GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 2042.  This legislation creates a 60-day mandatory minimum term of confinement for any person who commits an offense against a family or household member and has been convicted of another offense against a family or household member within the last 10 years.

We rely on our judges and juries to make sound sentencing decisions based on the circumstances of each individual case.  In making these decisions, judges and juries consider a number of factors before determining a sentence, and their sentence decisions are the result of intense deliberation.  Imposing mandatory minimum sentences eliminates this discretion and ties the hands of the individuals we have entrusted to make these important decisions.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.

GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION

That the amendment in the nature of a substitute (19107809D) be accepted.