 |
 |
||
Study of Crimes Committed in the Presence of ChildrenThe Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission has embarked upon a new research project this year, one of the firsts of its kind in the nation. Last year, members of the Commission voted to conduct a comprehensive study of crimes committed in the presence of children, noting that crimes can have a profound effect on the health and welfare of the children who witness them, even when they are not the direct victims. The goal is to identify crimes witnessed by children, to describe the nature of such crimes, and to determine how courts respond to and utilize information concerning the presence of children during the commission of the crime when sentencing the offender. Commission staff researched numerous potential sources of information in order to identify cases. Although several avenues of identifying cases with child witnesses were explored, no existing data sources were adequate for efficiently detecting cases for inclusion in the study. After careful review of the options, the Commission decided to proceed with a point-forward study. The Commission asked Commonwealth’s Attorneys across the state to assist in its efforts by reporting cases where the crime was committed in the presence of children.
|
Commonwealth of Virginia © 2001