SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4
(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, 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, 2008, 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.