Virginia law § 19.2-134.1 mandates the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to annually collect and analyze data on adults charged with offenses punishable by jail or imprisonment. The law requires cooperation from various criminal justice agencies and ensures data confidentiality. The collected data includes demographic details, charge types, and offense specifics for research and statistical purposes.
The data is collected for research, evaluation, and statistical purposes to improve the criminal justice system while maintaining confidentiality.
All departments, agencies, and courts involved in the criminal justice system in Virginia, including circuit court clerks and the Supreme Court, must provide data upon request.
Data includes demographic details like sex, race, birth year, residential zip code, type of charge, date charged, and details about the offense.
No, the data is used solely for research, evaluation, or statistical purposes, and confidentiality and security are strictly maintained.