HB1340:

Court-appointed counsel, et. al; training standards for interacting w/victims of sexual assaults.

Bill Summary:

Department of Criminal Justice Services; Commonwealth's
Attorneys' Services Council; court-appointed counsel; training standards
for interacting with victims of criminal sexual assault. Directs
the Department of Criminal Justice Services, in conjunction with
the Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council, to establish compulsory
training standards for law-enforcement officers, attorneys for the
Commonwealth, and assistant attorneys for the Commonwealth for sensitivity
to and awareness of cultural diversity when interviewing, questioning,
or examining in any court proceeding a victim of a criminal sexual
offense. The bill also provides that to initially qualify to serve
as appointed counsel for an indigent defendant in a general district
court, circuit court, or juvenile and domestic relations district
court, such attorney shall have completed at least eight hours of
MCLE-approved continuing legal education developed by the Virginia
Indigent Defense Commission on the topic of diversity, racial bias,
or cultural sensitivity when interviewing, cross-examining, or representing
the victim of a criminal sexual offense.