Glenn Youngkin

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order creating a new initiative to reduce recidivism rates across the state. The Stand Tall – Stay Strong – Succeed Together (Stand Tall Initiative) is designed to provide support and resources for successful reintegration into society.

The initiative builds on the work of the Governor’s Reintegration Task Force, established in April 2023, which has resulted in over 3,000 additional returning Virginians gaining employment and over 7,000 more gaining health insurance.

The Stand Tall initiative aims to contribute to successful reintegration by assisting with job searches, benefit applications, reintegration programming, parenting, and public safety efforts.

“Our approach is proactive, we measure the achievement of key success metrics and strategically deploy state resources through interagency partnerships,” Youngkin said. “We want more testimonies of hope in Virginia and that is exactly what the Stand Tall Initiative is all about.”

Each year in Virginia, approximately 10,000 adults and juveniles are released from prison and placed on probation. 50,000 released citizens are supervised by the Virginia Department of Corrections at any one time and remain on probation for an average of three years, but one in two released citizens is rearrested and convicted of a crime within three years of release. More than half of Virginia’s prison population was previously incarcerated. ​

“Employment is more than just a second chance for returning citizens – it is a cornerstone of public safety and community well-being,” said Attorney General Jason Miyares. “We must continue to improve the reintegration process because effective reintegration is not just a matter of reparations – it is critical to keeping Virginia safe and strong.”