Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 16, 1993 TAG: 9312160101
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
"The people of Virginia have issued call for definitive change," said Allen, who made parole a central theme in his campaign. "That involves a wholesale reform of our sentencing system in Virginia."
Allen said he wants a separate session of the legislature to consider anti-crime proposals because "for too long, good, solid criminal justice bills . . . have been bottled up in committee or quietly killed . . . in late-night sessions outside the glare of public inspection.
"The special session on parole represents Virginians' best hope to break the logjam of strong anti-crime The people of Virginia have issued call for definitive change. That involves a wholesale reform of our sentencing system in Virginia. Gov.-elect George Allen legislation in the assembly," Allen said.
The special session, which Allen said he will call sometime after mid-April, will take up measures developed by a Special Commission on Parole Abolition and Sentencing Reform that he will appoint after his inauguration Jan. 15.
Allen wants the commission to work on parole, mandatory sentencing guidelines, alternative forms of incarceration and giving juries a convicted criminal's record before sentencing.
Allen named former U.S. Attorney Richard Cullen - a close adviser - and former U.S. Attorney General William Barr to head the commission.
Several members of the Democrat-controlled assembly are studying parole reform and planned to make recommendations for the 1995 assembly session.
"I don't think there will be a need for that particular commission to continue," Allen said.
He said he hoped the parole reform effort would be bipartisan but would not promise to name the Democratic chairmen of the House and Senate Courts of Justice committees to his study commission.
Del. James Almand, an Arlington Democrat who is chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee and the parole commission, said the legislative panel will not disband.
"The governor is certainly free to have his task force, but the legislature has a task to do, and I think we'll continue to perform our task," Almand said.
In other action, Allen nominated Scott County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jerry Kilgore as secretary of public safety.
Kilgore, 32, is the twin brother of Terry Kilgore, a newly elected member of the House of Delegates from Gate City. Jerry Kilgore worked for his brother in the Scott County prosecutor's office. Before that, he spent five years as an assistant U.S. attorney.
Jerry Kilgore said his experience prosecuting crime in Scott County, which has about 23,000 residents, has prepared him for the state job.
"Violent crime is not just an urban problem," Kilgore said. Like Allen, he said he opposes further gun control in favor of locking up criminals longer.
The Associated Press contributed information to this story.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
by CNB