Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 186: Governor's Task Force on Juvenile Crime

Date: 10/31/1980
Issuer: Edward J. King
Mass Register: No. 235
Revoked by: Executive Order 383

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, the rise of violent and serious juvenile crime endangers the peace and order of our citizens; and

WHEREAS, in particular, burglaries, robberies, rapes, attacks upon our elderly, and serious physical assaults all threaten traditional values of respect for human life and property, and human decency; and

WHEREAS, my overriding duty and responsibility as Governor is to protect our citizens, their homes and families, their persons and their lives; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth urgently needs an immediate and comprehensive response to juvenile crime to preserve domestic tranquility and protect the constitutional rights of our citizenry;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Edward J. King, Governor of the Commonwealth, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme Executive Magistrate, do hereby order as follows:

1. There is hereby created a Committee, to be known as the Governor's Task Force on Juvenile Crime, to consist of at least 20 members who shall serve without compensation. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at his pleasure.

The Committee shall consist of five members of the judiciary, the Secretary of Public Safety or his designee, the President of the Massachusetts Juvenile Police Officers Association, the President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the President of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, the Police Commissioner of the City of Boston, the Chiefs of Police of Springfield and Worcester, the Commissioner of Youth Services, the Commissioner of Probation, the President of the Massachusetts State Senate, the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, or the respective designees of such offices, a member of the defense bar, a member of the academic community, and a victim of juvenile crime.

From the membership, the Governor shall designate a Chairman and Vice Chairman. Any vacancies which may occur shall be filled by the Governor in the same manner as the prior appointment.

2. The Committee is authorized and directed to advise the Governor on specific, concrete recommendations to dramatically decrease the incidence of violent and habitual juvenile crime in the Commonwealth. The Committee shall have, at a minimum, the following functions and responsibilities:

A. To research and analyze the statutes of the Commonwealth relating to the juvenile/adult distinction in the criminal law with particular attention to the violent juvenile offender and repeat juvenile offender; and

B. To undertake an analysis of present resources and to develop a budgetary program to provide sufficient facilities for secure treatment of serious juvenile offenders; and

C. To undertake a coordinated executive, legislative and judicial response to the problem; and

D. To stimulate public interest in this problem and effectuate legislative and executive reform to diminish the juvenile crime rate.

3. The Committee may form other subcommittees from its own membership and is authorized to call upon any secretariat, office, department, board, commission, council or other agency of the executive branch of state government under my jurisdiction and any officer, member or employee thereof, to supply such statistical data, program reports and other information and materials as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to perform its work, and they are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Committee and to furnish it with such information or assistance in connection with such reviews and analysis and in connection with effecting such recommendations as may be developed for the implementation itself.

4. In view of the critical nature of the problem and the need for immediate action, it is requested that the Committee conduct its affairs as expeditiously as possible.

5. The Committee shall submit a written report to the Governor of its findings and recommendations together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendation into effect. Said report shall be filed with the Governor not later than April 30,1981.

6. This Order shall take effect immediately and shall continue in force through April 30, 1981 unless extended by the Governor for an additional period of time.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 31st day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighty and of the Independence of the United States of America two- hundred and five.

EDWARD J. KING

GOVERNOR

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY

Secretary of the Commonwealth

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