SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2001 SESSION

  • | print version

HJ 508 Study; death penalty.

Introduced by: Robert G. Marshall | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Death penalty. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the need for a moratorium on death sentence executions in the Commonwealth. In conducting the study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) determine whether there should be a moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty in Virginia; (ii) ascertain the circumstances under which any innocent Virginia defendants have been sentenced to death; (iii) determine the procedures that should be established regarding post-conviction access to forensic evidence, including DNA testing when such testing could result in new evidence of innocence; (iv) examine whether there is any racial, economic, class or other disparity in charging, prosecuting and imposing the death sentence; (v) determine the extent and cause of any disproportionalities found in charging, prosecuting and imposing the death sentence; (vi) consider the circumstances regarding the sentencing to life imprisonment versus the death sentence for those convicted of murder; (vii) evaluate the adequacy of capital representation and any criteria for the qualification of counsel, particularly counsel appointed for low-income defendants; (viii) determine the incidences of escape from Virginia's death row and whether other persons, including civilians, guards or inmates, were harmed during the duration of such escapes; (ix) evaluate the behavior of inmates sentenced to life imprisonment for murder; and (x) consider any other issues relating to the fair and impartial administration of the death penalty.


FULL TEXT

HISTORY