Bill > HB1556

This bill amends the Code of Virginia to expand the Attorney General's authority to institute or conduct criminal prosecutions in certain cases involving crimes against children. Specifically, the bill adds two new categories of criminal cases where the Attorney General can prosecute: violations of criminal sexual assault statutes and commercial sex trafficking offenses when these crimes are committed against children. Previously, the Attorney General's ability to prosecute criminal cases was limited to specific types of offenses, such as violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, election laws, and child pornography. The bill requires the Attorney General to obtain concurrence from the local Commonwealth's Attorney in some instances, but for these new child-related sexual crimes, no such concurrence appears to be necessary. The modification aims to provide the state's top law enforcement official with more direct legal tools to prosecute serious sexual crimes targeting minors, potentially offering an additional layer of legal recourse and protection for child victims.

Justice

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB1556