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| Va. House passes bill giving break to inmates |
| By Washington Post |
| Published: 03/15/2004 |
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A bill that would allow some felons to introduce new evidence of innocence at any time was passed by the Virginia House of Delegates last Monday, bringing lawmakers closer to one of the most significant changes in the criminal code in years. The legislation already has been approved by the Senate. If signed by Gov. Mark R. Warner (D), it would amend the state law that prohibits judges from considering most claims of innocence if the evidence to support them surfaces more than three weeks after sentencing. "Today was a good day for this bill," said Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle (R-Virginia Beach), the chief sponsor of Senate Bill 333. "We have something that respects the work that many lawmakers have done to get a bill that we can be proud of." Delegates added an amendment that would allow felons only one chance to submit their claims of innocence. The bill, in its amended form, must return to the Senate for final approval, but Stolle said he would accept the delegates' changes. Kevin Hall, a spokesman for Warner, said the governor is in favor of changing the law and will look closely at the measure. The vote leaves Virginia on the verge of a substantial change in the criminal code. Inmates with any compelling evidence of innocence would have a permanent mechanism to ask a judge to consider that claim. An exception to the 21-day limit was made in 2001 for DNA evidence, but the bill now moving through the General Assembly would allow inmates to bring forward any evidence, including fingerprints, witness statements or ballistics. |
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