Virginia Democrats are once again moving to overhaul the state’s criminal justice system, this time using the calm, technical language of “conforming” statutes. But critics warn that House Bill 244, now sitting in the House Courts of Justice Committee, goes far beyond a routine update and instead delivers a broad rollback of consequences for robbery offenses.
Introduced earlier this month by Democratic Delegate Vivian Watts, HB 244 is framed as an effort to align older statutory language with the tiered robbery system enacted in 2021. On the surface, supporters describe the bill as a housekeeping measure. Dig deeper, however, and the legislation reveals a sweeping redefinition of how robbery is treated across sentencing, parole, and early release laws, with changes that consistently reduce penalties for offenders.
One of the most significant provisions narrows the definition of “acts of violence” to include only the two highest degrees of robbery. Lower-degree robberies would no longer be classified as violent crimes under the law, a shift that critics say downplays the serious harm these offenses can inflict on victims. The bill also changes how robbery offenses are scored under Virginia’s sentencing guidelines, potentially lowering recommended prison sentences.
HB 244 further expands eligibility for enhanced earned sentence credits and conditional release for those convicted of lower-degree robbery offenses. These changes would apply retroactively, meaning offenders already behind bars could see their sentences shortened. The bill even allows early release for certain offenders deemed terminally ill, raising additional concerns about public safety.
Perhaps the most controversial element involves Virginia’s three-strikes law. Under current policy, repeat violent offenders can face mandatory life sentences. HB 244 would limit that provision to only the two highest robbery degrees. Even more striking, parole eligibility could be restored if just one of the three qualifying convictions involved a lower-degree robbery. In practical terms, critics argue, offenders once sentenced to life could now have a pathway back onto the streets.
Supporters of the bill insist it preserves robbery as a predicate offense and keeps the most serious robberies classified as violent crimes. But opponents see a familiar pattern in Democratic criminal justice reform efforts: policies marketed as compassionate or technical fixes that end up weakening deterrence and putting communities at risk.
Those fears are grounded in recent experience. A July 2025 report found that nearly half of inmates released early under Virginia’s Democrat-backed Enhanced Earned Sentence Credits program were arrested again within a year. Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares sharply criticized that law, calling on lawmakers to fix a system he said prioritizes offender leniency over the safety of law-abiding citizens.
Victims’ families have also spoken out forcefully against these reforms. At a press conference, Angela Tyler-Tann, whose son was murdered by an offender released early despite a long criminal record, delivered a stark warning. She said lives are not something that can be paused or restarted, emphasizing that her son’s death is permanent.
HB 244 has not yet reached the House floor, but critics argue it fits squarely into a broader trend Virginia voters are increasingly questioning. They say the state is being asked to gamble with public safety, while ordinary citizens pay the price when these policies fail.
