"Flock cameras reverse a core principle of liberty: The presumption of innocence. Instead of investigating specific suspects, they collect and store everyone’s movements “just in case.” This is not targeted policing; it is ambient monitoring."
#deflock #surveillance #alpr
This week at The Lookout, I profiled Steven Keener, the CNU crime research who co-authored a first-of-its-kind study on how cops place automated license plate readers. (Spoiler alert: race appears to be a big factor!)
"...not only were the CDC’s crime data less predictive of Flock ALPR placements in Hampton Roads than race and class—they were fully negative predictors. “I cannot emphasize how surprised I was,” he said."
So much effort was put into HB441, which sought to conform the Judicial Inquiry & Review Comm’n to best practices, and make it so half-assed, end of session public shaming wouldn’t be Va’s only form of judicial accountability
Last night Senate courts basically treated HB441 like junk mail. Harrumph
"For the first time, we are hearing directly from the two men who were found not guilty of a Sussex County police officer’s 1998 murder, yet still sentenced to life in prison."
Recently, we asked for questions from readers about what local and state leaders are doing in response to the federal immigration crackdown.
Our new explainer shares some answers. Our entire team worked on this and it’s *really* worth a read:
boltsmag.org/how-state-an...
Fourth Amendment waivers erode trust in law enforcement and are weaponized by police and prosecutors. They are used to specifically target Black and Brown communities, explains Richmond Public Defender, Ashley Shapiro:
Fourth Amendment waivers erode trust in law enforcement and are weaponized by police and prosecutors. They are used to specifically target Black and Brown communities, explains Richmond Public Defender, Ashley Shapiro:
BREAKING: Virginia prosecutors can force people to give up their Fourth Amendment rights. 4A waivers permit police to stop & search people at any time for any reason, in RVA 96% of people with them are Black. Our bill banning 4A waivers—SB23–is headed to the Gov! Thank you @salimforva.bsky.social!
Image: woodgrain background with Justice Forward Virginia logo. Text: On the docket.
ON THE DOCKET: Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Senate Courts of Justice meets 30 minutes after Senate. JIRC Reform, Restorative Justice, Eliminate Felony Charge for Possession of Drug Residue, Mental Heath Evidence Fix, and Eliminate Prejudicial Use of Priors
lis.virginia.gov/session-deta...
Louis Rossmann on a recent report on law enforcement #ALPR use in #Virginia.
"The best way to deal with this is not to write a #privacy policy, or to have a set of laws, the best way to deal with this is to never build the mass #surveillance network to begin with."
Ban ALPRs! 🚫
#deflock
At least 33 agencies said they are violating the new laws Virginia created to regulate Flock cameras (or ALPRs) last year. Several reported still sharing Flock feeds out-of-state.
Lawmakers made violations of the rules a misdemeanor.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
#RVA #VALeg
"These drones are basically being pushed as flying cops, but a cop is not allowed to just take a peek in my backyard whenever they want,"EFF’s Beryl Lipton told @law360.bsky.social, nor are they “allowed to just be taking notes about what's going on in a private space."www.law360.com/articles/24...
Image: woodgrain background with Justice Forward Virginia logo. Text: On the docket.
ON THE DOCKET: Mon, March 2, 2026, Senate Courts of Justice, 8AM. Aligning Robbery, Eliminate Prejudicial Use of Priors, Restorative Justice, Eliminate Felony Charge for Possession of Drug Residue, Mental Heath Evidence Fix, Marijuana Resentencing & more lis.virginia.gov/session-deta...
Those camps they’re building aren’t being made to detain immigrants….only….
35% of VA law enforcement agencies admit taking NO PUBLIC AWARENESS MEASURES relating to their mass surveillance ALPR camera use, IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW. Only 251 of 361 agencies bothered to respond to the survey required by state legislation as well... vscc.virginia.gov/2026/VSCC%20...
Image: Virginia State Crime Commission seal. Text: Law Enforcement Use of Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Update
WELL: 13% of VA law enforcement agencies acknowledge they are CONTINUOUSLY SHARING their mass surveillance ALPR data with other states & 6% acknowledge SHARING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVT—both in violation of state law—a newly released report from the VA State Crime Commission shows.
'Shall means shall’ bill praised as ‘most important’ effort of 2026 www.wvtf.org/news/2026-02... #VALeg
Registration for virtual testimony begins 1/2 hour before the scheduled start of the Senate Courts of Justice meeting. You can find instructions and today’s full docket here: lis.virginia.gov/session-deta...
Image: woodgrain background with Justice Forward Virginia logo. Text: On the docket.
ON THE DOCKET: Wed, Feb 25, 2026 Senate Courts will hear a good bill on Deferred Dismissals and a bad bill, HB294, that expands the definition of malicious wounding of a CO—this one is a slap in the face to those advocating against torture of people at Wallens Ridge & Red Onion.
A tiny town in Southside, Virginia with a population of ~6000 people has contracted with Flock to install 400 always-on cameras to surveil its six-square-mile footprint. That's one camera per 15 residents, or nearly 67 per square mile.
The House has passed * HB637 Eliminate Felony Charge for Possession of Drug Residue * HB246 Protect People with ID/DD and Mental Health Disorders * HB 331 Deferred Dismissals * HB1070 Eliminate the Prejudicial Use of Priors at Trial * HB245 Preserve Access to Diversion * HB118 Fix Discovery * HB127 CAFA * HB1084 VLDS * HB933 FTAs * HB244 Align Class 5 & 6 Robbery Offenses with the Rest of the Code * HB172 Allow Defendants to Withdraw Requests for Jury Sentencing and Ask Jurors About Potential Sentences * HB489 Ensure Confidentiality of Restorative Justice Practices * HB1413 Probation Fix–Uphold Reforms for Technical Violations of Probation * HB1411 Mental Health Evidence Fix * HB520 OCRA * HB441 JIRC Reform * Alt Crisis Response The Senate has passed * SB23 Ban 4A Waivers * SB335 Protect People with ID/DD and Mental Health Disorders * SB24 Fix Discovery * SB480 VLDS * SB283 FTAs * SB230 Reverse Bad SCOVA Expungement Cases * SB82 OCRA * Alt Crisis Response
LATE & BREAKING: An epic 18.5 of 20 of Justice Forward Virginia’s CJR legislative priorities have passed one chamber of the VA General Assembly and are headed to the other chamber at Crossover! Let’s go!!! You can see a detailed breakdown here justiceforwardva.com/2026-priorit... #VALeg
Image: woodgrain background with Justice Forward Virginia logo. Text: On the docket.
ON THE DOCKET: Monday, February 23, 2026, Senate Courts of Justice, 8AM. Fix Discovery, CAFA, Align Robbery with the Code, Preserve Access to Diversion, Protect People with ID/DD & Mental Illness, and more lis.virginia.gov/session-deta...
A MN protester accused of assaulting ICE officer had case dropped after vids showed no assault.
LA protester accused of assaulting ICE w/ “hat” had case dropped; judge said govt acted in “bad faith”
In Chicago, 92 ppl were arrested for assault/impeding ICE; 0 convicted
DOJ keeps lying and losing:
The problem with a singular focus on 287g (without considering policing as a whole system) is that it's not even the primary way local law enforcement works with ICE
foxbaltimore.com/news/local/m...
We asked people who lived in homeless encampments that were cleared out in city “sweeps” to write about what object was the hardest for them to lose.
“They took my baby pictures and my moms obituaries,” a man in California wrote.
(Published Dec. 2024)
Sincere Allah was an inspiration to all of us at Justice Forward Virginia. He was a friend, brother, and an example to so many others seeking redemption and restoration. We deeply mourn his passing. Rest in power, family.
community organizing resulted in MANDATORY MINIMUMS being removed from the proposed Marij* legalization bill in Virginia. as well as so many crimes & penalties that would have been enforced in ways that harm our communities and lock up our children
Richmond Free Press ceases publication after 34 years by Keyris Manzanares www.vpm.org/news/2026-02...
Image: woodgrain background with Justice Forward Virginia logo. Text: On the docket.
ON THE DOCKET: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 House Courts of Justice Crim Sub meets 15 minutes after adjournment of the full committee. Probation Fix, Restorative Justice, and several bad bills house.vga.virginia.gov/subcommittee...
