Virginia’s New AG Launches Probes Into Parole Board and Loudoun County Public Schools

Within hours of being sworn in as Virginia’s new attorney general, Jason Miyares has announced investigations into the Virginia Parole Board and Loudoun County Public Schools, citing public demand for transparency and accountability in the wake of what he described as scandals and their “horrific aftermath.”

Miyares, who was sworn in on Jan. 15, said in a statement that one of the probes relates to the Virginia Parole Board’s alleged illegal actions in connection with the early release of individuals responsible for a range of crimes, including murder.

“The Virginia Parole Board broke the law when they let out murderers, rapists, and cop killers early on their sentences without notifying the victims,” Miyares said.

One of the cases pertained to the freeing of parolee Vincent Martin, who was sentenced to life behind bars for the 1979 murder of police officer Michael Connors during a traffic stop.

In 2020, Virginia’s Office of the State Inspector General issued a report (pdf) finding that the parole board skirted procedures in freeing Martin. The report noted, among other findings, that the Virginia Parole Board declined to hear from several people with concerns about releasing Martin and that it did not “endeavor diligently” to contact the slain officer’s family, as required by law, precluding the family from having a chance to provide their input…(Excerpts from the Epoch Times)