Bill > HB1421

This bill proposes the creation of a stakeholder work group, convened by the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, to study the possibility of moving the State Board of Local and Regional Jails, which currently oversees local and regional jails, from the Department of Corrections to a different state agency or an independent oversight body. This work group will include a diverse range of participants such as civil rights groups, advocates for inmates and their families, individuals with past incarceration experience, representatives from jail associations and sheriffs' groups, and experts in correctional oversight and restorative justice. The group will explore different oversight structures, including the potential for a completely independent ombudsman's office or incorporating the State Board into the Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman, which is part of the Office of the State Inspector General. The work group is required to present its findings, a suggested timeline, and any legislative recommendations for this transfer to specific legislative committees by November 1, 2026.

Justice, Military Affairs and Security

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1421