SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1996 SESSION

961509717
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 99
Offered January 22, 1996
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study restorative justice.
----------

Patrons-- Miller, Y.B., Couric, Edwards, Howell, Lambert, Lucas, Marsh, Maxwell, Ticer and Whipple; Delegates: Christian, Crittenden, Cunningham, Jones, J.C., McEachin, Melvin, Moore, Robinson and Spruill
----------
Referred to the Committee on Rules
----------

WHEREAS, society's response to crime must include the victim, society, and the community in order to create meaningful public accountability on the part of offenders; and

WHEREAS, "restorative justice" is a concept for nonviolent offenders in which physical constraint of the offender is set at an appropriate level to ensure public safety, the offender is held accountable, and victims and the community become the center of the criminal justice process in terms of restitution; and

WHEREAS, a system of restorative justice would involve putting nonviolent offenders to work in the community with suitable supervision, allowing them to pay back both the victims and the general public; and

WHEREAS, in light of the ever-escalating costs of new prison construction, a number of states, including Minnesota, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, are exploring the limits of a system of restorative justice for both juvenile and adult offenders; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That there be established a joint subcommittee to study restorative justice in Virginia for nonviolent offenders. The joint subcommittee shall consist of five members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, and seven members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 12,600.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1997 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for processing legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.