Governor Abigail Spanberger of Virginia today announced the opening of applications for the Governor’s Community Partnership Council on Corrections, a new advisory body designed to drive meaningful reforms within the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC). The council will gather direct input from corrections officers, VADOC staff, formerly incarcerated individuals, and families across the Commonwealth.
The creation of this council follows significant reforms initiated by Governor Spanberger's administration earlier this year, which aimed to increase accountability and transparency at VADOC facilities. These efforts have already yielded positive results, with serious assaults on staff decreasing by 56 percent, confirmed overdoses by 47 percent, and facility lockdowns by 27 percent between January and May 2026, compared to the same period in 2025.
Governor Spanberger said, “Since January, we’ve announced a series of reforms to strengthen community trust, support families, and make VADOC facilities safer for corrections officers, staff, and incarcerated individuals. The Governor’s Community Partnership Council on Corrections represents the next phase of this work.” She added that she looks forward to hearing from various stakeholders on further steps to improve safety and transparency.
Led by Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Stanley Meador and VADOC Director Joseph Walters, the council will provide a structured forum for dialogue on critical issues such as conditions of confinement, reentry, family engagement, staffing, and public accountability. Secretary Meador emphasized that “The best public safety policies are informed by those who understand the challenges and the opportunities within our corrections system.” Director Walters thanked Governor Spanberger for her leadership, stating the council offers “meaningful dialogue that will strengthen public trust and understanding.”
Virginians interested in joining the council, which will have no more than 18 members from diverse backgrounds including community advocates, individuals with lived experience, victim advocates, corrections leadership, and public safety partners, must submit their applications by Friday, September 4, 2026.