RICHMOND, Va. — Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that he issued Executive Order 36 to improve reentry success and prevent recidivism.
Executive Order 36 established the Stand Tall – Stay Strong – Succeed Together Initiative which helps thousands of Virginians on probation successfully reenter into society following incarceration.
"Every single returning Virginian has the opportunity to be a testimonial of hope or a recidivism statistic. Today, I unveiled the Stand Tall – Stay Strong – Succeed Together Initiative, a comprehensive effort to help those Virginians succeed. The Stand Tall Initiative Executive Order formalizes the work we have been doing since April of last year, leading to over 3,000 more returning Virginians having gained employment and over 7,000 more having gained health insurance. Our approach is proactive, measuring the achievement of key metrics for success and strategically using state resources through cross-agency partnerships. We want more testimonials of hope in Virginia and that’s what the Stand Tall Initiative is all about,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Finding employment is a huge problem for many ex-prisoners. The initiative addresses employment, benefits enrollment, reentry programming, parenthood and public safety efforts.
"Employment for returning citizens is more than just a second chance—it's a cornerstone of public safety and community well-being," said Attorney General Jason Miyares. "We must continue to improve the re-entry process, because effective re-entry is not just a matter of redemption—it's essential in keeping Virginia safe and strong."
About one in three of the 10,000 adults and juveniles released from incarceration in Virginia each year are rearrested and reconvicted within three years of their release. This initiative aims to prevent that by helping Virginians on probation successfully rebuild their lives.
“One could sum up our administration’s commitment to prisoner re-entry as our belief that people deserve a chance to rebuild their life,” said Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earl-Sears. “So, we are restoring hope, reuniting families, and changing people’s destiny for the better.”
