Representation having been made to the General Assembly of 1978 of the successful use of the grand jury on a statewide basis in other states, particularly in the investigation of organized crime and political corruption, House Joint Resolution No. 57 was adopted on March 11, 1978.

Pursuant to the directive of the resolution, the Chairman of the Committee for Courts of Justice of the House of Delegates, Delegate George E. Allen, Jr., of Richmond, appointed Delegates C. Hardaway Marks, Hopewell, Theodore V. Morrison, Jr., Newport News, and A. L. Philpott, Henry. Senator William F. Parkerson, Jr., Henrico, Chairman of the Committee for Courts of Justice of the Senate, appointed himself, and Senators Frederick T. Gray, Chesterfield and J. Harry Michael, Jr., Charlottesville. The Speaker of the House of Delegates appointed Commonwealth's Attorneys Aubrey M. Davis, Jr., Esquire, Richmond, J. Patrick Graybeal, Esquire, Montgomery, and Gammiel G. Poindexter, Esquire, Surrey. The Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections appointed Robert F. Horan, Esquire, of Fairfax.

The Commission; at its organizational meeting, elected Delegate Philpott as its Chairman, and Senator Michael as Vice-Chairman.

Public hearings were held in Richmond and Virginia Beach, at which experts on the subject from other states, a number of Virginia's Commonwealth Attorneys, police officials and members of the public were heard. The Commission has explored the subjects assigned to it, and now makes its report.

The Commission is indebted to the staff of the Crime Commission, in assisting it in organizing some of the meetings; to John Morris, Esquire, Assistant State Attorney from the State of Florida, captain Rex F. Hoskins, Virginia State Police Criminal Intelligence Unit, James A. Cales, Jr., Esquire, Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Portsmouth, Joseph H. Campbell, Esquire, Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Norfolk, William H. Fuller, III, Esquire, Commonwealth's Attorney for Danville, and Andre Evans, Esquire, Commonwealth's Attorney for Virginia Beach.