When I was 18 in 1974, and when I was 20 in 1976, I was convicted of a sex offense with a minor. I served my time, and then when it was time for my release, to my surprise, I was seen by a psychiatrist for evaluation for civil commitment. It seemed like a set- up, and I was civilly committed. They told me I would die here. In 2009, they started releasing people. it again was a set-up. They let me out and others, but they wanted us to live in a rooming house, pay for outpatient treatment (that we didn’t need), and pay for numerous polygraphs, which they would say we failed if we didn’t say what they wanted us to say. Of the men I knew, including myself, it was a revolving door back to VCBR. The PO, instead of being a social worker to help us reintegrate into society, is a law officer whose job it is to play, “gotcha.” No matter what mistakes are made (forgetting to register, being late home for curfew, failing the poygraph, or anything, your probation is violated. You are sent back to VCBR. It’s a revolving door, and none of us have done any other sex offenses since our original convictions many years ago.
Our vision for a just future
1. Abolish pre-crime preventative detention laws
2. Free our friends and loved ones from dehumanizing labels
3. Realign our justice system with the values of restoration and reintegration
Just Future Project is a new initiative focused on challenging pre-crime preventative detention laws. We are a people-driven grassroots advocacy campaign dedicated to building a movement of community members demanding an end to indefinite detention regimes.
Why Is This Important?
Pre-crime preventative detention systems are a dangerous departure from the traditional values of our legal system.
We believe in justice, that persons who have caused harm may be held accountable for their actions. But justice also demands proportionality and due process, elements essential to distinguish justice from mere vengeance. The goal of any true system of justice must be restoration and re-integration, not the perpetual containment and incapacitation that have come to define the U.S. criminal legal system.
Recent Comments
- Celeste Whiteford Robertson on The Dobbs Wire: Rogue judge driven off the bench
- What is civil commitment? Recent report raises visibility of this shadowy form of incarceration | Prison Policy Initiative on How many are held under “sex offender civil commitment” laws?
- Merry on In Memoriam: Lives Lost While Imprisoned After Their Release Date in Minnesota
- DAV on Shadow Prisoner Stabbed 14 Times at VCBR Facility
- Donna on Victory in Supreme Court of Virginia against out-of-control prosecution
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