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2000 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 124
Directing the Virginia State Crime Commission to continue its study of law-enforcement efforts generally.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 11, 2000
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 8, 2000

WHEREAS, law-enforcement efforts are being transformed by technological innovations that are dramatically changing the way that the criminal justice information is collected, stored, and shared, and the means by which patterns of criminal activity are detected, electronically displayed, and analyzed; and

WHEREAS, such technological innovations are a double-edged sword, both expanding the resources available to law-enforcement officials in their fight against crime, and spawning an equal expansion in the nature of crime; and

WHEREAS, crime prevention and detection, as well as the apprehension of criminals, remains an important public safety objective of the Commonwealth's state and local law-enforcement officials; and

WHEREAS, organized criminal enterprises are increasingly sophisticated in their operations, requiring targeted and coordinated law-enforcement efforts to stem all manners of criminal activity generally, and the flow of illicit drugs into and within the Commonwealth, the laundering of proceeds derived from these illegal activities, and the proliferation of prostitution, specifically; and

WHEREAS, despite headlines about falling crime rates, in 1998 there was still one serious crime (e.g., murder/non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, auto theft) reported for every 28 Virginia citizens, and one violent crime (e.g., murder/non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault) reported for every 310 Virginia citizens; and

WHEREAS, in 1998 the actual number of drug arrests in the Commonwealth was more than three times the number of arrests for all violent offenses, and prosecutions for prostitution (a criminal act that has migrated from large urban and commercial areas of the Commonwealth and recently found its way into the Commonwealth's residential districts) are increasing, continually congesting an already overwhelmed court system and jail population in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, illicit drugs remain readily available, and prostitution continues to be widespread, infecting the Commonwealth's communities, draining community resources, endangering neighborhoods and businesses alike, and devastating families; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Virginia State Crime Commission be requested to continue its study of law-enforcement efforts generally, and drug law enforcement, drug interdiction, and prostitution specifically. The Commission shall investigate (i) the efficacy and current status of criminal justice integrated information networks nationally, in other states, and in the Commonwealth; (ii) the related applicability of geographical information systems; (iii) the potential of criminal justice integrated information networks and geographical information systems to allow for detection and prediction of criminal activity, thereby aiding law-enforcement agencies; (iv) the most effective design, management, and use of all existing multi-jurisdictional task forces; and (v) the extent to which increased communication, cooperation and coordination between state and local law-enforcement agencies can maximize the effectiveness and efficiencies of the Commonwealth's law-enforcement efforts. The Commission shall make recommendations as appropriate.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission for this study, upon request.

The Commission shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2002 Session of the General Assembly of Virginia as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.