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

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