WHEREAS, combating crime and protecting citizens from criminal depredation is of vital concern to government; and

     WHEREAS, communication and cooperation among the various facets of the community of criminal justice professionals is of utmost importance in promoting efficiency and effectiveness; and

    WHEREAS, providing policy makers and criminal justice decision makers with accurate information results in better decisions, which improves public safety and results in the efficient use of public resources; and

   WHEREAS, the continued growth of the State’s adult incarcerated offender population necessitates more in-depth analysis of the State’s criminal justice system; and

   WHEREAS, the manufacturing, trafficking and abuse of methamphetamine is a critical issue that plagues communities across the state and is a drain on state and local resources; and

   WHEREAS, we need to be increasingly vigilant in the adoption of a zero tolerance policy against emerging gang activity in Idaho;

   WHEREAS, Idaho’s current criminal justice efforts and initiatives require clear strategic planning and increased coordination;

   NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. RISCH, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Idaho, do hereby establish the Idaho Criminal Justice Commission.

1.                  The Idaho Criminal Justice Commission (“Commission”) shall consist of 25 members. The Commission members representing the judiciary will serve in a non-voting, advisory capacity. The Commission’s membership shall be as follows:

a.      A representative from the Governor’s Office;

b.      The Attorney General or his or her designee;

c.       The Chair and Ranking Minority member of the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee;

d.      The Chair and Ranking Minority member of the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee;

e.       The Chief Justice of the Idaho State Supreme Court

f.        The Director of the Idaho Department of Correction;

g.      The Director of the Idaho State Police;

h.      The Director of the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections;

i.        The Idaho Drug Czar;

j.        A representative from the Idaho Department of Education;

k.      The Executive Director of the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole;

l.        The Director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare;

m.    Four (4) representatives of the judiciary as designated by the Chief Justice, including a Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judge, District Judge and Magistrate Judge;

n.      One (1) representative from the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association;

o.      One (1) representative from the Office of the Idaho State Appellate Public Defender;

p.      One (1) representative from the Idaho Sheriffs’ Association;

q.      One (1) representative from the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association;

r.       Three (3) citizens at large.

2.      The purpose of the Criminal Justice Commission shall be to provide policy- level direction and to promote efficient and effective use of resources for matters related to the State’s criminal justice system.  To that end it shall:

a.      Identify critical problems within the criminal justice system and recommend strategies to solve these problems;

                                                                          i.      Areas to be addressed include, but are not limited to:

1.      Continued growth in the adult incarcerated offender population;

2.      The manufacturing, trafficking and abuse of methamphetamine;

3.      Gang violence;

b.      Advise and develop recommendations for the Governor and the Legislature, when appropriate, on public policy and strategies to improve the State’s criminal justice system;

c.       Review and evaluate criminal justice policies and proposed legislation to determine the impact on the State’s adult and juvenile justice systems;

d.      Promote communication among criminal justice professionals and the respective branches of state government to improve professionalism, create partnerships, and to improve cooperation and coordination at all levels of the criminal justice system.

e.       Research best practices of other states;

f.        Analyze the long-range needs of the criminal justice system, including an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the use of state and local funds in the criminal justice system;

g.      Partner with Idaho’s colleges and universities to conduct research, planning and analysis activities, including, but not limited to, studies that analyze a variety of crime trends and criminal justice issues.

3.      The Criminal Justice Commission members shall be appointed and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

4.  The Governor may, at any time, increase the number of voting and non-voting members of the Commission.

5.      The Commission members shall serve a term of 4 years, with the only exception being the inaugural membership being appointed to serve staggering two (2), three (3) and four (4) year terms.          

6.      The Chair of the Commission shall be appointed annually by the Governor. A Vice-Chair shall be selected annually by the members of the Commission.  The term of office for the Chair and Vice-Chair shall be one year.  The Chair and Vice-Chair may succeed themselves if approved by the Governor.    

7.      The Criminal Justice Commission shall receive administrative staff support from the state agencies represented on the Commission.

8.      The Criminal Justice Commission will meet no less than four times annually.

9.      The Criminal Justice Commission may appoint sub-committees consistent with the needs of the Commission to pertinent issues that merit more in-depth consideration.

10.  Commission members will serve without compensation or reimbursement for expenses, including related travel and per diem to attend Commission meetings.

This Executive Order repeals and replaces Executive Order 2005-17. This Executive Order shall cease to be effective four years after its entry into force.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this 29^th day of September in the year of our Lord two thousand and six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-first and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred seventeenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE