HD18 - Sentencing and Parole Reform


Executive Summary:
House Joint Resolution 249, adopted by the 1994 General Assembly, continued the Commission on Sentencing and Parole Reform, a legislative study commission initially created by the General Assembly in 1993. The Commission's work in 1994 was carried out through the efforts of its two subcommittees.

On September 12, 1994, the full Commission met and adopted the reports and recommendations of the two subcommittees. On September 19, 1994 the General Assembly convened in Special Session to consider issues related to criminal sentencing and parole. The work of both the Commission on Sentencing and Parole Reform (HJR 249) and the Governor's Commission on Parole Abolition and Sentencing Reform provided the basis for actions taken during the September Special Session.

This report contains the recommendations of the Commission on Sentencing and Parole Reform (HJR 249) as well as a detailed summary of the actions taken by the 1994 Special Session II in response to the recommendations of the two Commissions which examined sentencing and parole issues.

The report is composed of three sections: a post session wrap up which summarizes the Commission's work, the final reports of the Commission's subcommittees, and a detailed description of the legislation approved in Special Session II. A list of appointments to the new Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission is provided in the appendix.