RecommendationsandPolicyOptionsDecember5,2016

VIRGINIA STATE CRIME COMMISSION 2

RestitutionHB605

VIRGINIA STATE CRIME COMMISSION 3

Restitution

Recommendation1:• VirginiaCode§ 19.2‐305.1shouldbeamendedtorequiretheOfficeoftheExecutiveSecretary(OES)oftheSupremeCourttodevelopaformorderforrestitution,whichshouldincludeataminimumthefollowinginformation:

• Contactinformationforthedefendantandvictim(s);• Thetotalamountorderedandthetermsofpayment;• Forrestitutionorderedasjointandseveral,anyotherdefendant(s)andvictim(s)relatedtosaidorder;

• Ifinterestisorderedontherestitution,thedatefromwhichtheinterestaccrues;and,

• Asignaturelineforthedefendant.

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RestitutionRecommendation2:• VirginiaCode§ 19.2‐305.1shouldbeamendedtorequirethattheformorderdevelopedbytheOESoftheSupremeCourtshouldbecompletedinpartbytheCommonwealth’sAttorneypriortosentencingandshouldbeenteredbythecourtatthetimeofsentencing.

• IftheCommonwealth’sAttorneyisnotinvolvedintheprosecution,thenthecourtorclerkshallcompletetheform.

• Acopyofthisformordershouldbeprovidedtothedefendant,withoutthevictim’scontactinformation,atthesentencing.

• Acopyofthisformordershouldbeprovidedtothevictim(s),freeofcharge,uponrequestofthevictim(s).

• Thisformwillprovidevitalinformationforclerkstocollectanddistributerestitution.

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Restitution

Recommendation3:• VirginiaCode§ 19.2‐305.2shouldbeamendedtoclarifythatthedocketingofacriminalrestitutionorderasaciviljudgmentdoesnotprohibitcriminalorcontemptenforcementofthatrestitutionorder.

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Restitution

Recommendation4:• VirginiaCode§ 19.2‐305.1shouldbeamendedtoallowforboththedefendantandtheCommonwealth’sAttorneytoseekmodificationofthetermsofpaymentofrestitutionintheeventthatadefendant’sabilitytopaychanges.

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Restitution

Recommendation5:• VirginiaCode§ 19.2‐305.1shouldbeamendedtospecifythatthecourtshallnotorderthedefendanttopayrestitutiondirectlytothevictimorthroughthedefendant’scounsel.

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Restitution

Recommendation6:• VirginiaCode§§ 19.2‐305.1,19.2‐305.2,and19.2‐354shouldbeamendedtoallowthecourtdiscretiontoorderadefendantwhoisunabletopayrestitutiontheoptiontoperformcommunityserviceattherateofthestateminimumwageinlieuofrestitution,providedthatsuchcommunityserviceiswiththeconsentofthevictim,thevictim’sestate,orthevictim’sagent,andtheCommonwealth’sAttorney.

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Restitution

Recommendation7:• TheDepartmentofTaxationCourtDebtCollectionsOfficeshouldexplorethepossibilityofacceptingpaymentsfordelinquentrestitutionandupgradingcurrentsoftwaretoallowforamorestreamlinedapproachtothecollectionofrestitution.– Mayrequirelegislationiffundingisprovidedfornewsoftware.– MayrequireanamendmenttoVirginiaCode§ 19.2‐349toencompassallCommonwealth’sAttorneysandcollectionagents.

– AddsasecondenactmentclauserequiringOES,Tax,DMV,DOC,andDCJStodeveloprecommendationsforenhancingthecollectionofrestitutionandtoreportfindingsandrecommendationstotheChairmanoftheCrimeCommissionbyNovember1,2017.

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RestitutionRecommendation8:• VirginiaCode§§ 19.2‐303,19.2‐304,19.2‐305,19.2‐305.1,and19.2‐306shouldbeamendedtospecifywhoisresponsibleformonitoringcompliancewiththepaymentofrestitution.Suchamendmentsshouldinclude:– Ifrestitutionisordered,thedefendantshouldbeplacedonindefinitesupervisedprobationuntilallrestitutionispaidinfull;

– TheDepartmentofCorrectionsorthelocalprobationofficeshouldberesponsibleformonitoringcompliancewiththerestitutionorder;

– Formisdemeanorcases,asanalternativetoprobation,thecourtmayinsteadscheduleareviewhearingtodeterminecompliancewiththerestitutionorder;

– Ifsupervisionservicesarenotavailableinthelocality,thenthecourtshallscheduleareviewhearingtodeterminecompliancewiththerestitutionorder;

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RestitutionRecommendation8(cont.):• Suchamendmentsshouldinclude:

– Thecourtshouldberequiredtoconductahearinguponnoticefromtheprobationofficerthatthedefendantisnotincompliancewithrestitutionpayments;

– Thecourtshouldverifywiththeclerkofcourtthatallrestitutionhasbeenpaidbeforereleasingthedefendantfromsupervisedprobation;and,

– Aprovisionallowingthecourttoreleasethedefendantfromsupervisedprobationunderspecialcircumstances,afterconsiderationoftheamountowedandpaid,paymenthistory,andthedefendant’sfutureabilitytopay.

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Restitution

Recommendation9:• TheGeneralAssemblyshouldauthorizefundingfortheOESoftheSupremeCourttoallowforcircuitcourtstoacceptonlinepayments.

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Recommendation10:• TheGeneralAssemblyshouldprovideadditionalresourcestotheDepartmentofCorrectionstosupportthemonitoringofrestitutionandtheextensionofprobation.

Restitution

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Recommendation11:• TheOESoftheSupremeCourt,incoordinationwithotherstakeholdersinvolvedintherestitutionprocess,shoulddevelopbestpracticeguidelinesformanagingtherestitutionprocess.Theguidelinesshouldaddresssuchpracticesas:– Developingalocalplanforthecollection,monitoringanddisbursementofrestitution;

– Addressingrepeatoffenders;– Handlingjointandseveralrestitutionorders;– Determininghowpaymentsareappliedwhenthedefendantowesfines,costsandrestitution;

– Addressingissuessurroundingmicro‐checksforrestitution;

Restitution

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Recommendation11:• Theguidelinesshouldaddresssuchpracticesas(cont.):

– Issuesinvolvingcollectionswhenthevictimisalargecorporationorinsurancecompany;

– Howtohandleunclaimedrestitution;– Optionsforlocatingthevictimfordisbursement;– Availabilityofpaymentoptions,includingcreditanddebitcardsandonlinepayment;

– Feasibilityofdevelopingauniformpaymentscheduleforrestitution,similartothechild/spousalsupportmodel;and,

– Definingwhenacaseisclosedforpurposesofcollectionandmonitoring.

• IftheCourtlaterdeterminesthatsomeoftheseitemswouldbebetteraddressedbylegislationtheywillnotifyCrimeCommissionstaff.

Restitution

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Recommendation12:• TheOESoftheSupremeCourtshouldprovidetrainingtoclerksandjudgesonthebestpracticeguidelinesformanagingtherestitutionprocess.

Restitution

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Recommendation13:• TheDepartmentofCriminalJusticeServicesshouldconvenerepresentativesfromtheVirginiaVictimAssistanceNetwork,theCriminalInjuriesCompensationFund,Commonwealth’sAttorneys’Offices,andanyotherinterestedstakeholders,todevelopaninformationalbrochureforvictimstoexplainrestitutionandthevictim’sroleintherestitutionprocess.

Restitution

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Recommendation14:• TheOESoftheSupremeCourtshouldenhancetheirFAStoallowclerkstheabilitytogenerateapaymentnotice,asisthepracticewithfinesandcosts,alongwithanyothercapabilitiesthatwouldenhancethemanagementofrestitution.

Restitution

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PolicyOption1:• VirginiaCode§ 19.2‐358couldbeamendedtoremovethecourt’sauthoritytoimposeuptoa$500fineforadefendant’sfailuretopayafine,costs,forfeiture,restitutionorpenalty.

Restitution

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PolicyOption2:• VirginiaCode§ 19.2‐349couldbeamendedtorequirethecourttonotifytheCommonwealth’sAttorneyifadefendantwhoowesrestitutionhasnotmadeanypaymentswithin90daysafterhisaccountwassenttocollections.

Restitution

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CigaretteTrafficking

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CigaretteTrafficking

Recommendation1:• Anewsection(VirginiaCode§ 58.1‐623.2)shouldbeenactedtocreateacigaretteexemptioncertificateissuedbytheDepartmentofTaxationfollowingavettingprocess,whichincludesabackgroundinvestigationandverificationofaphysicalplaceofbusiness.– CreatesanexpeditedprocessforactivevalidABClicenseesandOTPlicenses.

– Createsa30daywaitingperiodtoobtaincertificatebymail.– Allowsforretailerstopurchasecigarettesexemptfromsalestax.– TheuseofaforgedorinvalidVirginiacigaretteexemptioncertificatewouldbepunishableunderexistingVirginiaCode§ 58.1‐1017.3.

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CigaretteTrafficking

Recommendation2:• Anewsection(VirginiaCode§ 58.1‐623.3)shouldbeenactedrequiringthataformbecompletedandmaintainedforanycigarettepurchaseofmorethan10,000sticksor50cartons,orwhenthetotalvalueofthepurchaseisover$10,000.– TheformshouldbedevelopedbytheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneral.

– Theformmustbeaccompaniedbyphotographicidentification.– TheformwillbeavailableforinspectionandtransmittedtotheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneralonaregularbasis.

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CigaretteTrafficking

Recommendation3:• Reducethenumberoftax‐paidcigarettesthatanindividualmaypossessunderVirginiaCode§ 58.1‐1017.1inrelationtothechargeofpossessionwithintenttodistributecontrabandcigarettes.

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CigaretteTrafficking

Recommendation4:• AmendtwodefinitionsunderVirginiaCode§ 58.1‐1000:– Amend“authorizedholder”todisqualifyanyoneasanauthorizedholderwhohasbeenconvictedofacriminaloffenseunderChapter10ofTitle58.1.

– Amend“retaildealer”toincludetherequirementthattheretaildealerpossessavalidcigaretteexemptioncertificate.

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SearchWarrants(SB247/HB361)

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SearchWarrants

Recommendation1:• TheCrimeCommissionshouldendorsethesubstituteversionofSB247that:– Addsthephrase“anypersontobearrestedforwhomawarrantorprocessforarresthasbeenissued”tothesearchwarrantstatutes;and,

– Deletesthephrase“…anypersonwhoisunlawfullyrestrained”fromtheoriginalversionofthebill.

*NOTE:ThisrecommendationwasvotedonandunanimouslyendorsedinconceptattheOctober3rdCrimeCommissionmeeting.

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UseoftheTerm“MentalRetardation”inCapitalCases

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UseoftheTerm“MentalRetardation”inCapitalCases

Recommendation1:• Theterm“mentalretardation”shouldbereplacedwiththeterm“intellectualdisability”inVirginia’scapitalmurderstatutes.– ThesechangeswillapplytoVa.Code§§ 8.01‐654.2,18.2‐10,19.2‐264.3:1.1,19.2‐264.3:1.2,and19.2‐264.3:3.

– Shouldasecondenactmentclausebeincludedinthelegislation,statingthatthechangeintermisnottobeconstruedasachangetoVirginia’ssubstantivelaw?

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HabeasCorpus

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HabeasCorpus

PolicyOption1:• Shouldlegislationbeenacted,similartotheTexasscientificevidencestatute,toallowforamechanismtoseekpost‐convictionreliefwhenneworchangingscientificevidencecallsintoquestiontheoutcomeoftheoriginaltrialandDNAevidenceisnotavailable?

Discussion