In August, the Commonwealth of Virginia issued Executive Order 36, which establishes the Stand Tall – Stay Strong – Succeed Together Initiative (Stand Tall Initiative). This initiative, it says, is the “first-in-the-nation proactive, dynamic, data-driven and comprehensive across-government approach, to support reentry success and prevent recidivism.”
The initiative focuses on six key factors proven to facilitate successful reentry for returning citizens:
- Gainful employment
- Stable housing
- Healthcare insurance coverage
- Appropriate supervision levels
- Necessary mental health treatment
- Necessary substance abuse treatment
By measuring progress in these areas, the Stand Tall initiative aims to improve outcomes for individuals reintegrating into society after incarceration.
Since April 2023, the state’s efforts have focused on factors directly linked to reentry success. As a result of these efforts:
- 3,100 more returning citizens have gained employment.
- 7,100 more have enrolled in health insurance.
- An estimated 5,500 more had their supervision levels reassessed.
“Our focus must be on supporting the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable,” said Suzanne S. Youngin, the state’s first lady when the executive order was issued. “By expanding assessments, improving treatment programs and fostering strong partnerships, we are dedicated to providing the necessary resources for successful reintegration and healthier futures.”
The state government’s goal is to improve the chances of success for those in reentry and ultimately reduce recidivism. This will be a hefty task, considering the fact that more than half of those currently in Virginia’s prisons and jails have been in there before.
The text of the executive order asserts that every Virginian who successfully reenters society provides great benefits at every level. It says that:
- The individual benefits “when they contribute to society and achieve their human potential.”
- The community benefits “when families are made whole and crime decreases.”
- The Commonwealth of Virginia benefits from increased “societal and economic contributions and the reduced burden on public safety structure.”
The governor has initiated a plan to carry out the executive order that works across a variety of state agencies, service providers and others. So far, these include Virginia Works, Virginia Dept. of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, Dept. of Veterans Services, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Virginia State Police.
Among actions planned as the result of the Stand Tall Initiative are to:
- Create a state-wide partnership between Virginia’s Community College System and the Virginia Dept. of Corrections prisons to improve continuing education programs.
- Increase the number of people who procure Pell Grants so they can afford to attend a college program.
- Increase remote learning and programming within the state’s prison system.
- Provide education to those with low level literacy rates with the goal of increasing their reading level two grades by 2026.
- Implement state government hiring practices that are friendly to returning citizens and include direct-hire, apprenticeships and internships.
- Integrate non state-government entities, including the business community, into these initiatives.
- Ensure that those leaving prison have valid identification upon reentry.
To ensure that these efforts are carried out effectively, the governor is creating a Stand Tall-Stay Strong-Succeed Together Executive Task Force. This task force will include members of the Dept. of Corrections; local jail officials; representatives from the Virginia state senate and house, the office of the Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, the Virginia Sheriffs Association and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police; justice-involved individuals; community advocacy groups; and others.
