several public safety reforms, the 2016

Commonwealth Poll: Public Safety also highlighted areas of strength

for Virginia. More specifically, in recent months law enforcement

agencies in many states have taken center stage for their positive and

negative actions and the commonwealth has been no different. As a

result, many believe that citizens’ trust in law enforcement agencies

has significantly decreased.

The 2016 Commonwealth Poll: Public Safety found strong

support for law enforcement in Virginia. More than seven out of 10

(78 percent) respondents felt that people in their local community

receive fair treatment from law enforcement. Further, 83 percent

were satisfied with how law enforcement in their communities solves

problems and handles those who call police for help.

Though a majority of all respondents were supportive of law

enforcement across all demographic and regional groups, white

respondents (81 percent), those who were identified as Republican

“Virginia should reduce the use of large, adult-style

correctional facilities and instead use small community-based

therapeutic centers for juvenile offenders.”

3.6%

43.0%

40.9%

9.4%

5.3%

1.5%

63.9%

27.4%

3.3%

1.8%

32.4%

44.4%

9.8%

11.6%

1.8%

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

DK/Ref

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

Republican

Democrat

Independent