HD43 - Interim Report: Study on Commonwealth's Attorneys


Executive Summary:
During the 2004 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, Delegate Robert F. McDonnell introduced House Joint Resolution 225 (HJR 225), which directed the Crime Commission to study the operations of all Commonwealth’s Attorneys offices. Specifically, the two year study was to:

• Examine the quality of prosecutorial representation;
• Assess the efficiency by which prosecutorial services are provided;
• Determine the impact of existing workloads;
• Identify any disparity in workload per attorney;
• Examine training and technical support services provided;
• Review opportunities for continuing legal education;
• Assess the ability to hire and retain qualified prosecutors;
• Determine reasonable caseload per attorney;
• Determine the appropriate role of localities in providing support for Commonwealth’s Attorneys;
• Identify disparity among offices in the ability to provide quality prosecutorial representation to each locality; and,
• Examine considerations that would, if implemented, reduce pre-trial delay and thus minimize the costs of pretrial incarceration.

The Crime Commission must report its written findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2006 Session of the General Assembly. As this is the interim report, no recommendations have been made at this time.

[See final report: HD38 (2006)]