Among the primary responsibilities of government is the protection of our citizens from crime and the prompt and fair administration of justice. To achieve these goals, we have in recent years enacted the Violent Felony Offender and Juvenile Offender Laws, reformed the State's drug laws and passed legislation to end the proliferation of illegal handguns in our State. To support these legislative initiatives, we have provided additional court facilities and expanded State prison capacity. In addition, we have pursued, with equal vigor, programs to prevent young people from becoming involved in criminal activities and to rehabilitate criminal offenders.

We have also achieved significant judical reform, including merit selection of Court of Appeals judges, streamlined procedures for judicial discipline, centralized administration of the courts and State takeover of court costs. Each of these accomplishments has increased the efficiency and quality of the administration of justice.

However, crime continues to plague our society. I believe that further success in our efforts to control crime will to a large degree depend upon our willingness to reevaluate current programs, embrace new and innovative approaches, and establish comprehensive, long-range criminal justice strategies. And our success depends, most importantly, upon our ability to address the underlying causes of crime with the same determination with which we address the apprehension of criminals.

Such an approach requires that we reach out for individuals in the private sector who have demonstrated an ability to address and resolve complex problems. A mechanism must be created to permit such individuals to bring their skills to bear on the problem of crime, in a coordinated effort with State and local criminal justice officials. This goal can best be achieved by the establishment of an Executive Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice, composed of distinguished citizens representing the various sectors of our society, including business, labor, the academic world and experts in the field of criminal justice.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Hugh L. Carey, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, do hereby establish an Executive Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice.

I. Powers and Responsibilities

The Executive Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice shall:

II. Membership

The members of the Executive Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice shall be appointed by the Governor, who shall designate the chairman. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for any necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties.

III. Personnel

The chairman may employ such staff and assistants as the chairman may deem necessary, at a compensation to be fixed by him subject to the approval of the Division of the Budget. Wherever possible, the commission shall make use of existing staff and resources in the various State agencies, which are hereby directed to render full cooperation and assistance to the commission.