DPVA Chairwoman praises Governor Northam on reaching deal to raise larceny felony threshold
Richmond, Va. — Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman Susan Swecker released the following statement praising Governor Ralph Northam for reaching a deal to raise Virginia's larceny felony threshold. The deal between Governor Northam and Speaker Kirk Cox will more than double the felony threshold for larceny from $200 to $500.
“Today, Governor Northam kept his promise to Virginians to fight for common-sense criminal justice reform by reaching a historic deal to more than double Virginia's lowest-in-the-nation felony threshold. Criminal theft is wrong, and offenders deserve proper punishment. But no Virginian's life should be ruined because he or she stole a pair of tennis shoes or an iPhone. Through today's reforms, Governor Northam has made Virginia a stronger, fairer, and more progressive Commonwealth. I also commend Governor McAuliffe as well as Democratic elected officials and activists who have put in years of work that helped make this afternoon's agreement possible. ”