Early release of inmates in Virginia due to pandemic to end July 1

Corrections officials in Virginia have announced July 1st as the end of early release for prisoners as a safety precaution for inmate populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Ralph Northam lobbied for the move in April that would have the director of the Department of Corrections look at the release of inmates who had less than a year left on their sentence and exclude those with a felony or sex-related charge.

More than 1,300 state prisoners were let go along with 788 from local jails.

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