Civil commitment of sexually violent predators; changes including access to sealed records, etc. (HB1843)
Introduced By
Del.
Morgan Griffith (R-Salem)
Morgan Griffith
(R-Salem)
Served: 1994–
Progress
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Introduced |
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Passed Committee |
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Passed House |
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Passed Senate |
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Signed by Governor |
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Became Law |
Description
Civil commitment of sexually violent predators; penalties. Makes a number of changes, including requiring that the court records for certain sexual misdemeanors be retained for 100 years rather than 10 years; allowing access to juvenile court and records of the Department of Juvenile Justice; addressing challenges to filing defects, including defendants under the Commitment Review Committee; removing the requirement that victims of certain crimes must have suffered physical bodily injury in order for certain prisoners to be referred to Commitment Review Committee; allowing access to sealed records; extending from 60 to 90 days the time for a probable cause hearing and allowing the respondent to waive his right to such hearing; setting a standard for the court to find probable cause; allowing hearings to be conducted using two-way electronic video and audio communications systems and telephonic communication for witnesses; and extending from 90 to 120 the number of days after the probable cause hearing for conduct of the trial.
Outcome
Video
Votes were cast on this bill on the following dates for which Richmond Sunlight has video: 01/15/2009, 01/15/2009, 01/16/2009, 01/16/2009, 02/02/2009, 02/04/2009, 02/04/2009, 02/06/2009, 02/06/2009, 02/08/2009, 02/09/2009, 02/10/2009 and 02/11/2009.
Comments
Mr. Griffith makes the aseresation that a record kept will some how keep me safer. I am not certain how that will happen as I will die long before the records are ever destroyed or removed. Considering that the Commonwealth of Virginia considers 90* of all offenders to be violent, this will just add to the record keeping challenges already faced by a financially strapped government.