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 § 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 offenders who commit violent crimes.
Impact:
Implementing a Serious or Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP) in the City of Hampton will help to bridge the information gap between jurisdictions in the Hampton Roads region that will help to provide for the safety of citizens while offering improved services to juvenile offenders in order to redirect their future activities away from violent criminal behavior.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve the Resolution.
Body
WHEREAS, violent crime continues to be a concern in Virginia and the City of Hampton, and the problem of serious juvenile offenders is an area of particular concern; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, the Virginia General Assembly adopted Virginia Code § 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 better provide services to these juveniles in order to redirect their future activities away from criminal behavior; and
WHEREAS, the Hampton City Council (the “Council”) finds that the establishment of a SHOCAP committee in the City of Hampton is necessary and appropriate; and
WHEREAS, the Council, by way of this resolution and in accord with Code of Virginia § 16.1-330.1, desires to establish a SHOCAP committee for this purpose.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAMPTON, VIRGINIA as follows:
That a SHOCAP committee for the City of Hampton be established, consisting of at least one representative from each agency specified in Code of Virginia § 16.1-330.1(C); and
That a SHOCAP committee hereby established is directed to discharge its duties in accordance with Code of Virginia Article 15.1 of Chapter 11 of Title 16.1, and in accordance with regulations and guidelines established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services; and
That the City Clerk is hereby directed to forward an attested copy of this Resolution to the Department of Criminal Justice Services, as required by Code of Virginia § 16.1-330.1.
Adopted at the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia held on November 8, 2017.