Dear Friend:
Today, Governor Bob McDonnell signed into law two of my bills to improve campus safety.
The bills will help foster cooperation between campus police and local law enforcement in the investigation of homicides and sexual assaults.
Campus police forces range in size from 80 to 2, and have differing resources for complex investigations. By setting up policies ahead of time, all officers will know their roles and can focus on investigating the crime, identifying the perpetrator and bringing him to justice. Rapes and homicides are among the most serious criminal offenses that occur at Virginia's colleges, and successful investigations will help keep our Virginia's students safe.
The first bill, House Bill 965, would require all campus police to enter into mutual aid agreements with local law enforcement for investigations of deaths and sexual assaults that occur on campus.
The second bill, House Bill 969, would require local prosecutors to invite campus police to join the local Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). SARTs help establish local investigative policies, and currently must include local police and prosecutors, but not campus police.
Both bills were endorsed by the Virginia State Crime Commission, and now that they have been signed, will take effect as law on July 1, 2012.
Rob Bell
Delegate, 58th District
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