Protecting Virginians: Attorney General Jones Visits Roanoke, New River Valley, and Martinsville

Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of the Attorney General

For media inquiries only, contact:  
Jessica Mardian
JMardian@oag.state.va.us

Protecting Virginians: Attorney General Jones Visits Roanoke, New River Valley, and Martinsville 

Hosts public safety roundtable, discusses healthcare at area hospitals, tours cultural institutions, and engages with community 

RICHMOND, Va. – Attorney General Jones made stops across the Commonwealth, listening to communities about public health and safety challenges, fostering collaboration between partners, and sharing how his office is fighting to better the Commonwealth for all.  

August 10: Attorney General Jones Visits Roanoke, Pearisburg, and Christiansburg 

On Monday, August 10, Attorney General Jones made several stops in Roanoke, Pearisburg, and Christiansburg. These visits highlighted public safety efforts in a roundtable discussion with area leaders and tour of a local hospital-based violence intervention program, rural healthcare access at a community hospital, and the preservation and education around African American history and culture in Southwest Virginia.   

Public Safety Roundtable in Roanoke 

Attorney General Jones hosted area law enforcement, city and state officials, and community-based organizations for a discussion on challenges facing the region, early intervention strategies, and opportunities for collaboration with the Office. 

WDBJ7: Virginia Attorney General holds public safety roundtable in Roanoke

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones met Monday with local law enforcement and community leaders in Roanoke to discuss the city’s progress on reducing gun violence and the need for expanded mental health and substance abuse treatment funding.

Roanoke recorded 31 shooting deaths in 2023, its most violent year on record. That number dropped to 10 in 2024 and nine last year. Eight people have been killed so far this year. Overall violent crime remains down compared to last year.

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Jones said the community commitment on display at the roundtable was encouraging and that elements of Roanoke’s approach could be applied elsewhere.

“What works here in Roanoke may not work elsewhere, but there are pieces of this puzzle that we can take and maybe scale in other communities that are experiencing issues with gun violence as well,” Jones said.

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Jones said mental health and substance abuse issues are a primary driver of violent crime statewide and that his office will continue to push the General Assembly for increased funding.

“We hear about substance abuse and mental health abuse constantly. I think it is a huge driver of violent crime here in this Commonwealth. And so, if we can find some solutions to help alleviate those issues that people are facing in their communities, that’s going to have some real results on the back end,” Jones said.

Jones said his office provides grant funding to programs across the state and that advocating for localities with state legislators is a core part of his role.

“Part of my job is being an advocate for these localities, for programs that work, with our legislators in Richmond who are crafting the budget each and every year,” Jones said. “I do applaud the folks who are here on the ground who are doing everything they can to get every single dollar in so that they can put it right back into their communities and see results.”

WSET: AG Jay Jones meets Roanoke public safety officials, addresses violent crime decrease

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones met with Roanoke-area public safety officials Monday to discuss efforts to prevent crime and reduce gun violence, praising the city's approach of building stronger partnerships with the community.

According to the Roanoke Police Department, violent crime is down 13% since January, while homicides are down 40% compared with 2025.

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"I want to make sure that every law enforcement officer has the tools in their toolkit to do their job. This is also a community-based issue. So what you're seeing is active community members who are voicing their concerns, and I hope that the local folks are listening, I hope the state folks are listening, but my job is to enforce the law and use every tool in my toolbox, and I will do that, and I know local law enforcement will do that," Jones said. 

The Roanoke Times: Why Virginia’s attorney general visited Roanoke and praised police 

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones made stops in the Roanoke and New River valleys Monday as part of his statewide listening tour on issues of crime and public safety.

During a discussion with law enforcement agencies, providers of substance abuse and mental health treatment, government officials, educators and community groups, Jones said he was interested in hearing how his office can support what’s happening on the ground.

“You all are the experts,” he told a panel of 12 that participated in the roundtable discussion. “You guys are the ones doing this every single day. My office just wants to be there to provide the resources and a place for collaboration and partnership.”

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Jones praised the way volunteers, professionals and police are all working together and sharing information with each other.

“Here, the right hand knows what the left hand is doing,” the attorney general said. “That is not happening everywhere,” he said of his visits to other localities as part of a two-week listening tour across the state.

“What works here in Roanoke may not work elsewhere,” he said, “but there are pieces of the puzzle that we can take and share with other communities that are experiencing issues of gun violence as well.”

After the public safety roundtable, Jones toured the violent injury recovery and support program at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and then visited Carilion’s community hospital in Giles County.

He ended the day with a stop at the Christiansburg Institute, which served as the primary educator of the New River Valley's Black residents until desegregation took effect in the 1960s.

WFIR News: AG Jones makes stop in Roanoke for a discussion on public safety, reducing gun violence

Virginia attorney general Jay Jones was in Roanoke today, holding a “Public Safety Roundtable,” with local law enforcement agencies, Roanoke City officials and private organizations, with a focus on reducing gun violence and intervention programs that help young people avoid that path forward – and incarceration.  Jones also visited Carilion Clinic’s Violent Injury recovery and support program, to learn how the hospital-based staff helps survivors of gun violence, stabbings and assault regain their health. He heard about a number of different approaches to gun and gang violence intervention in Roanoke.

Tour of Carilion Clinic’s Violent Injury - Recovery & Support Program

Attorney General Jones visited Carilion Clinic’s Violent Injury – Recovery & Support Program in Roanoke to meet with staff and learn how the hospital-based program helps survivors of gun violence, stabbings, and assaults recover. He discussed how the Office of the Attorney General can support violence-prevention efforts, strengthen community partnerships, and help break the cycle of violence.

Meets with Healthcare Leaders at Carilion Giles Community Hospital

Attorney General Jones met with healthcare professionals at Carilion Giles Community Hospital to hear about the challenges rural communities face in accessing care. Conversation covered how the Office of the Attorney General can support patients and providers across the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia as Medicaid cuts in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act put rural hospitals under even greater financial pressure.  

Tours Christiansburg Institute  

Attorney General Jones toured the Christiansburg Institute, a grassroots cultural heritage non-profit with a mission of inspiring community education, intergenerational empowerment, and the responsible stewardship of African American history, stories, and culture in Southwest Virginia. The institute was founded in 1866 to educate freed slaves and later served as the first high school for Black students in Montgomery County, drawing students from about 15 Southwest Virginia counties.

August 11: Attorney General Jones Visits Floyd and Martinsville 

On Tuesday, August 11, Attorney General Jones visited Floyd and Martinsville. These stops focused on local businesses in Floyd and public safety initiatives with the Martinsville Police Department.  

Tours Town of Floyd 

Attorney General Jones toured the Town of Floyd, visiting local small businesses and meeting with town leaders.  

Meets with Martinsville Police Department 

Attorney General Jones met with leaders from the Martinsville Police Department, toured the facility, and took a driving tour of the city which included the Piedmont Regional Criminal Justice Training Academy and Martinsville Speedway.   

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