Executive Order
Number Thirty-Nine (2024)
Promoting Transparency and Efficiency in Permitting and Licensing
By virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the Commonwealth, I hereby issue this Executive Order to ensure our Commonwealth supports the thousands of Virginians applying for permits, licenses, certifications, registrations, and other forms of agency approval.
Importance of the Initiative
In 2022, I established the Office of Regulatory Management and the Office of Transformation to improve government efficacy and efficiency to further ensure Virginia is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. In the few years since then, much progress has been achieved through both offices.
The Office of Regulatory Management (ORM), which was created by Executive Order (EO) 19, was tasked with modernizing the regulatory and permitting processes in the Commonwealth. Since its creation in June 2022, it has made great strides both in modernizing regulations in order to alleviate burdens on Virginia citizens and promoting regulatory transparency. As part of EO 19's directive to reduce regulatory requirements by 25%, agencies have now eliminated or streamlined over 50,000 regulatory requirements and saved Virginia citizens over $1.2 billion. ORM has also implemented reforms that have created a far more transparent regulatory process. As a result of these efforts, 100% of all regulatory actions (including those that otherwise are exempt from the Administrative Process Act) and guidance document changes are now posted on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website and accompanied by a cost-benefit analysis.
The Office of Transformation was directed in Executive Order 5 to enable Secretariats and their agencies to deliver a great customer experience to Virginians. In less than three years, the Office of Transformation jump-started unprecedented transformation in customer service, operational streamlining and performance, and cross-agency program improvements. At the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) service centers, customer wait times were cut by more than 70% for the 3.5 million Virginians who annually frequent DMV from 37 to 10 minutes. At the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), over 1.3 million unemployment work items were eliminated, and VEC went from being last and third from last in U.S. Department of Labor national timeliness rankings to top 20 in the two key metrics (first pay timeliness and timeliness payments). Through critical cross agency initiatives, the Office of Transformation enabled radical improvements in support for those with critical mental health needs (Right Help, Right Now) and those reentering society following incarceration (Stand Tall-Stay Strong-Succeed Together).
ORM and Transformation also partnered to improve Virginians' experience in another critical area. From Day 1, a major focus of my Administration has been achieving a "streamlining of the regulatory/permitting approval processes of all agencies to achieve a substantial shortening of the time required for an approval [or rejection]."1
Each year, Virginia agencies issue more than 400,000 permits, licenses, certifications, registrations, and other forms of agency approval ("approvals"). This includes over 600 different types of approvals. These are in addition to the almost 3 million traditional driver's licenses and gaming licenses issued annually.2
Issuing approvals is a critical function undertaken by our state government. These approvals implement important safeguards to protect our Commonwealth's public health, safety, and welfare. For example: restaurant permits ensure that citizens are served safe and high-quality food when dining out; environmental permits prevent land degradation and promote a safe drinking water supply; professional licenses guarantee that teachers, nurses, contractors, and other skilled practitioners possess the necessary skills to undertake their chosen occupation.
Unfortunately, too often we do not ensure Virginia businesses and residents have a great customer experience when applying for approvals. Receiving an approval in a timely manner can make the difference between success and failure. Time spent waiting for an approval is time that could otherwise be spent building houses, teaching students, or undertaking hundreds of other productive activities. In FY2024, it took on average 10 days to process completed approval applications resulting in over 11,000 years of waiting. Reducing waiting times by 10% would result in Virginians waiting 1,100 years less annually. That freed-up time includes Virginians getting to work earlier with their professional licenses, development completed earlier for housing, and major projects achieved earlier to address critical infrastructure. And it would save Virginians millions of dollars by allowing them to undertake productive activities more quickly.
In addition, the process for issuing approvals often fails to take advantage of 21st century technology. Many agencies still rely on paper processing and the approval process can often be opaque, with applicants unable to determine how long it will take to receive an approval or track the status of their application. This can stifle business development, result in lower rates of compliance, and discourage investment in our great Commonwealth.
Virginia's government owes its citizens the assurance they can receive approvals efficiently and transparently.
Preamble
In January 2022, I tasked the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to pilot an innovative system for tracking its permits. The pilot system went live on December 1, 2022. Since that time, DEQ has partnered with five additional agencies and the Virginia IT Agency (VITA) to include virtually all permits of public interest. This expanded tracking system, which is referred to as Virginia Permit Transparency (VPT), covers over 100,000 applications issued per year across six agencies (DEQ), the Department of Energy (Energy), the Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), the Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Department of Health (VDH), and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
Now that these permits are available online, the participating agencies can turn to tracking and improving processing times. Over the past two years, DEQ has managed to improve its permit processing time by 70% using the Permitting Enhancement and Evaluation Platform pilot program. DEQ estimates that the improved processing time saves Virginia citizens up to $40 million per year. The other five agencies are now assessing their review times and looking for ways to expedite their processes.
Also at the beginning of 2022, I instructed the Secretary of Labor and the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) to resolve their critical backlog in applications. DPOR averaged 33 business days to process licensing applications, with its three main boards, Contractors, Real Estate, and Barbers and Cosmetology, experiencing even longer durations.
DPOR took a comprehensive approach to tackling this issue, by (1) establishing metrics and dashboards for tracking durations; (2) mapping each component of the application process and associated expected timelines; and (3) setting a goal of reducing average durations by 30 days by 2026. In addition, DPOR reorganized its teams to spur collaboration across license types and used a sprint structure to drive short-term deliverables enabling the overarching goal. As of July 1, 2024, DPOR reduced its average durations by 85% to five business days, with an estimated annual economic benefit to Virginia's economy of $179 million.3 DPOR also prioritized a re-platform of its licensing system to digitize application submissions and further automate the processing of applications.
Because of these efforts and the importance of improving Virginians' experience with their state government, I also requested an inventory of all approval types across agencies, including annual volume of issued approvals and average processing times. The results of this effort highlighted the opportunity for further action.
This Executive Order builds upon these efforts in four ways:
1. It directs agencies to provide additional data on the approvals they issue by December 13, 2024.
2. It directs agencies to improve the process for issuing approvals in up to four ways:
a. Eliminating obsolete approvals;
b. Including approvals involving multiple steps on VPT;
c. Reducing approval processing times4 through streamlining; and
d. Digitizing and enhancing the user experience for the approval application process.
3. It directs agencies to submit their improvement plans by December 13, 2024.
4. It directs agencies to report on their achievements by January 31, 2025, and then quarterly thereafter.
Directive
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth and pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of Virginia and the laws of the Commonwealth, I hereby direct all relevant agencies to take the following actions:
I. Report on agency approvals
Each agency shall report the following information for each type of approval it issues to its relevant Secretariat and the Office of the Governor, through the Office of Regulatory Management, by December 13, 2024:
1. The total number of applications processed annually;
2. The average processing time for each type of approval;
3. Any fees or charges associated with the approval;
4. Any involvement of other federal, state, or local government subdivisions in the approval process, including the average duration of the processing time by each such government subdivision;
5. A citation to the statute or regulation that mandates the issuance of each approval; and
6. Information on whether the application, fee payment, and relevant details for each approval can be completed online.
II. Remove obsolete and unnecessary approvals
In FY2024, there were 87 approval types that had an annual volume of only one (41) or zero (46). Such approvals may no longer be necessary.
All relevant agencies shall identify and catalog low-volume approvals and submit a report to the Office of the Governor through the Office of Regulatory Management. This report shall include (i) a recommendation as to whether each low-volume approval should be eliminated; and (ii) an indication of whether the authority for each such approval is statutory, regulatory, or administrative.
If an agency determines that a low-volume approval should be eliminated, and the authority for issuing such an approval is permissive (e.g., lacks a statutory or regulatory basis), the agency shall notify the Office of the Governor through the Office of Regulatory Management that the issuance of the approval shall cease.
In cases where eliminating a low-volume approval requires regulatory authority, the agency shall coordinate with the relevant Secretariat and the Office of Regulatory Management to initiate the regulatory reduction process as outlined in Executive Order 19.
Where a low-volume approval is required by statute, the agency shall coordinate with the relevant Secretariat and the Office of the Governor, through the Office of Regulatory Management, to identify the necessary statutory changes and any additional conditions required to eliminate the approval.
III. Publicize application, review, and approval process
Relevant agencies shall identify and catalog approvals that meet the following criteria: (i) the approval process has a target processing time of 15 or more days; and (ii) the approval involves more than one procedural step (including steps inside or outside of the relevant agency).
Agencies shall collaborate with VITA to validate identified approvals' fit with VPT and develop a work plan for incorporating those approvals into VPT by December 13, 2024. All qualifying approvals shall be incorporated into VPT no later than April 30, 2025.
IV. Improve processing times through operational streamlining
All relevant agencies shall certify to the Office of the Governor through the Office of Regulatory Management by December 13, 2024, that, for each approval under their purview, the agency has:
Assigned an agency owner or assignee responsible for each type of approval;
Mapped the process for each approval;
Implemented a system to track application durations, either through a live dashboard, such as VPT, or other tracking mechanism; and
Established a standardized intra-agency process for application review and approval.
Agencies shall submit to the Office of the Governor through the Office of Regulatory Management, by December 13. 2024, their strategy to simplify existing approvals. This strategy shall include efforts to reduce complexity by:
Reducing the number of procedural stages in the approval process; and
Converting individual permits (which involve case-by-case evaluations and more extensive procedural requirements) to general permits (which are more standardized and streamlined), where permissible by regulatory, statutory, or administrative authority.
Agencies are encouraged to prioritize these efforts for high impact approvals.
V. Improve and standardize the front-end customer experience
Agencies shall work in coordination with the Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA) to enhance the applicant experience for all approvals by digitizing processes for (i) submitting applications, phasing out partially or wholly manual processes; (ii) processing fees digitally; and (iii) addressing incomplete or missing background information online.
Agencies are encouraged to utilize standardized technology solutions to digitize the application process and facilitate faster, more cost-effective, and sustainable processing.
VITA shall provide agencies with standardized offerings for online application submission, payment processing, and website modernization, where possible.
Agencies shall collaborate with VITA to develop a strategy and timeline to address any identified gaps in the digitization process. Such a plan shall be finalized by December 13, 2024, and submitted to the Office of the Governor through the Office of Regulatory Management.
VI. Further directive
The Office of Regulatory Management shall provide standardized forms for agencies to use in reporting the required information. Agencies shall report on their metrics and achievements by January 31, 2025, and then quarterly thereafter to the Governor.
The Office of Regulatory Management, in coordination with the relevant Secretariats, may request updated reports to ensure compliance with this Executive Order or any amendments thereto.
VII. Definitions
For purposes of this Executive Order:
"Agencies" refers to all executive branch agencies, including agencies with regulations that have a full or partial exemption from either Article 1 or Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act with the exception of institutions of higher education.
"Applicant" is the individual, entity, or any collection thereof submitting an application or seeking an approval.
"Approval" refers to a permit, license, certification, registration, or any other instrument that a regulated party must obtain from an agency prior to engaging in a particular activity.
"Average duration" means the amount of time that an agency takes to fully process any given approval application, measured as of the previous year.
"High impact approval" means any approval that either (i) has an average processing duration of ten or more days and for which more than one hundred applications are received annually or (ii) has an average processing duration exceeding forty-five days.
"Low-volume approval" means any approval issued by an agency with five or fewer issuances per year.
"Office of Regulatory Management" carries the same meaning as set forth in Executive Order 19.
"Procedural stage" means a step in the approval process where a permit or license application is transferred or reviewed by an agency owner or designee, whether within the agency, involving another state agency, or an external agency, including federal or local government subdivisions.
Effective Date
This Executive Order shall be effective upon its signing and shall remain in force and effect unless amended or rescinded by further executive order or directive. Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia this 18th day of October, 2024.
/s/ Glenn Youngkin, Governor
___________________________________________
1 See Executive Order 19.
2 This figure included 1.7 million DMV licenses and identification cards and 1.1 million hunting and fishing licenses.
3 Each business day provides around $200/day in additional income generated based on average income data. Multiplying $200/day by 32,000 approvals in FY24 by the 28-day reduction in processing times results in $179 million.
4 Processing time defined as the time after application for approval submitted.
Executive Order
Number Forty (2024)
Enhancing Coordination and Communication and Bolstering Wildfire Incident Command Operations
By virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the Commonwealth, I hereby issue this Executive Order to enhance collaboration and emergency preparedness between state agencies who work to keep all Virginians safe against the threat of wildfires around the Commonwealth.
Importance of the Initiative
The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to ensuring the safety and protection of its citizens, natural resources, and property from the threat of wildfires. Effective communication and coordination between state agencies are crucial to responding to and managing wildfire incidents. To enhance the Commonwealth's preparedness and response coordination, it is essential that one state agency serves as lead for wildfire response and incident command operations, ensuring that all relevant information is centralized and communicated effectively. This Order provides guidance specifically related to managing significant wildfire activity to augment the operational plans outlined in the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan (COVEOP).
Forests cover nearly two-thirds of the lands of Virginia, over 16 million acres. These forests provide a wide range of critical services and environmental benefits including protecting water quality, increasing ground water recharge, improving air quality, providing wildlife habitats, and allowing open space for recreation and scenic beauty that make Virginia a beautiful place to live, work, and raise a family. These same forests also provide the raw materials for Virginia's third largest industry, which employs over 108,000 people.
Virginia's forests have historically been associated with fire. Fire was a tool used extensively by native peoples to manage the landscape. Since colonial times, intentional and unintentional fires significantly impacted the forest. Modern wildland firefighting has significantly decreased the extent of the forest burned each year. The lack of natural or historic fire regimes leaves forests more at risk from wildfires.
Reintroducing beneficial fires to the forest is an important strategy to restore healthy ecosystems and reduce the amount of fuel available for wildfires. Land managers today emphasize the use of prescribed fire, for the multiple benefits "good fire" brings to the forest. Prescribed fire—setting intentional, controlled fires with a specific goal—is a necessary and useful tool to prevent dangerous wildfires and manage landscapes for long-term ecological health. Prescribed fire is used to promote many benefits, including maintaining oak and pine savannas, restoring wildlife habitat, controlling pests and invasive plants, and clearing forest brush, leaves and debris—also known as "fuel"—that can promote larger and more destructive wildfires.
Wildfires have the potential to harm property, livelihoods, and human health. Unfortunately, fire-related threats are only increasing, as more people live in and near forests and other natural areas. At the same time, the number of homes being built within or near forests has greatly increased. The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) has identified 5,385 woodland home communities that are potentially at risk from wildfire.
Annual wildfire suppression efforts are credited with protecting an average of more than 2,800 homes and other buildings with a total value protected of over $179 million each year. Virginia has a proud tradition of safe and aggressive initial attack in response to wildfire. Because of the coordinated efforts of DOF and the over 600 local fire departments across Virginia, most people are unaware of the hundreds of wildfires that occur every year in the Commonwealth.
Over the past 20 years, on average, DOF suppressed 779 fires that burned 10,686 acres annually. These fires damaged or destroyed an average of 91 structures per year with a total estimated loss of $1.96 million annually.
This year, DOF has responded to 352 fires, with 92% containment in the first 24-hour period. There are many more fires—perhaps five times as many fires—handled by local fire departments, showing Virginia's network of DOF full-time and part-time firefighters working closely with local fire departments has been able to effectively handle initial attack in most cases.
Two-and-a-half million acres of Virginia's forests fall under the management of federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The DOF maintains an active cooperative agreement with each of these agencies to allow for enhanced cooperation on all wildfires impacting the Commonwealth. Through this agreement, all wildland fire suppression agencies in Virginia share resources and respond in a cross-boundary approach, with a mutual purpose of suppressing wildfires as efficiently as possible, to protect life and infrastructure.
Drought conditions during the fall of 2023 and a significant wind event during the spring of 2024 resulted in significant wildfire activity that burned 44,348 acres. This is more acres burned in Virginia in a six-month period than at any time in the last 30 years, almost five times more than the 20-year average for the same period.
The need to protect life and property must be balanced with the need to provide for firefighter safety. Firefighters are driven by duty to protect lives and property and are often forced to put their own lives at risk to do so. The increasing prevalence of woodland homes that lack adequate preventative measures to withstand wildfire puts more firefighters in peril. Aggressive initial attacks help to reduce overall firefighter risk by keeping fires small so that fewer resources are needed.
During significant wildfire activity, fire size and complexity can result in the need for greater resources and greater coordination. This level of response is managed through the Incident Management Team (IMT) approach. This organizational system that is now used for any large-scale event, was developed in response to the complexity of managing large wildfires. For this reason, forestry agencies like the DOF employ the greatest number of trained IMT staff.
Directive
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority vested in me as the Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth, and pursuant to Article V, §§ 1 and 7 of the Constitution of Virginia and the laws of the Commonwealth, I hereby direct my administration to implement the following measures to enhance our state's preparedness and response capabilities in responding to wildfires here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This Order establishes a necessary plan for the included state agencies to successfully accomplish their COVEOP assigned responsibilities, as outlined in COVEOP Item Six, "Planning Assumptions."
1. Designation of Lead Agency:
The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is hereby designated as the lead agency for incident command operations in all wildfire-related emergencies within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Va. Code § 10.1-1136 designates DOF forest wardens to serve as forest fire incident commander and perform other duties as needed in the management and suppression of forest fire incidents.
DOF has a long history of working in Unified Incident Command with local fire services and with the state and federal land-holding agencies.
DOF shall continue to support and engage in the cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure prompt initial response while respecting jurisdictional authorities.
2. Enhanced Communication During Significant Wildfire Activity:
DOF shall enhance its communication strategy during significant wildfire activity by implementing the following measures:
Routine Updates: DOF shall commit to providing three scheduled updates per day, including morning and evening briefings, and an additional midday update to relay the status of the wildfire, resources on scene, requested resources, and forecasts for containment.
Simplified Reporting: DOF shall develop a new, simplified method for describing fire status, transitioning from traditional metrics such as percentage contained or controlled, and focusing instead on key factors such as resource deployment and expected containment timelines.
Public and Citizen Safety Communications: DOF shall ensure that all impacted citizens and the general public receive timely updates and safety messages. This will be achieved by dedicating additional staff and providing specialized training for public information roles.
Elected Officials Liaison: DOF shall designate a communications liaison for local and state elected officials, ensuring they receive accurate and timely information directly from the Unified Incident Command.
3. Communication and Coordination:
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP), and other relevant state and local agencies shall coordinate closely with Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) in all wildfire incident responses.
All information regarding wildfire incidents, including situational reports, resource needs, and operational updates, shall be communicated to and through DOF before any request for additional resources is made.
DOF shall ensure that there is effective communication between the Unified Incident Command and local officials and emergency operations staff regarding fire status, potential community impacts, and resource needs.
4. Incident Command Structure:
DOF shall establish and maintain a clear and effective incident command structure for wildfire emergencies, ensuring that all participating agencies understand their roles and responsibilities.
To ensure consistency and accuracy in public and internal communications, all Commonwealth entities must utilize the information generated by the Unified Incident Command as the sole source for official updates.
5. Resource Allocation:
All resource requests related to wildfire management must originate from the Unified Incident Command, which includes DOF, local fire departments, the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP), and where applicable, federal agencies.
VDEM shall ensure that any wildfire resource requests submitted through the WebEOC, or changes to resource orders, originate from or are approved by the Unified Incident Command. This includes requests for logistical, operational and communications assistance as well as for critical wildfire resources such as trained wildland firefighters, brush trucks, and aircraft.
DOF shall coordinate with VDEM for requests involving the Virginia National Guard or other logistical needs such as fuel or food, when appropriate.
6. Development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to bolster firefighting capacity:
DOF and VDFP are directed to create and formalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) based on the following guidelines:
The MOU shall establish and maintain a cooperative agreement to provide personnel and incident management resources in support of emergency incidents, with a focus on wildfire management.
The MOU shall recognize DOF's statutory responsibility to prevent and extinguish forest fires and VDFP's role in providing technical expertise and support to Virginia's fire services.
The agreement shall outline national level training, credentialing, resource sharing, and reimbursement processes necessary to support DOF during periods of elevated wildfire occurrence or other emergencies.
Both agencies shall ensure that information flow, situational awareness, and logistical support are enhanced through this cooperative agreement, with clear roles and responsibilities defined for each agency to assist in coordination and preparedness efforts.
7. Development of a Wildfire Annex for the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan:
VDEM, DOF, and VDFP shall create and formalize a Wildfire Annex addendum to the COVEOP within the next six months.
Effective Date
This Executive Order shall be effective upon its signing and shall remain in force and effect unless amended or rescinded by further executive order or directive. Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia, this 21st day of October 2024.
/s/ Glenn Youngkin, Governor
Executive Order
Number Forty-One (2024)
Launching the Net Level Partnership to Combat Gangs and Gang Violence Across the Commonwealth
By virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the Commonwealth, I hereby issue this Executive Order to build on our Administration's successful efforts to combat the crisis of gang activity within the Commonwealth of Virginia by establishing a statewide gang and community violence prevention partnership and enforcement strategy to confront gang violence, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and violence committed with firearms, and to provide support to communities and victims.
Importance of the Initiative
National and International Criminal Organizations Drive Gang Violence, Drug Trafficking, Human Trafficking, and Violence Committed with Guns in Virginia
Criminal street gangs are responsible for an alarming percentage of violent crimes committed throughout Virginia. There are approximately 33,000 gangs in the United States with over one million gang members. Gangs in the U.S. are responsible for approximately half of the violent crimes in most jurisdictions.1 National and transnational gangs extend their reach to nearly every corner of the Commonwealth including jails, prisons, and even juvenile facilities. Gangs are linked to assaults, homicides, brutal robberies, drive-by shootings, extortion, drug trafficking, prostitution, and human trafficking, accounting for some of the most significant threats to public safety in this state. Virginia law enforcement agencies are currently combating over 6502 identified criminal street gangs and criminal organizations with local, national, and international reach. These organizations touch almost every jurisdiction in the Commonwealth and leave lasting, devastating impacts.
While these statistics are alarming, large national gangs such as MS-13, the Pagans, and associations of the Bloods and Crips have established a strong presence. Law enforcement is now dealing with the influx of Tren de Aragua, a dangerous gang that originated in Venezuela and terrorized South American countries for several years. Tren de Aragua is known for murder, drug trafficking, sex crimes, extortion, and other violent acts.
National-level gangs pose a significant threat to suburban areas because of increased connections with transnational criminal organizations and Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs). These relationships provide gangs with access to international sources of supply for illicit drugs that they commonly distribute in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Federal law enforcement officials have documented connections between transnational DTOs and 11 national-level street gangs, six national-level prison gangs, four national-level Organized Motorcycle Gangs, two regional-level street gangs, one regional-level prison gang, and three local prison gangs.
Mexican DTOs, according to law enforcement reporting, are strengthening their relationships with U.S.-based street gangs, prison gangs, and Organized Motorcycle Gangs, involving them in their drug trafficking operations. Mexican DTOs routinely use gangs to smuggle and distribute drugs, collect illicit proceeds, and serve as enforcers. In addition, Mexican DTOs often use gang members as retail-level drug distributors, creating an additional layer of protection between DTO members and law enforcement. Law enforcement officials report that Mexican drug traffickers affiliated with the Federation, the Gulf Cartel, the Judrez Cartel, and the Tijuana Cartel maintain working relationships with at least 20 street gangs, prison gangs, and Organized Motorcycle Gangs.3
Gangs are continuing to grow and spread their violence by recruiting new members. Often, these recruits are from the most vulnerable groups in our society who are lured into the gang with the promise of family and protection. Gang recruitment increasingly occurs at a young age, sometimes as young as 10 years old.
While, overall, there has been a decrease in inmates housed with the Department of Corrections since 2019, there has been an increase in confirmed gang members within the Department, from 12.8% in December 2019 to 17.6% in August 2024. During that period, of these inmates who were gang members, approximately 75% of them had violent, serious offenses, with recent numbers jumping to nearly 80%. Likewise, the number of gang members on probation or parole having a violent offense history increased to 56% of the current probation or parole population.4
Fighting Back with Operation Bold Blue Line, Operation Ceasefire, Operation FREE Virginia, and the VSP Human Trafficking Task Force
Operation Bold Blue Line, starting in 2022, has helped Virginia establish a foothold in our joint efforts to combat gangs and the violence and drugs they bring to the Commonwealth. Investments, including Operation Ceasefire and other gang violence intervention funds, were made in concert with comprehensive law enforcement, prosecutorial, and community-based initiatives. The Virginia State Police has been working collaboratively with local law enforcement, prosecutors, and the community.
Since these initiatives began, there has been a 34% decrease in murders and a 12% decrease in violent crimes in participating cities.5 Combined with Operation Free Virginia, these initiatives have helped remove over 2,000 pounds of illegal narcotics that would have a street value of $2.143 billion, including approximately 415 pounds of fentanyl. Additionally, more than $2.7 million is tied to the seizure of assets tied to illicit activity.6 Finally, these efforts have produced approximately 2,100 arrests thus far in 2024. While these efforts are a successful start, we have, by no means completed the mission.
Executive Order Seven (2022), Establishing the Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support, drove the establishment of the VSP's special unit on human trafficking. Since May 1, 2022, Virginia has opened 503 human trafficking cases and arrested 52 individuals charged with 71 felonies related to human trafficking. Multiple anti-human trafficking task forces have been created across the Commonwealth, combining state, local, tribal and federal resources to target human traffickers and those who exploit others.
Protecting Young Virginians from Gang Recruitment
In 2022, the Department of Juvenile Justice began a process of bolstering the identification and intervention methods for youth who were gang-involved. The Department implemented statewide standardized procedures and training, and increased communication with local law enforcement and members of the community. These changes allowed for a significant increase in the identification of gang-involved youth. Compared to previous years, there has been over an 800% increase in identified gang affiliation or membership. Of those with gang affiliation or membership, 70% committed a felony against a person. Identification is critical in preventing further violence as well as providing specific services to the youth.
Breaking the Prison-Gang Membership Cycle with Stand Tall Initiative
For inmates in the Department of Corrections, inmates in local and regional jails, and probationers, the Stand Tall — Stay Strong — Stay Connected initiative continues gang intervention and prevention efforts by providing pathways to successful re-entry, avoiding a return to a life of crime. Stand Tall is centered on the creation of a first in the nation, dynamic, proactive approach to supporting reentry success by measuring and acting on six key reentry success metrics: (1) gainful employment; (2) stable housing; (3) healthcare insurance coverage; (4) appropriate supervision levels; (5) necessary mental health treatment; and (6) necessary substance abuse treatment. Since April 2023, the Stand Tall initiative has resulted in 3,100 more returning citizens gaining employment, 7,100 enrolled in health care, 5,500 having appropriate supervision level, and 600 fewer probationers absconding (the first drop in 12 years).
Taking Our Fight Against Gangs to the Next-Level
The next-level of combating gangs brings together law enforcement from local, state, tribal, and federal jurisdictions with community partners in a coordinated, intelligence-driven, common-sense approach to deal with these criminal enterprises that threaten the safety and security of our citizens. Gangs must never again be allowed to operate under the cover of darkness in Virginia.
The conviction of dangerous gang members, restitution for their victims, and other assistance for victims and communities has been a top public safety priority for the Commonwealth. We must continue to ensure the dedicated people who work tirelessly to combat criminal street gang activity are equipped with the tools necessary to win this fight. Today, I propose a comprehensive plan that will support the following priorities:
Train criminal justice personnel on the identification and interdiction of gangs;
Deter criminal gang activity, trafficking, and violence committed with firearms through investigation, arrest, and enhanced prosecution;
Establish the Virginia State Police as the centralized data repository/warehouse for all Commonwealth gang related data;
Establish a Gang Intelligence Task Force composed of sworn investigators and intelligence analysts from localities around the Commonwealth. The Task Force will work to identify, document, investigate and eradicate the gangs operating in the Commonwealth. The Task Force will collect and analyze statewide criminal gang and gun violence data, trends, and intelligence to produce strategic intelligence/investigative leads which will be shared with the localities to target the gang activity in their respective areas;
Enhance anti-gang and gun awareness training for communities and schools; and
Enhance support for youth intervention, prevention, community partnerships and mentoring programs to reduce criminal street gang, trafficking, and associated violence in Virginia communities.
The initiatives created in this Order establish significant steps to make Virginia communities safer. Through this comprehensive approach we will enhance the already successful efforts in place across Virginia with structural coordination to drive partnership, data sharing, enforcement, education, prevention, and communication.
My Administration, in partnership with the Office of the Attorney General and with support of federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement, is committed to doing everything within our power to eliminate criminal gang and associated violence in our communities.
Directive
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority vested in me as the Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth, and pursuant to Article V of the Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth, I hereby order the Secretary of Public Safety & Homeland Security to establish the Commonwealth Gang Prevention Partnership between the Virginia State Police, Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, and Department of Criminal Justice Services, in collaboration with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, and any other relevant stakeholders as identified by the initiative partners to carry out the following actions:
Launching the Next-Level Partnership to Combat Gangs and Gang Violence in Virginia
1. The Secretary of Public Safety & Homeland Security, in coordination with the Virginia State Police and the Department of Criminal Justice Services, shall establish a Statewide Gang and Violence Prevention and Enforcement Program to be housed in the Virginia State Police Special Investigations and Programs Division. The program administrator shall work with the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Virginia State Police to build the Statewide Gang and Violence Prevention and Enforcement Program. Participation of federal, local, tribal, and campus law enforcement agencies shall be solicited and encouraged to foster communication across jurisdictions.
2. The Statewide Gang and Violence Prevention and Enforcement Program shall support existing gang, trafficking and violent crime task forces and intelligence groups, cover current gaps and reduce duplication of efforts, as well as provide intelligence support to the Governor's Gang Intelligence Task Force.
3. The Secretary of Public Safety & Homeland Security shall designate a liaison responsible for executive level oversight of the established cross-agency partnerships. This executive liaison will be designated from one of the agencies making up the Gang Governance Board and will rotate every two years.
Establishment of the Governor's Gang Intelligence Task Force
1. I direct the Secretary of Public Safety & Homeland Security to establish a Gang Intelligence Task Force to be comprised of all State and Local Law Enforcement agencies and the Virginia State Police, Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, the Office of the Attorney General and campus law enforcement agencies. Participation of Federal law enforcement agencies shall be solicited and encouraged to foster communication and interdiction across jurisdictions.
2. I direct the Gang Intelligence Task Force to work with local and federal authorities to support ongoing investigations aimed at identifying and combating criminal street gangs in Virginia.
3. I direct the Gang Intelligence Task Force, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, to leverage all available funding to meet local investigative and operational needs to combat gang violence and recruitment.
Data Collection and Dissemination
1. The Statewide Gang and Violence Prevention and Enforcement Program shall leverage all available funding and resources to expand and further develop statewide gang intelligence collection and reporting through the Virginia Fusion Center to enhance intervention, enforcement, and prosecution efforts. All available technology shall be leveraged for streamlining, uniformity, and compliance and for data gathering and dissemination.
2, The Virginia State Police will serve as the centralized data repository/warehouse for all Commonwealth gang related data. The Virginia State Police, along with the Gang Governance Board, shall identify the data fields required to identify and track gang intelligence and related data. Local law enforcement agencies are required to send their gang related data to the Virginia State Police monthly. All information collected and disseminated shall be governed in accordance with established Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) policies, and Va. Code § 52-48. The Department of Criminal Justice Services will track this data with the Virginia State Police reporting from all localities.
3. The Department of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Corrections, the Virginia State Police, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security are the initial members of the Gang Governance Board. Others to be added as necessary.
4. The Department of Criminal Justice Services, in conjunction with the Gang Governance Board, shall establish and promulgate guidance for uniform documentation and data collection in the investigation of security threat groups and criminal gangs.
5, The Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council shall disseminate information to all Commonwealth's Attorneys' Offices and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Virginia Sheriffs Association, information regarding the victim witness programs across the Commonwealth. In addition, they will distribute information about the Witness Protection Grant Program offered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, which includes a provision for translators and translated materials, to increase encouragement and support of witnesses during the prosecution of gang related crimes.
Prioritization of Program Resources
1. The Statewide Gang and Violence Prevention and Enforcement Program and the Department of Criminal Justice Services, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, shall leverage all available funding for law enforcement support, technology, or investigative and operational needs to combat gangs, human trafficking and violence committed with firearms in participating jurisdictions. Areas actively supporting this initiative who show an increasing presence of gang activity or risk shall have priority for available funding.
2. The Department of Criminal Justice Services shall facilitate access to all available federal and state funding, available for localities, faith-based organizations, or non-profit community mentoring programs who desire to participate in the development and provision of gang violence interventions for youth.
Education
1. The Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Criminal Justice Services, to include the Office of Safer Communities, shall leverage all resources for education, employment and workforce development to communities that are highly impacted by gangs, human trafficking and violence.
2. The Statewide Gang and Violence Prevention and Enforcement Program shall leverage all resources available to provide specialized and uniform gang training and expert certification classes for local, state, and federal law enforcement and corrections agencies on the investigation and documentation of evidence of Security Threat Groups and Criminal Street Gangs.
3. The Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall make gang, human trafficking and gun violence intervention programs available to incarcerated individuals and individuals returning to the community to provide exit or avoidance strategies and support.
Prevention
1. The Secretary of Public Safety & Homeland Security in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General shall meet with community leaders across the Commonwealth to identify, prioritize, and incorporate identified community needs and response plans.
2. The Statewide Gang and Violence Prevention and Enforcement Program, the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Virginia State Police, and the Gang Intelligence Task Force shall increase community awareness training through the "See Something Say Something" initiative to increase violence prevention and recognition in the community.
3. The Department of Criminal Justice Services shall provide gang awareness and victimization training to victim service providers, including those serving victims of human trafficking.
Gang Violence Education and Prevention for Youth
1. The Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Department of Social Services shall collaborate and explore options for the safe and appropriate handling of youth identified as possible victims of gangs, human trafficking, or violence committed with guns.
2. The Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall work collaboratively with the Office of the Attorney General to develop and implement a public awareness and media campaign aimed at preventing youth gang involvement, human trafficking, and violence committed with guns.
3. The Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General's Virginia Rules Program and the Secretary of Education, shall develop age-appropriate K-12 curriculum and training on personal safety and violence prevention in schools and the community.
Human Trafficking
1. The Department of Criminal Justice Services shall develop protocols for Human Trafficking Response Teams, standards and guidelines for treatment programs for victims and maintain a list of available treatment programs and specialized services for victims of sex and human trafficking. The Department of Criminal Justice Services will work with the Office of the Attorney General to establish these protocols, standards and guidelines.
Effective Date
This Executive Order shall be effective upon its signing and shall be in effect unless amended or rescinded by further executive order or directive. Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia, this 23rd day of October 2024.
/s/ Glenn Youngkin, Governor
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1 See World Population Review, Gangs by State 2024, available at https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/gangs-by-state; https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/000d265de2a74cadala21f555b6dd3e.
2 Department of Juvenile Justice Behavioral Investigations Unit.
3 See National-Level Gang-Drug Trafficking Organization Corrections — Attorney General's Report to Congress on the Growth of Violent Street Gangs in Suburban Areas, available at https:/www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs27/27612/national.htm; see also Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA Operation Last Mile Tracks Down Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartel Associates Operating Within the United States, May 5, 2023, available at https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2023/05/05/dea-operation-last-mile-tracks-down-sinaloa-and-jalisco-cartel-associates.
4 SR Inmates & Probationers/Parolees with Confirmed Gang Affiliations CY2019-CY2023, VADOC Research Unit, January 2024.
5 Bold Blue Line/Ceasefire Virginia Programs Successful in Getting Violent Repeat Criminals Off Streets, The Roanoke Star, Oct. 18, 2024, available at https://www.theroanokestar.com/2024/10/18/bald-blue-line-ceasefire-virginia-programs-successful-in-getting-violent-repeat-criminals-off-streets/.
6 Operation FREE Virginia data as of October 21, 2024.