SD11 - Task Force Study of Drug Trafficking, Abuse and Related Crime

  • Published: 1991
  • Author: Virginia State Crime Commission
  • Enabling Authority: Senate Joint Resolution 144 (Regular Session, 1989)

Executive Summary:
Senate Joint Resolution 144, adopted by the 1989 General Assembly, directed the Virginia State Crime Commission to conduct a two-year study of drug trafficking, abuse and related crime, and propose recommendations for a drug control strategy for Virginia by December, 1990. Members of the 1989 General Assembly expressed the need for a comprehensive study of all aspects of the drug problem: law enforcement and criminal justice issues, corrections and treatment concerns and development of drug education and prevention programs. Additionally, the 1989 General Assembly indicated that better coordination of all related drug control efforts was required to promote an efficient and effective antidrug strategy.

SJR 144 called for the State Crime Commission to appoint a 21-member task force to conduct the two-year drug study. The thirteen members of the Crime Commission, four appointees from the General Assembly and four appointees from the criminal justice profession were brought together as the Drug Study Task Force in August, 1989, for an organizational meeting. The 21-member task force was divided into three subcommittees to tackle the major issues of the drug study: the Law Enforcement Subcommittee, chaired by House Speaker A. L. Philpott; the Corrections/Treatment Subcommittee, chaired by Delegate Robert B. Ball, Sr.; and the Education Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Howard P. Anderson.

The three subcommittees held a series of informational meetings and the full task force conducted public hearings in the fall of 1989 to lay the groundwork of activities for 1989-90 designed to meet the goals of the study. In December, 1989, the full Drug Study Task Force approved the reports and recommendations of the three subcommittees, and published its interim report for the Governor and 1990 General Assembly ("Interim Report of the Virginia State Crime Commission Task Force Study of Drug Trafficking, Abuse and Related Crime," Senate Document No. 30, 1990.) The interim report contained the fifteen findings, 48 recommendations and 65 activities proposed by the Task Force in 1989 that served as a road map for directing the work of the Task Force in 1990.

During 1990, the Drug Study Task Force and the Crime Commission staff worked with the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Office of the Attorney General, three Secretariats, at least 21 state agencies and several law enforcement, criminal justice, mental health and substance abuse treatment, medical educational, and parent associations to complete the activities as directed in the 1989 interim report. Activity reports and recommendations were presented to the three subcommittees during the summer of 1990, and formed the basis of the 1990 subcommittee reports and recommendations.

The Task Force met, in October and November, 1990, to hear public comments on the subcommittee reports and recommendations, and to receive and review proposed legislation. At the November, 1990 meeting, the 21 members approved the full Task Force report and voted on a slate of legislation for the 1991 General Assembly session. The Virginia State Crime Commission received the final Drug Study Task Force report in December, 1990, and approved it for publication and distribution to Governor L. Douglas Wilder and the 1991 General Assembly.