VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

• Code of Virginia
• Virginia Administrative Code
• Constitution of Virginia
• Charters
• Authorities
• Compacts
• Uncodified Acts
• RIS Users (account required)

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

• Bills & Resolutions
  session legislation
• Bill Summaries
  session summaries
• Reports to the General Assembly
  House and Senate documents
• Legislative Liaisons
  State agency contacts

ACROSS SESSIONS

• Subject Index: Since 1995
• Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
• Summaries: Since 1994

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1997 SESSION

• history | hilite | pdf | print version

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 443 Directing the Virginia State Crime Commission to study methods for providing substance abuse treatment services to offenders in the criminal justice system.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 30, 1997 Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 1997

WHEREAS, arrests related to alcohol and other drug use increased by 126 percent during the last decade; and

WHEREAS, more than half the inmates in local jails report being under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of their offense; and

WHEREAS, over one-third of the prison beds in Virginia are occupied by drug offenders; and

WHEREAS, treatment of offenders with substance abuse problems has been shown to be effective in reducing criminal activity; and

WHEREAS, several state agencies expend funds to provide substance abuse treatment to offenders; and

WHEREAS, the current funding for substance abuse treatment and education for offenders is inadequate to meet the demand; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia State Crime Commission be directed to study methods for providing substance abuse treatment services to offenders in the criminal justice system. The Commission shall study the various agencies and programs that provide treatment services to drug offenders, review current and new funding mechanisms for such programs including those in other states, and recommend cost-effective methods for providing community-based treatment to individuals involved in the criminal justice system.

The Crime Commission shall seek assistance from the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services; the Department of Criminal Justice Services; the Department of Corrections; the Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program; the Senate Committee on Finance; and the House Appropriations Committee.

The Virginia State Crime Commission shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1998 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.