NCJ Number
69243
Date Published
1977
Length
530 pages
Annotation
GOALS AND PRIORITIES FOR VIRGINIA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE SET FORTH IN THIS TASK FORCE REPORT.
Abstract
THE VIRGINIA TASK FORCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WAS FORMED IN 1975 TO CONTINUE ON THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL MUCH OF THE WORK PERFORMED ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL BY THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS AND THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION. THE TASK FORCE ANALYZED THE NATIONAL STANDARDS FROM A VIRGINIA PERSPECTIVE AND ADOPTED ONLY THOSE GOALS WHICH WERE APPROPRIATE FOR THE STATE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE REPORT IS PRESENTED IN THREE MAJOR SECTIONS FOCUSING ON COURT, POLICE, AND CORRECTIONS GOALS. SINCE THE STATE COURTS WERE FOUND TO BE FUNCTIONING WELL, ONLY MINOR IMPROVEMENTS WERE SUGGESTED. GOALS WITH THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES WERE IN THE AREAS OF JUDICIAL SELECTION, PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY, SUMMONS IN LIEU OF ARREST, SENTENCING INSTITUTES, AND DIVERSION. FOR THE POLICE, GOALS RECEIVING THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES WERE IN THE AREAS OF THE POLICE SALARIES, THE SELECTION PROCESS, GENERAL POLICE RECRUITING, COURT-SUPERVISED ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE, CRIME PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, AND CRIME PREVENTION. FINALLY, GOALS FOR CORRECTIONS WERE IN THE AREAS OF TOTAL SYSTEM PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES TO CONFINEMENT, ESTABLISHING SENTENCING POLICY, PROFESSIONAL CORRECTIONAL MANAGEMENT, EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION. A GLOSSARY AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.