RD315 - Virginia State Crime Commission 2023 Annual Report
Executive Summary: *This report was replaced in its entirety by the Virginia State Crime Commission on August 14, 2024. During 2023, the Crime Commission conducted comprehensive studies on intentional homicides and on motor vehicle, pedestrian, and bicyclist traffic crash fatalities. The Crime Commission also continued work on the sealing and expungement of criminal history records. Additionally, Crime Commission staff consulted with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) on the Demand Reduction and Safe Harbor for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficked Youth pilot program. Furthermore, staff participated as a member of the Virginia Pretrial Advancement Team, which was formed as part of the DCJS’ pilot of the Public Safety Assessment (PSA). Finally, the Crime Commission began receiving reports from DCJS on the Safer Communities and Gun Violence Intervention Programs. The intentional homicide study focused on a variety of matters relating to the nature and circumstances of intentional homicides that occurred in Virginia between 2017 and 2022, including the demographics and relationships of victims and offenders, the dispositions of intentional homicide charges, and prior in-state criminal history records of individuals convicted of intentional homicide. As part of the study, staff manually reviewed the in-state criminal history records of 930 individuals who were convicted of intentional homicide during this time period and linked their information to a number of other data sources to determine whether such individuals had any active matters in the court system at the time when the homicide was committed. Similarly, the motor vehicle, pedestrian, and bicyclist fatalities study focused on such traffic crash fatalities that occurred in Virginia between 2017 and 2022. This study included an examination of Virginia motor vehicle traffic crash data, Virginia charge and conviction data, roadway safety laws in Virginia and other states, and measures to promote roadway safety. The Crime Commission met on November 21st and heard staff presentations on i) intentional homicide, ii) motor vehicle, pedestrian, and bicyclist traffic crash fatalities; and, iii) the sealing and expungement of criminal records. Members also heard from several guest presenters, including Thomas Abt (General Principles for Curbing Violent Crime), Chief Rick Edwards (Gun Violence), Dr. Bryan E. Porter and Dr. Nic Ward (How did COVID impact traffic safety?), and Stephen Read (Pedestrian Safety Factors & Actions). Finally, various budget measures were adopted during the 2024 Regular Session and Special Session I of the General Assembly which related to Crime Commission studies, including: • Recommendations from the 2022 DUI study to require that as of January 1, 2025, (i) all DUI blood samples submitted to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science (DFS) that did not receive drug testing be anonymized, screened for the presence of drugs within a drug class, and reported by judicial district to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, and (ii) DFS provide for the analysis of both alcohol and drugs in all blood samples of drivers killed in motor vehicle and commercial motor vehicle accidents as submitted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner;)(*1) • Language that explicitly grants the Crime Commission access to state and local agency records and facilities for the purpose of carrying out its studies, as well as to court case data for all adults and juveniles charged with a criminal offense, civil offense, or traffic violation;(*2) and, • Funding of $600,000 over two years for the administration of the Demand Reduction and Safe Harbor for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficked Youth pilot program.(*3) The Executive Director of the Crime Commission serves as the designee for the Chair of the Crime Commission on the Forensic Science Board, Indigent Defense Commission, and the Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence. Additional information about the Crime Commission is available on the agency website at http://vscc.virginia.gov. |
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