SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 54

(By Senator Jenkins)


Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance direct the Commission on Interstate Cooperation study the laws of West Virginia and other states relating to extradition.

Whereas, While the State of West Virginia has a relatively low crime rate, trends in violent crime connected to drug trafficking and drug dealing have risen and become a very serious problem in certain areas of the state; and
Whereas, With most of the population centers located in border communities, much of the drug trafficking in our communities is coming from across our state's borders; and
Whereas, Law-enforcement efforts are being enhanced in response to this disturbing trend; and
Whereas, It is often discovered that the arrested nonresident individuals have outstanding warrants from jurisdictions outside West Virginia; and
Whereas, Experience has shown that despite outstanding warrants, the issuing jurisdiction often shows little or no interest in making any effort to have the individual returned when notified the individual is in custody in West Virginia; and
Whereas, As a result of this phenomenon, many of these individuals are released back into our communities after the West Virginia charges are addressed; and
Whereas, Careful examination of interstate cooperation relating to extradition needs to be made in an effort to encourage that all individuals arrested in West Virginia found to have warrants outstanding from other jurisdictions are sent back to the warrant-issuing jurisdiction; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to direct the Commission on Interstate Cooperation to study the laws of West Virginia and other states relating to extradition; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2007, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.