Media release issued by the Governor's Office. Contact Kevin Hall
804.225.4260 or 804.393.9406 (cell) for inquiries.

November 27, 2006
Governor Kaine Announces Members of the Commission on Sexual Violence
– Commission to focus on the treatment of crime victims and efforts to
prevent and respond to sexual violence –

RICHMOND — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the appointment of
members to the Governor’s Commission on Sexual Violence, created by
Executive Order 38. The Commission is tasked with making recommendations to
improve the treatment of victims of sexual violence and to prevent and
respond to related crimes.

“The physical and emotional trauma suffered by victims of sexual violence,
often compounded by silence and stigma surrounding the crime, calls for
special attention in our response and prevention efforts,” said Governor
Kaine. “The Commonwealth has made considerable progress in the management of
sexually violent predators. We now need to focus the same level of energy
and attention on the treatment of victims and the prevention of future
acts.”

The Governor’s Commission on Sexual Violence will be co-chaired by the
Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marilyn B. Tavenner and the
Secretary of Public Safety John W. Marshall. The first meeting is scheduled
for Thursday, November 30, 2006.

Commission on Sexual Violence
Grace Albano-Orsini of Norfolk, Director of Community Education at the
Samaritan House;
Cassandra Burns of Petersburg, Commonwealth’s Attorney;
Anthony Conyers Jr. of Williamsburg, Commissioner of the Department of
Social Services;
Leonard G. Cooke of Henrico County, Director of the Department of Criminal
Justice Services;
Susan Curtis of Loudoun County, Executive Director of the Loudoun Abused
Women’s Shelter;
D. Gay Cutchin of Petersburg, Coordinator of Sexual & Domestic Violence
Services at Virginia Commonwealth University;
Carroll Ann Ellis of Fairfax County, Director of the Victim Services
Division at the Fairfax County Police Department;
Colonel W. Steven Flaherty of Chesterfield County, Superintendent of the
Virginia State Police;
The Honorable H. Morgan Griffith of Salem, member of the Virginia House of
Delegates;
Robert Q. Harris of Hanover County; Director of the Commonwealth’s
Attorney’s Services Council;
Linda Heatwoll of Harrisonburg, staff RN at Rockingham Memorial Hospital;
The Honorable R. Edward “Edd” Houck of Spotsylvania County; member of the
Senate of Virginia;
The Honorable Janet D. Howell of Fairfax County, member of the Senate of
Virginia;
Rita L. Katzman of Richmond, Health Professional at Child Protective
Services;
Charles Linberg of Buena Vista, citizen;
Chief Michael L. Marshall of Albemarle County, Chief of Police at the
Virginia Military Institute Police Department;
The Honorable Jennifer L. McClellan of Richmond, member of the Virginia
House of Delegates;
The Honorable Robert F. McDonnell of Richmond, Attorney General of Virginia;

Cherri Murphy of Albemarle County, Director of the Charlottesville
Victim/Witness Office;
The Honorable Fred Newman of Washington County, Sheriff of the Washington
County Sheriff’s Office;
Eric L. Olson of Hanover County; Executive Director of the Polygraph
Examiners Advisory Board;
Dr. Stacey B. Plichta of Virginia Beach; Graduate Program Director for the
School of Community and Environmental Health at Old Dominion University;
Bonnie Price of Henrico County, Clinical Coordinator of the Forensic Nurse
Program at St. Mary’s Hospital;
The Honorable Linda T. “Toddy” Puller of Fairfax County, member of the
Senate of Virginia;
Cristina Rebeil of Richmond, attorney at the Virginia Poverty Law Center;
Dr. James S. Reinhard of New Kent County, Commissioner of the Department of
Mental Health, Mental Retardation, & Substance Abuse Services;
The Honorable Angela E. Roberts of Richmond, judge at the Richmond Juvenile
and Domestic Relations Court;
Dana G. Schrad of Hanover County, Executive Director of the Virginia
Association of Chiefs of Police;
The Honorable Stephen C. Shannon of Fairfax County, member of the Virginia
House of Delegates;
The Honorable Beverly J. Sherwood of Frederick County, member of the
Virginia House of Delegates;
Reverend C. Douglas Smith of Hanover County, Executive Director of the
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy;
The Honorable Kenneth W. “Ken” Stolle of Virginia Beach, member of the
Senate of Virginia;
Robert B. Stroube of New Kent County, Commissioner of the Virginia
Department of Health;
DaShawnna R. Townsend of Hampton, Interim Executive Director at the Center
for Sexual Assault Survivors;
Susheela Varky, Esq. of Henrico County, Senior Planning Analyst in the
Department of Judicial Planning at the Office of the Executive Secretary,
Supreme Court of Virginia;
Mary Vail Ware of Chesterfield County, Director of the Criminal Inquiries
Compensation Fund;
The Honorable Vivian E. Watts of Fairfax County, member of the Virginia
House of Delegates.

Executive Order 38 (2006)
Creating the Commission on Sexual Violence

Importance of the Issue
The General Assembly and this administration took giant steps to
develop important legislative and budgetary initiatives to manage sexually
violent predators.  While these efforts may prevent future crimes, the same
level of energy and attention needs to be focused on the treatment of
current victims of sexual violence and the prevention of future acts. 
           
Sexually violent predators represent only a small minority of
offenders and, given the physical and emotional trauma experienced by
victims of sexual violence, research indicates that the vast majority of
sexually violent acts are never reported.
Additional investigation of initiatives to support sexual violence
prevention activities and comprehensive services to crime victims is
essential and complementary to the recent efforts to manage perpetrators. 
This would further ensure the safety and health of citizens of the
Commonwealth. 
Accordingly, in this order I establish a Governor’s Commission on
Sexual Violence.

Establishment of the Commission
While many localities have taken voluntary steps to address sexual
violence within their communities, additional tools and resources are
needed.  Accordingly, based on the consultation with and the best
professional advice from the Secretaries of Health and Human Resources and
Public Safety, I am hereby formally establishing the Governor’s Commission
on Sexual Violence, to improve the treatment of crime victims with emphasis
on the Commonwealth’s efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence.   
This Commission, through its work, will promote: appropriate and
uniform criminal justice responses to sexual violence, comprehensive
services to victims and effective prevention initiatives.

Composition of the Commission
The Governor's Commission on Sexual Violence shall be co-chaired by
the Secretaries of Health and Human Resources and Public Safety. 
Recognizing that these efforts will require the work of individuals across a
broad spectrum of professions and expertise, the Commission shall consist of
38 members appointed by the Governor and serving at his pleasure. 
Appointees shall include representatives of state agencies, the General
Assembly, domestic violence advocates, law enforcement, and health
professionals.  Additional members may be appointed at the Governor’s
discretion. 
Staff support for the commission will be provided by the Secretaries
of Health and Human Resources and Public Safety. 
Duties of the Commission

The Commission's responsibilities shall include the following.
1. Review the recommendations set forth in Senate Document 18 (2005) and in
the Sexual Violence State Plan as well as other relevant reports and
studies.
2. Seek input and comment through regional public hearings to gather
information.
3. Design strategies for implementing recommendations from these sources,
including prioritization, approach, timeline, and designation of duties to
accomplish the Commission’s stated purposes of preventing and responding to
sexual violence.
4. Design strategies to institutionalize recommendations into practice
across Virginia. 
5. Make any other recommendations as may be appropriate.
The Commission shall make an interim report of its activities by September
30, 2007. At that time, I will consider the need to review the commission
for an additional year.
Effective Date of the Executive Order
This Executive Order shall be effective October 10, 2006, and shall remain
in full force and effect until October 10, 2007 unless amended or rescinded
by a further Executive Order.
Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia, this
10th day of October 2006.
/s/ Timothy M. Kaine, Governor
Attest:
/s/ Secretary of the Commonwealth


-----
Rebecca K. Odor, MSW
Director of Sexual & Domestic Violence Prevention
Division of Injury and Violence Prevention
Virginia Department of Health
109 Governor St. #815G
Richmond VA  23219
of: 804-864-7740
fax: 804-864-7748
email: Becky.Odor@...
web: www.vahealth.org/civp/sexualviolence