Jay Jones, the Virginia Democrat candidate for Attorney General, took a stand in public against protecting children who are vulnerable. Jones, as a Virginia Delegate for 2020, voted against some mandatory reporting laws pertaining to sex crimes committed against minors. Jones voted for House bill 257, which removed the requirement that school principals report misdemeanor crime to law enforcement. This included sexual abuse and battery.
Virginia defines misdemeanor sex abuse as someone who sexually assaults another person against their wishes. Sexual abuse is defined by SS 18-2-67.10.
Sexual abuse is an act that is committed with the intention to sexually molester, arouse or satisfy any person.
a. The accused intentionally touches intimate parts of the complaining witness or materials directly covering these intimate parts.
b. The accused forces the complaining witnesses to touch intimate parts of the accused, the witness, or other persons, or materials directly covering intimate parts.
c. The accused caused or assisted the complaining witness in touching the intimate parts of the accused, the witness, or any other person, or the material directly covering these intimate parts.
The accused forces a third person to touch intimate parts of the witness or any material covering them.
Even though there was a large Democrat majority at the Virginia legislature, nine Democrat delegates abstained.
Todd Gilbert, Republican Minority leader, questioned the sponsor of HB 257, Del. Mike Mullin, a Democrat, was asked to clarify the bill’s wording. In an exchange that was shocking, Mullin revealed that school principals would not be required to report sexual assault to the police. Democrats cannot deny the intent of the law.
The reality of sexual abuse in Virginia schools
I was on the Virginia school board for 8 years. We reviewed appeals of disciplinary cases as school board members. I can confirm that sexual abuse in schools and battery is a greater threat than students bringing guns to school. I have reviewed many cases of sexual abuse and battery in schools even though discipline cases are a very small part of the total.
According to a report by the American University, more than 12,000 sexual assaults took place in Virginia schools between 2015 and 2019. Yet, legislators such as Jay Jones advocate the abolishment of school resource officers and soft crime policies which harm children.
For two years, thanks to Jones, children in the Commonwealth were not protected against sexual predators.
Jason Miyares, and Republicans Take A Stand
As a delegate for the Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, he voted againstHB 257. He has also demonstrated a track record in protecting children throughout Virginia. Miyares launched an investigation after a child in Loudoun County was sexually assaulted. The school district had failed to take action.
The grand jury determined the Loudoun County assailant was transferred to a different school in May 2021 after he sexually abused a victim in an school bathroom. At a June 2021 public-school-board meeting, the superintendent denied that there had been any sexual assaults committed in the bathrooms of the division. In September 2021 the same attacker harassed several students. He grabbed a female student by the shoulder and asked her if she had “posted nudes on the internet”. The grand jury commented that the incidents were egregious.
Despite a 12-page disciplinary report, an ankle monitor and being closely watched by Broad Run’s principal, as well as the fact that the highest administrators at LCPS were aware of the incident, and despite the suggestion from the court services unit for a more severe punishment, the individual only received a verbal admonition.
In October 2021, less than a week later, the attacker attacked again and sexually assaulted another student. He grabbed a female student from the hall, “nearly suffocated her and sexually assaulted” her. The attacker, who was 15 years old, was charged , and sentenced, to a residential treatment facility that is locked until he reaches 18.
HB 257 was supported by Jay Jones and would not require the principal to report any sexual assaults at the time. In 2022, thanks to the efforts of Republicans, moderate Democrats and Republicans, this law was repealed.
Schools may be considered dangerously persistent and lose accreditation. Principals and Superintendents are encouraged to keep quiet about discipline infractions at their schools, because they know that the Virginia Department of Education will publish the information. Schools cover up infractions instead of disciplining the students to create a false sense safety.
State legislators should hold schools responsible for lack of discipline, and impose consequences instead of removing reporting requirements or being lenient with abusers. Jay Jones is still a candidate for Virginia’s chief legal officer, despite his support of this bizarre bill. His softer on crime policies will not keep the Commonwealth safe.
