OPINION: 24 Words & One State: The Future of Women’s Equality is in the Hands of Virginians

By: Sam Galina, Staff Editor 24 words is all it takes to formally recognize equality for men and women in America. Somehow, it’s been 232 years and women are still waiting.[1]  The text of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment simply reads, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” … Continue reading OPINION: 24 Words & One State: The Future of Women’s Equality is in the Hands of Virginians

Diversion: Not Just for Speeding Tickets

By Carly R. Wright, Staff Editor   Last year, the New York Times published a Princeton University study on eviction rates in the U.S. that revealed something troubling: The City of Richmond had the second highest eviction rate in the country.[1] In 2016, one in nine Richmond families were evicted through legal action and one in five were threatened with eviction.[2] Moreover, over 30% of … Continue reading Diversion: Not Just for Speeding Tickets

Safe Injection Sites: An Attempt to Bring Drug Users out of the Shadows and into Treatment

By: Mike Stehlin, Staff Editor Some called it El Campamento.[I] Used syringes were discarded, stacked on top of each other, and strewn about on the ground, a metaphor of the dead bodies that the drugs left in their wake. The “residents” of the encampment typically included 75 to 125 drug addicts at any one time.[ii] If one was looking for an image to capture the … Continue reading Safe Injection Sites: An Attempt to Bring Drug Users out of the Shadows and into Treatment

Prosecutors Prioritized Over Defenders: The Criminal Justice Pay Gap

By: James William Rosson, Staff Editor A pressing issue exists in regard to the quality of indigent defense in America: the pay disparity between public defender and prosecutor offices. This pay discrepancy goes beyond the tax statements of individual lawyers. It affects the ability of public defender offices to recruit quality attorneys, manage their caseloads, and provide the caliber of representation promised by the U.S. … Continue reading Prosecutors Prioritized Over Defenders: The Criminal Justice Pay Gap