Virginia governor signs criminal justice and police reforms

RICHMOND, VA - JANUARY 08: Gov. Ralph Northam delivers the State of the Commonwealth address at the Virginia State Capitol on January 8, 2020 in Richmond, Virginia. The 2020 legislative session began today under Democratic control. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Zach Gibson)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Ralph Northam has signed more than a dozen criminal justice and police reform laws.

The bills signed Wednesday by Northam include a ban on no-knock search warrants, limitations on the use of neck restraints and changes that make it easier to decertify police officers for misconduct.

The legislation was approved by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly during a special legislative session called after nationwide protests over police brutality and racial inequality that followed the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minnesota.

Other bills signed by Northam allow inmates to earn increased sentencing credits and some terminally ill inmates to petition the Parole Board for conditional release.

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