Title
Resolution to Establish a Serious or Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP) Committee
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
Violent crime continues to be a concern in Virginia and the City of Hampton, in particular, those juvenile offenders who continue to be involved in not only criminal activities but especially those involved in violent crimes. The 1992 Commission on Violent Crime recommended legislation to allow communities to develop a Serious or Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP) to address the way that information regarding juvenile offenders is maintained with the two goals of enhancing community safety and insuring comprehensive, coordinated service delivery to juvenile offenders. In 1993, the Virginia General Assembly adopted Virginia Code ยง 16.1-1330.1 et seq., enabling cities and counties to establish SHOCAP committees composed of representatives from law enforcement, schools, social services, court services units, corrections, and juvenile and domestic relations courts, and providing for the facilitation of information sharing among the representatives on SHOCAP committees and between the SHOCAP committees of separate jurisdictions in order that communities might better provide for the safety of their citizens and provide improved services to these juveniles in order to redirect their future activities away from criminal behavior.
Discussion:
The Serious or Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP) is a multidisciplinary interagency comprehensive and cooperative information sharing and case management program. It is designed to enable juvenile-related agencies to share information about serious or habitual juvenile offenders in order that comprehensive, coordinated services can be provided for the juveniles, and the community can be protected from serious juvenile crime.
It is recommended that the Hampton City Council establish a SHOCAP committee in the City of Hampton to help address juvenile of...
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