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2010 Session

Budget Amendments - SB29 (Committee Approved)

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CDC Develop Policies on Prosecuting Misdemeanors (language only)

Item 41 #1s

Item 41 #1s

Judicial Department
General District Courts

Language
Page 6, line 39, after "D." insert "1.".
Page 6, following line 40, insert:
"2. The Committee on District Courts, in consultation with the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys and the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, shall develop policies and procedures to reduce the number of misdemeanor charges for which the Commonwealth will seek incarceration, thereby reducing expenditures through the Criminal Fund for court-appointed counsel or public defenders.  The Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court shall provide a report by June 30, 2010, to the Governor and to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Courts of Justice Committees, and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees on the implementation of these policies and procedures."


Explanation
(This amendment directs the Committee on District Courts, in consultation with the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys and the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, to develop policies and procedures to reduce the number of misdemeanor charges for which the Commonwealth will seek incarceration, thereby reducing expenditures through the Criminal Fund for court-appointed counsel or public defenders. A companion amendment to Item 42 in Senate Bill 30 captures the associated general fund reductions in fiscal years 2011 and 2012. This is one of a series of amendments to enable the criminal justice system to manage its workload effectively during a period of severe budget reductions.)