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2012 SESSION

12103101D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 194
Offered January 17, 2012
Celebrating the life of Richard Paul Kern.
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Patron-- McClellan
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WHEREAS, Richard Paul Kern, a devoted public servant who profoundly influenced the Commonwealth’s criminal justice system as Director of the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, died on December 13, 2011; and

WHEREAS, a graduate of Kings College, Richard Kern received a master’s degree and doctorate in criminology from Florida State University; and

WHEREAS, a brilliant scholar, Dr. Kern served as director of the Virginia Criminal Justice Research Center at the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, ensuring quality research for all three branches of state government; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kern also served as research director for the Governor’s Commission on Parole Abolition and Sentence Reform and the Governor’s Commission on Violent Crime; and

WHEREAS, in 1994 Dr. Kern became Director of the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, overseeing the Commonwealth’s criminal sentencing guidelines system and leading the implementation of truth-in-sentencing reforms in the 1990s; and

WHEREAS, a leader in his field, Dr. Kern did research on sentencing and time-served patterns, developed computer simulation programs, created truth-in-sentencing voluntary guidelines, and assisted with the development of ways to address repeat nonviolent offenders; and  

WHEREAS, a nationally recognized expert in recidivism and risk assessment, Dr. Kern was called upon for his insight by the United States Department of Justice and colleagues across the nation; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kern served as president of the Justice Research and Statistics Association and as an advisory board member on the Center on Sentencing and Corrections of the Vera Institute of Justice; and

WHEREAS, in addition to many professional accomplishments, Dr. Kern took an active role in community affairs, volunteering his time and energy to help his fellow residents, neighbors, and friends; and

WHEREAS, an exemplary public servant, Dr. Kern helped put Virginia at the forefront of research regarding criminal sentencing and made the Commonwealth a safer place for its residents; and

WHEREAS, Richard Kern will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Denise; children, Jillian, Jessica, and Justin; and numerous other family members, friends, and admirers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a dedicated public servant, Richard Paul Kern; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Richard Paul Kern as an expression of the General Assembly’s abiding respect for his memory.