Description:  Virginia is rated third in the nation when it comes to incarceration. Currently there are over thirty two thousand offenders in our prisons across the state. There are over seventy eight thousand on probation or parole across our state and thousands more offenders in local and regional jails awaiting transfer ... Read More Virginia is rated third in the nation when it comes to incarceration. Currently there are over thirty two thousand offenders in our prisons across the state. There are over seventy eight thousand on probation or parole across our state and thousands more offenders in local and regional jails awaiting transfer into our Department of Corrections. Virginia’s annual state budget allots the largest percentage for the Department of Corrections. In other words, we spend more on incarceration than we do on education. The average offender leaves behind two children, the children are left to deal with many issues including abandonment, trust and self esteem issues. Their chances of continuing the cycle of incarceration are increased by eighty two percent through no fault of their own. These children are all too often stigmatized and ostracized in our society. They are the most disadvantaged children and high risk youth in our society. We are working to break the cycle of incarceration but we can’t do it alone.  Close