Crime costs the taxpayer of this country over fifty billion dollars annually, not to mention the indirect cost, injury and suffering of the people.

At the dawning of the last decade, the Commonwealth of Virginia, as did the rest of the Nation, became alarmed at the astounding increase of crime throughout the Nation and State.  The people of Virginia were perplexed and baffled as crimes of violence, disorder and disrespect for property became a way of life for many. The young seemed most willing to accept lawlessness as a means to accomplish any end. Law and order faced a severe challenge to its very existence. It became increasingly clear that the law enforcement agencies and the criminal law and procedures and methods of enforcement were outdated and insufficient.  Extensive study and re-evaluation was necessary to grapple with the area of crime control.

This alarm was manifested by action on the part of the 1966 Regular Session of the General Assembly by creating the Virginia State Crime Commission (House Joint Resolution 13) for the purpose of conducting a study of the general crime picture with emphasis in particular areas, reporting on the findings of such study and recommendations for implementation of the report. The 1968 Regular Session of the General Assembly continued the Virginia State Crime Commission (House Joint Resolution 48) as did the 1970 Regular Session of the General Assembly (House Bill 764).

The Commission has made several general and interim reports to the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia and has recommended legislation in several areas within the scope of its reports.

The 1970 Session of the General Assembly required the Commission to make inquiry into three specific areas in its continuation of its study of crime and crime control. The specifics were: (a) The need of creating a separate state department of government or the establishing within an existing department a bureau of drug abuse and narcotics; (b) The need for establishing a central crime laboratory in Virginia, the method of operation, the cost and whether or not the laboratory should be placed in a separate department of state government or placed in an existing department of state government; (c) The study of the existence and activities of organized crime in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Crime Commission is composed of eleven members currently serving. They are: Honorable Stanley C. Walker, Chairman; Senator William H. Hodges, Vice Chairman; Senator George S. Aldhizer, II; Honorable Claude W. Anderson; Senator James W. Davis; Honorable Arthur R. Giesen, Jr.; Honorable Flourney L. Largent, Jr.; Honorable William N. Paxton, Jr.; Honorable A. L. Philpott; Honorable Joe Richman; Honorable Erwin S. Soloman.

The Commission was given staff assistance by the Division of Statutory Research and Drafting, particularly in the person of John A. Banks, Jr. Harold E. Seyller served as Director of the Commission's Task Force investigating organized crime. Melvin R. Manning was legal counsel for the Commission. Much cooperation and assistance were given to the Commission by the Attorney General, the Honorable Andrew P. Miller, and his assistants and the Division of Justice and Crime Prevention, Richard Harris, Director.

In its interim report to the Governor and the General Assembly of January 11, 1971, the Commission reported that it found no need for the creation of a separate state department of bureau of drug and narcotics. The Commission recommended that the Department of State Police be given state-wide responsibility for the enforcement of laws relating to narcotics and drug abuse, the coordination of narcotic and drug investigation activity between the various political subdivisions of the State, and assisting law enforcement agencies of all political subdivisions in the enforcement of drug laws when requested to do so by such agencies. In an effort to accomplish the foregoing, the Commission recommended that $896,000.00 be appropriated to the Department of State Police for the 1971 fiscal year in order that an additional 48 trooper and 12 investigator positions could be created and filled. The appropriation as recommended by the Commission was enacted by the 1971 Special Session of the General Assembly in House Bill 113. In its interim report the Crime Commission recommended that the Governor's Council on Narcotics and Drug Abuse Control be responsible for all drug educational and rehabilitation programs throughout the State. The recommendation was accepted by the General Assembly in the 1971 Special Session by its enacting Senate Joint Resolution No. 26. The Commission recommended that more effective coordination be established between educational institutions and law enforcement agencies of political subdivisions where such institutions are located.

The Commission recommended that there be established a Commission to study specifically the law enforcement aspects of the present narcotic and drug laws of the State. The General Assembly in the 1971 Special Session established such Commission by the enactment of House Joint Resolution 16.

Finally, in its 1971 interim report, the Virginia State Crime Commission recommended that the State Board of Education require every elementary and secondary school in the Commonwealth to institute educational programs on the dangers of narcotic and drug abuse. The 1971 Special Session of the General Assembly adopted this recommendation of the Crime Commission by the enactment of House Joint Resolution 15.

The Crime Laboratory Subcommittee of the Virginia State Crime Commission submitted its report to the full Commission in March of 1971. The Task Force on Organized Crime will present its report to the full Commission by the 15th of December, 1971.

It is the position of the Crime Commission that many areas, some of which have been reported on previously, need further study in order to keep the Commonwealth of Virginia abreast of the most recent developments in the areas of crime and crime control, including the rehabilitation of offenders. The obvious base for such study will be the continuation of the Virginia Crime Commission. Its primary purpose will be to investigate and recommend to the General Assembly in the aforementioned areas. This can only be accomplished by an adequately staffed Commission under the direct control of the General Assembly.