SB88 - Law-enforcement and jail officers; various changes to provisions related to decertification.

1 Co-Sponsor

Decertification of law-enforcement officers and jail officers. Makes various changes to the provisions related to decertification of law-enforcement officers and jail officers. The bill provides that the Department of Criminal Justice Services may conduct decertification review hearings in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Process Act. The bill provides that the findings and decision of the Department may be appealed to the Board and that the final administrative decision of the Board may be then appealed and reviewed by a court. The bill also provides that records provided to the Board or Department for the purposes of decertification of an identifiable law-enforcement officer or jail officer may be withheld from the public in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and those meetings concerning the decertification of an identifiable law-enforcement or jail officer may be closed. The bill also allows the Department to grant a continuance of any informal fact-finding conference or formal hearing upon motion by the decertified officer or his counsel or the Attorney General for good cause shown. The bill requires an officer to remain decertified during a period of continuance of any informal fact-finding conference or formal hearing for a pending criminal charge unless the Department finds the officer's continued decertification may cause circumstances that constitute a manifest injustice to the officer, in which case the officer's certification may be reinstated during the period of continuance until the conviction becomes final. Current law allows the Board, when an officer's conviction has not become final, to decline to decertify such officer after considering the likelihood of irreparable damage to the officer if such officer is decertified during the pendency of an ultimately successful appeal, the likelihood of injury or damage to the public if the officer is not decertified, and the seriousness of the offense. Additionally, the bill allows for the decertification of an officer who is terminated or resigns for an act committed while in the performance of his duties that compromises an officer's credibility, integrity, or honesty or that constitutes exculpatory or impeachment evidence in a criminal case. The bill also provides that persons who are currently in a recruit or field training status and have committed an act that would be any basis for decertification are ineligible for certification. The bill also specifies that the required notification to the Department related to an officer being terminated or resigning (i) for engaging in serious misconduct; (ii) while such officer is the subject of a pending internal investigation involving serious misconduct; or (iii) for an act committed while in the performance of his duties that compromises an officer's credibility, integrity, or honesty or constitutes exculpatory or impeachment evidence in a criminal case shall be within 48 hours of completion of an internal investigation. Under current law, such notification is required to be within 48 hours of the termination or resignation. The bill also requires the Department to establish standards and procedures for when the Department may grant a petition for reinstatement of certification of a decertified officer. The bill directs the Department to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. Decertification of law-enforcement officers and jail officers. Makes various changes to the provisions related to decertification of law-enforcement officers and jail officers. The bill provides that the Department of Criminal Justice Services may conduct decertification review hearings in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Process Act. The bill provides that the findings and decision of the Department may be appealed to the Board and that the final administrative decision of the Board may be then appealed and reviewed by a court. The bill also provides that records provided to the Board or Department for the purposes of decertification of an identifiable law-enforcement officer or jail officer may be withheld from the public in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and those meetings concerning the decertification of an identifiable law-enforcement or jail officer may be closed. The bill also allows the Department to grant a continuance of any informal fact-finding conference or formal hearing upon motion by the decertified officer or his counsel or the Attorney General for good cause shown. The bill requires an officer to remain decertified during a period of continuance of any informal fact-finding conference or formal hearing for a pending criminal charge unless the Department finds the officer's continued decertification may cause circumstances that constitute a manifest injustice to the officer, in which case the officer's certification may be reinstated during the period of continuance until the conviction becomes final. Current law allows the Board, when an officer's conviction has not become final, to decline to decertify such officer after considering the likelihood of irreparable damage to the officer if such officer is decertified during the pendency of an ultimately successful appeal, the likelihood of injury or damage to the public if the officer is not decertified, and the seriousness of the offense. Additionally, the bill allows for the decertification of an officer who is terminated or resigns for an act committed while in the performance of his duties that compromises an officer's credibility, integrity, or honesty or that constitutes exculpatory or impeachment evidence in a criminal case. The bill also provides that persons who are currently in a recruit or field training status and have committed an act that would be any basis for decertification are ineligible for certification. The bill also specifies that the required notification to the Department related to an officer being terminated or resigning (i) for engaging in serious misconduct; (ii) while such officer is the subject of a pending internal investigation involving serious misconduct; or (iii) for an act committed while in the performance of his duties that compromises an officer's credibility, integrity, or honesty or constitutes exculpatory or impeachment evidence in a criminal case shall be within 48 hours of completion of an internal investigation. Under current law, such notification is required to be within 48 hours of the termination or resignation. The bill also requires the Department to establish standards and procedures for when the Department may grant a petition for reinstatement of certification of a decertified officer. The bill directs the Department to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.