Study; joint subcommittee on the death penalty in Virginia; report. (SJ57)

Introduced By

Sen. Roz Dance (D-Petersburg) with support from co-patron Sen. Don McEachin (D-Richmond)

Description

Study; joint subcommittee on the death penalty in Virginia; report. Establishes a seven-member legislative joint subcommittee to study the death penalty in Virginia. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall, among other things, (i) provide a demographic analysis of capital defendants; (ii) examine, among other issues it deems appropriate, issues concerning the death penalty, including disparity, fairness, equity, due process, competence of counsel for capital defendants, particularly those who are indigent, and limitations on the introduction of newly discovered and possibly exculpatory evidence; (iii) review the administration of criminal justice in Virginia to determine the extent to which the process has failed, resulting in wrongful convictions and possible executions of innocent persons; (iv) determine the prosecution and state-paid defense costs in all capital cases, including pretrial, trial, direct appeal, and post-conviction proceedings and state and federal habeas corpus; and (v) consider whether there is public support for a moratorium on the death penalty in the Commonwealth and evaluate issues involved in the imposition of a moratorium on the death penalty in Virginia. The joint subcommittee shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2017 Session of the General Assembly. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History