NCJ Number
146853
Date Published
1994
Length
76 pages
Annotation
The Governor's Commission on Violent Crime in Virginia presents its final report.
Abstract
Section 1 contains statistics of violent crime in 1992 in Virginia as compared to other States, as well as a trend analysis for the State. In 1992, Virginia's violent crime rate ranked only 36th nationally, but has risen dramatically in recent years. Between 1987 and 1992, murders increased by 20 percent, rapes by 22 percent, robberies by 33 percent, and aggravated assaults by 43 percent. These increases were not confined to urban areas. Between 1980 and 1992, overall juvenile arrests increased by 60 percent--for murder, 250 percent--despite a decade-long bust in the 15- to 24-year- old age group. A boom is expected in this crime-prone age group within a few years, possibly signaling even greater increases in violent crime rates. Subsequent sections of this report provide a detailed look at how the commission was created and how it performed its duties; and substantive recommendations for preventing and reducing violent crime, improving the criminal justice system, and reducing inmate recidivism. The closing section is a special feature on firearms and their role in violent crime. 22 figures, 2 appendixes, lists of sources, acknowledgments