As Virginia's 2023 primary approaches, Republicans are drawing attention to the state's rising crime rates, blaming the increase on Democrats' lack of legislative measures that would strengthen punishments and alleviate police reform restrictions.
The Virginia State Police released its annual crime report for 2022 last week, showing a 4.9% increase in crime statewide for the number of violent crimes from 2021. Violent crimes include murder, sex offenses, robbery, and aggravated assault.Vehicle thefts increased significantly by nearly 22%, following a nationwide trend of spikes in motor vehicle theft and property damage — but a decrease in violent crime — that began in 2022 in the aftermath of the pandemic and continued into 2023.
Virginia's split General Assembly has made it difficult for Gov. Glenn Youngkin to enact his conservative agenda, particularly when it comes to introducing tough-on-crime legislation. In January, state Senate Democrats blocked a bill backed by Youngkin that would have made adjustments to charging drug dealers.
“The fact that Virginia Democrats say they want to make our communities safer is not only ironic, but it’s a complete fabrication of the truth. If Democrats really wanted to make our Virginia communities safer, then they wouldn’t have voted down legislation to strengthen penalties on drug dealers, or prevent police officers from doing their jobs effectively," RSLC deputy communications director Mason Di Palma told the Washington Examiner.
GOP lawmakers have attempted to appeal several, but not all, of the reforms during the 2023 session. In January, the Republican-led House voted in favor of removing provisions that prevented pulling people over for some minor traffic offenses. It was referred to the Democrat-controlled state Senate Judiciary Committee in February but has not gained traction since then.
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