Virginia Dems pass bill downgrading penalties for assaulting law enforcement as riots rage
August 28, 2020 | Frieda Powers
Virginia Democrats just voted over every Republican’s objections to downgrade the legal penalty for anyone accused of assaulting a police officer.
In a vote on party lines, the Virginia Senate approved a bill on Wednesday that removes a mandatory jail sentence and allows an assault against a law enforcement officer to be treated as a misdemeanor. Though still considered a felony, if Senate Bill 5032 is signed into law, the judge or jury will be given the discretion in eliminating Virginia’s mandatory six-month minimum prison sentence.
According to a summary of the bill:
Eliminates the mandatory minimum term of confinement for an assault and battery committed against a judge; magistrate; law-enforcement officer; correctional officer; person directly involved in the care, treatment, or supervision of inmates; firefighter; or volunteer firefighter or any emergency medical services personnel and provides that such crime can no longer be committed as a simple assault and must result in a bodily injury.
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https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/08/28/virginia-dems-pass-bill-downgrading-penalties-for-assaulting-law-enforcement-as-riots-rage-965672
