Meek Mill – Virginia Governor Signs Probation Reform Bill Backed By Rapper

June 11, 2021 by C.J. in Music with 0 Comments

Meek Mill – Virginia Governor Signs Probation Reform Bill Backed By Rapper

Virginia has a new probation reform law that was supported by rapper and activist Meek Mill.

Gov. Ralph Northam signed HB 2038 into law yesterday (June 10th). The new legislation puts a limit on how much “active incarceration” a court can order for a person’s probation violation. It will go into effect on July 1.

Meek Mill, Gov. Northam

Meek Mill joined Northam at the signing and said,

“I have the resources and I’m in a position to do better to help. I’ll make sure I’ll be able to deliver and close every bridge I can to help fix the system, because I was affected by that.”

Meek Mill also thanked the governor on Twitter.

Meek Mill has been vocal in criminal justice reform ever since he was sentenced to prison time for violating parole on a previous conviction. His probation was lifted by the Philadelphia district attorney in 2019.

His story was told in Amazon’s critically-acclaimed Free Meek documentary.

Northam also said of the bill,

“Too many crimes bring lengthy sentences that outweigh the severity of the offense, and that has resulted in far too many people, particularly too many people of color, in our prisons and jails.”

He continued,

“While none of these policies will end the problems of mass incarceration on their own, every step forward matters. And the step we’re celebrating today is indeed a very important one.”

He made history for the state when he signed a law that banned the death penalty in March, making Virginia the first Southern state to repeal the legislation, which the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated in 1976. It will take effect next month.

What are your thoughts on the new bill and Meek Mill’s involvement? Comment and let us know.