The Post-Exoneration Experience: The Trauma of Prison Never Goes Away

  Written by Spencer Hamilton, L’26         Since 1989, there have been 3,608 documented exonerations according to the National Registry of Exonerations.[1] In total, those 3,608 exonerees spent more than 32,750 years incarcerated for crimes they did not commit.[2] This represents an average of more than nine years spent in prison by each individual exoneree. However, this number is likely a significant … Continue reading The Post-Exoneration Experience: The Trauma of Prison Never Goes Away

Polygamy: Constitutionally Unprotected, But Should It Be?

Written by Alexa Cinque, L’26 The institution of marriage has existed across cultures and centuries.[1] While the reasons, modes, and even execution of marriage has varied quite substantially throughout time, one cannot help but wonder how the modern concept in the U.S. came to be. The history of marriage in America may be far more colorful than one might think. Before America was colonized, many  … Continue reading Polygamy: Constitutionally Unprotected, But Should It Be?

How Parole Has Become Seemingly Unattainable in Virginia

Written by Emma Sauer, L’26 In 1995, during the height of the nation’s “tough on crime” movement, Virginia effectively abolished parole by adopting a “truth-in-sentencing” law.[1]  Under its new sentencing legislation, people were mandated to serve, at a minimum, eighty-five percent of their sentences.[2]  It was intended for individuals sentenced prior to 1995 to be unaffected; however, the Virginia Parole Board’s parole rate quickly diminished … Continue reading How Parole Has Become Seemingly Unattainable in Virginia

Our Flag Means Discrimination: The Rise of State Flag Referendums

    By: Tucker Weiser Recent protests across the United States have brought with them a reckoning on symbols. From statutes in town centers, to our nation’s founding fathers, the discussion on what or who constitutes “America” has been filled with controversy and gained constant national attention. One aspect of the reckoning on our symbols has gained very little attention, but could be one of … Continue reading Our Flag Means Discrimination: The Rise of State Flag Referendums

False Protection: Why Some Neglect Statutes Jeopardize the Best Interests of the Child

By Courtney Squires Pursuant to § 63.2-100 of the Virginia Code, “physical neglect” is defined as “the failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, necessary medical treatment, or supervision for a child to the extent that the child’s health or safety is endangered.”[1]  The child protective services (CPS) manual, authored by the Virginia Department of Social Services, elaborates on the administrative code by identifying numerous types … Continue reading False Protection: Why Some Neglect Statutes Jeopardize the Best Interests of the Child

Looming Risk of Healthcare Crisis Amid the Nearing End of the Pandemic Health Emergency

By: Albert Gutierrez Filing for bankruptcy can be beneficial for many debtors who do not have the ability to pay off their debts and struggle to keep up with their financial obligations.[1] Some advantages of filing for bankruptcy include the automatic stoppage of debt collection activities, the cancellation of some acquired debts, the ability to exempt certain property and possessions, and a clean slate to … Continue reading Looming Risk of Healthcare Crisis Amid the Nearing End of the Pandemic Health Emergency

Domestic Violence effects on African-Americans

By: Kiana Gilcrist Research shows that black women are disproportionately impacted by domestic violence.[1] 58 percent of black females who knew their offender were killed by a current or former intimate partner.[2] Further, for women of color and their families experiencing higher rates of poverty and lower rates of financial stability, fewer options for safety exist for them when they are attempting to escape abuse.[3] … Continue reading Domestic Violence effects on African-Americans

Looming Risk of Healthcare Crisis Amid the Nearing End of the Pandemic Health Emergency

By: Bushra Haque The pandemic is finally seeming to come to an end. The majority of the nation is vaccinated and have received their booster, and increased vaccine access will continue to keep people protected against COVID-19.[1] However, we cannot celebrate too much just yet, because there is another health crisis on the horizon— millions of people are at risk of losing healthcare coverage.[2] During … Continue reading Looming Risk of Healthcare Crisis Amid the Nearing End of the Pandemic Health Emergency

“Don’t say Race:” Why is Biden Taking a Colorblind Approach to Environmental Justice?

By: Haley Edmonds Last year, President Biden debuted the “Justice40” initiative, which sets out to advance environmental justice (“EJ”) by funneling 40% of all federal environment- and climate-related funds to “disadvantaged” communities.[1] This initiative has drawn recent attention due to the contentious methodology used in the proposed EJ screening tool, which designates a given census track as  “disadvantaged” if it meets a series of socioeconomic … Continue reading “Don’t say Race:” Why is Biden Taking a Colorblind Approach to Environmental Justice?