Special Conservators of the Peace (SCOP) Program Virginia Crime - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Special Conservators of the Peace (SCOP) Program

Virginia Crime Commission October 21, 2014

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

SCOP Task Force

• Background
• SB 495
• Four sessions
• Focused on four program areas

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

SCOP Task Force Members Secretary Brian Moran, Chair

• Victoria Cochran
• Tonya Vincent
• Del. Lingamfelter
• Senator Lucas
• Senator Norment
• Delegate Surovell
• Fran Ecker
• Richard Conway, ACA
• Chief Meyers
• Dana Schrad
• Chief Tarasovic
• Sheriff Hines
• John Jones
• Colonel Flaherty
• Judge McGinty
• Judge Snukals

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

SCOP Task Force Members

• John Hall
• Edward Macon, Esq.
• Kevin Carroll
• Chief Olah
• Chief Hinkley
• Edward Jewett, Clerk
• Clair Cardwell, Esq.
• Jane Chambers, Esq.
• Rick Pleasants
• Chief Harmon

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Virginia Code § 19.2-13

• Statutory program for citizens to obtain law

enforcement arrest authority through circuit courts.

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

6 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Number of Active SCOPs Calendar Year

Number of Active SCOPs by Calendar Year 2005 - 2014

Unarmed Armed Total SCOPs

Total number of SCOPs doubled from 2005 to 2013 Number of armed SCOPs increased by 121% Number of unarmed SCOPs increased by 76%

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Overview

Four Key Program Areas

• Training
• Jurisdiction and Appearance
• Registration
• Appointment Process and Court Orders

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Training What training is necessary to protect SCOPs from harm and to adequately protect the public? Should training depend on SCOP duties?

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Training Requirement Comparisons

• 24 hours = Unarmed SCOP
• 40 hours = Armed SCOP
• 50-53 hours = Armed Security Guard
• 580-1,200 hours = Law Enforcement
• 80 hours = Auctioneer
• 150 hours = Nail Technician

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Training Requirements – SCOP (24 hours)

8 hours - legal procedures, civil law, criminal and constitutional law; 4 hours - basic and juvenile law; 4 hours - obtaining an arrest warrant and issuing a Uniform Summons; 4 hours - Use of Force and Liability issues; 1 hour - rules of evidence; 1 hour - court room testimony; 2 hours - orientation

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Training Requirements – Armed SCOP (+ 16 hours) Armed SCOPs must take:

• introduction to handguns,
• care of handguns,
• range safety,
• principles of marksmanship,
• use of deadly force, and
• justifiable deadly force

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Jurisdiction

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Jurisdiction

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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Initial Additional

SCOP "X" Jurisdiction

Loudoun Fauquier Rappahannock Spotsylvania Stafford Hanover Caroline King George Westmoreland Northumberland

Richmond Essex

Lancaster

Fredericksburg

Loudoun County Sheriffs' Jurisdiction Richmond City PD's Jurisdiction

Loudoun Richmond City

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Jurisdiction Should SCOPs working for private corporations be limited to enforcing laws on the corporation’s real property? Should courts in one jurisdiction be authorized to appoint SCOPS in another jurisdiction?

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Appearance What insignias/badges should be displayed on SCOP uniforms and vehicles? Should an SCOP wear the Seal of the Commonwealth if they work for a private employer?

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Appearance

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Appearance

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Appearance + Training

24/40 hours SCOP

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580-1,200 hours Law Enforcement

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Registration Should anyone be exempt from registration? Should companies employing SCOPS be registered? Should companies that provide contract SCOP services be regulated?

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Appointment Process and Court Orders Who should be involved in the appointment process? What information is helpful to determine the necessity of peace and security? How long should courts retain jurisdiction over appointment orders? (21 day rule)

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Future Concerns Liability for SCOPS, employers, and Commonwealth Government responsibility – state actors? Who is responsible for them? Constitutional questions Policy – do we want private police officers? Potential for Abuse (ex: Sovereign Citizens)

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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