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The LIGHTNER is entitled to his "opinion", retort, besides endorsing extra-judicialism, is lazy thinking and presents us with the fulcrum of the inherent corrupt-value of systems, i.e. Social Contract. Because it hinges on and beseeches an equilibrium of human behavior, as we have given it the attribution, PROFESSIONALISM, apart from the socio-person norm, indicates that anticipatory something more than "opinion". What I mean is this, the only reason and basis of the interaction, between Mr. Adkins and Lightner, is law and its anticipated professionalism imbued in Lightner. The Law of Virginia's Parole Process, provided Mr. Lightner, with the "authority" to "restrain" Mr. Adkins, by subjecting him to a parole interview. By exercising the interview and examination authority of Virginia's parole process, Lightner was declaring that not only was he performing a State function, but he understood the very instinct and intention of the Commonwealth in establishing a Parole process. What this requires is a comprehensive grasp of, not the mere mechanics of it's existence, but the function of parole within Virginia's Justice Infrastructure and this fundamentally demands that "professional" cognition of, not a speculative or theoretical grasp of DUE PROCESS OF LAW, but its Applied and Practical objectivity and this is where, what Adkins claims, [which was undisputed and unrefuted], LIGHTNER provided the Virginia Parole Board, that his "release would diminish such serious nature" [again of whatever Adkins was imprisoned for], destroys and betrays whatever logic the Commonwealth pursues in having laws. So let's understand what LIGHTNER is actually doing, which if the People of the Commonwealth are to demand an accountability-function of governance, that is distinct from the restraints of the political artificialness and whimsies of jurisprudence, that at times forgets it is subject, LIGHTNER'S actions must be seen as. Let's begin with the most basic, which is the pivotal apex and apogee of Virginia's Justice Infrastructure weighed the "nature" of Adkins interaction with it and accorded him eligibility of the parole process, which lest we forget, exist for one and only one purpose, that of releasing the imprisoned. Virginia's imprisonment scheme doesn't defer to a later on down the road of imprisonment and the parole process, that an ad hoc speculative imposition assumes a supremacy of authority and "POWERS", that exist no where in all the variegated forms and expressions of LAW, from its theological-intercessionist, to the secular pardon and commutative of a Sovereign or Executive, the privilege of second guessing what a mature Commonwealth of Virginia Jury has "done", which is what LIGHTNER'S actions as exposed by ADKINS speaks to. The LIGHTNER'S of the World have a selective and presumptive grasp of criminality and deviance, that is nothing short of a blind spot in what we can only suppose are indicative of reflexive finger pointing. But Rousseau's critique of the tyranny of the individual, is well understood for the due process of law, to ignore. The Commonwealth of Virginia is gravely harmed, when law violations at it's most basic, above-the-lawism, are knowingly allowed to exist, because it undermines the faith and trust of THE PEOPLE. Just as what a blight spot of fungus reveals, the demographic percentage being subjected to the above-the-lawism of Virginia's Parole process reveals to the greater society that irrespective of size the entire body politic is at risk.(2) Secondly the cases of MOSCHETTI v. OFF. OF INSPECTOR GEN. 2022 U.S. DIST. LEXIS 144143, MOSCHETTI v. NIXON PEABODY LLP 2024 U.S. DIST.LEXIS 95757, MOSCHETTI v. OFF. OF INSPECTOR GEN.758 F.SUPP. 3d. 533. MOSCHETTI also speaks to the above-the-lawism sabotaging the faith and trust of the People.
1. Virginia Parole Grant Rate
This is the single most important statistic because it directly tests the article's underlying claim.
Recent public commentary citing Virginia Parole Board records states that in 2025 the Board considered 2,609 inmates and granted parole to 32, producing a grant rate of approximately 1.2%. [cardinalnews.org]
That statistic allows you to ask:
If parole exists to provide meaningful release opportunities, what does a 1.2% approval rate tell us about the system's actual function?
The article becomes much stronger when readers can see the scale of denial rather than merely hear about it.
2. Number of Parole-Eligible Prisoners
Virginia abolished discretionary parole for most offenses committed after 1995, but a population of parole-eligible prisoners remains. [vadoc.virginia.gov], [virginia.gov]
A useful chart would show:
- Total parole-eligible population
- Number considered annually
- Number granted
- Number denied
- Number deferred
This would reveal whether the system is functioning as a review mechanism or merely as a procedural checkpoint.
3. Reasons for Denial
This may be the most powerful evidence for Thorpe's thesis.
Using the monthly Board reports available publicly, a VAPAC researcher could code:
- Serious nature of offense
- Release diminishes seriousness of crime
- Public safety risk
- Institutional conduct
- Lack of rehabilitation evidence
- Victim opposition
The question is:
How often does the Board rely on offense-based reasons versus rehabilitation-based reasons?
If offense severity dominates decades after sentencing, that would directly support the article's critique. [vpb.virginia.gov], [law.lis.virginia.gov]
4. Time Already Served
Another strong metric:
For each granted and denied case:
- Sentence imposed
- Time actually served
- Age at review
- Number of prior reviews
Readers respond strongly to:
"Prisoner served 35 years and was denied based on offense seriousness."
The longer the served time, the more forceful the policy question becomes.
5. Recidivism Among Released Parolees
This is critical because opponents will argue public safety.
Virginia itself tracks:
"The percentage of inmates released in a year who are convicted of a new offense within three years of release." [reports.dp...rginia.gov]
If recidivism among elderly parolees or long-term prisoners is low, that becomes direct evidence against perpetual denial based on speculative future risk.
The Most Effective "Data Box" For This Specific Article
The Numbers Behind Virginia Parole
- 2,609 parole cases considered in 2025. [cardinalnews.org]
- 32 grants issued in 2025. [cardinalnews.org]
- Approximate grant rate: 1.2%. [cardinalnews.org]
- Virginia abolished parole for most post-1995 offenses, leaving only a limited parole-eligible population. [vadoc.virginia.gov]
- Virginia law requires consideration of rehabilitation, maturation, educational progress, prosocial behavior, and community support in parole decisions. [law.lis.virginia.gov]
The Question
If rehabilitation, maturity, education, and community support are statutory considerations, why are so few parole-eligible prisoners released?
By William Thorpe
William Thorpe Virginia exiled me to the Texas prison system. I'm solitary confined at the Wainwright Unit and if you feel any kinda way about this work contact me by Securus email using the Texas prison number #2261982 .




