Youngkin announces Violent Crime Task Force

RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced the creation of a violent crime task force.

The panel will include officials from the executive branch and from the Attorney General’s office.

In an interview with WDBJ7 Monday afternoon, Attorney General Jason Miyares said the task force will seek input from citizens, community leaders and law enforcement officials.

“So we want to both listen to communities, talk to people in law enforcement on what are the policies they want to see done to help us lower crime and get back to where Virginia used to be, which was one of the lowest crime states in the country,” Miyares said.

Miyares and Youngkin said the task force could recommend actions the governor can take on his own, administrative actions by state agencies and legislation for the General Assembly to consider.

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Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Monday the creation of a Violent Crime Task Force to reduce violent crime in cities and communities across the Commonwealth, according to Youngkin’s team.

“There is a clear recognition of a violent crime crisis in Virginia and my administration is committed to joining with community leaders, law enforcement, and Virginians around solutions with the Violent Crime task force. We will take a comprehensive look at how we can address the rise in violent crime by providing more law enforcement resources, creating alternative and after-school activities for children, and addressing the fear that results in witnesses failing to show up for a criminal hearing,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.

The task force will be led by Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Bob Mosier, with additional leadership provided by the Chief Deputy Attorney General Chuck Slemp.

Additional participants include leaders from the Governor’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Criminal Justice Services, Virginia State Police, and others.

The task force will recommend executive, administrative, and legislative actions on an ongoing basis to the Governor.