Law

Democrats in Virginia have called for setting aside some of the more than $4 billion in federal stimulus funds to give bonuses to law enforcement officers. Republicans are pressing them to move faster and go farther, citing an urgent need to raise morale in departments across the state. Some progressive groups, meanwhile, say the raises shouldn’t happen at all.

There’s been a dramatic increase in the number of opioid overdose deaths in prisons and jails over the last two decades. But despite those increases, many facilities do not permit clinically-proven medications for dependency.

Federal data shows a rise in drug overdose deaths inside prisons and jails across the country. County jails saw a 200% increase from 2001 to 2018, but the rise in state-run prisons is even more dramatic at 600%. Virginia falls near the middle of the pack in the rate of overdose deaths.

A federal appeals court in Richmond ruled Tuesday that it is unconstitutional for the federal government to bar licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to 18, 19 and 20 year olds, striking down a law that's more than 50 years old.

Virginia school districts are required to adopt policies regarding the equal and harassment-free treatment of transgender students ahead of the upcoming school year. Last year, Virginia lawmakers required the Virginia Department of Education to create model policies and required districts to adopt policies that were at least consistent with - or more comprehensive than - VDOE’s guidelines.

Twenty-four states, including Virginia, mounted legal fights against Purdue Pharma, makers of Oxycontin, earlier this year. Attorneys General in those states announced Thursday they’ve reached a resolution.

President Joe Biden nominated Virginia’s top trial lawyer to the federal bench last week. Solicitor General Toby Heytens has argued numerous high-profile cases – most recently defending Governor Ralph Northam’s decision to remove the Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond.

The Supreme Court indicated support on Monday for a lower court’s ruling in favor of Gavin Grimm, an advocate for the transgender community who sued his school district for not allowing him to use the boy’s restroom.

Last year, Richmond City Council began the process of establishing a Civilian Review Board. An interim task force is expected to give recommendations on independent oversight this August.

After more than a year of battling the spread of COVID-19, the Virginia Department of Corrections is reporting zero active coronavirus cases in state prisons. New data from the Marshall Projects puts the death toll and infection rates into a national context.