Law enforcement

"Second Chance Act" Increases Funding for Ex-Offender Re-Entry Programs

April 10, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) today expressed his strong support for the enactment into law of the “Second Chance Act,” bi-partisan legislation that seeks to make communities safer by providing the resources necessary to reduce recidivism rates. Webb, a cosponsor of the measure, has made the nation’s growing prison population one of his top legislative priorities.    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster announced today that the House Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee unanimously passed H. 4309, the bill that would abolish parole for all crimes in South Carolina.

“Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Murrell Smith and the subcommittee, we have taken the first step toward restoring the public’s confidence in the criminal sentencing process,” said McMaster.

The bill now moves to the full House Judiciary Committee. A companion bill, S. 894, is currently being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Source: South Carolina Attorney General

Effort Calls for Increased Funding for Community Oriented Policing Services Program

April 9 ,2008 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is urging his Senate colleagues to fully fund a program that provides critical resources to train new law enforcement officers, invest in crime-fighting technologies, fight methamphetamine abuse, and support a range of additional law enforcement priorities.

Wisconsin police motorcycle: Photo by Michael Pereckas (CC)    » read more »

04/08/2008 -- Washington, DC – Senator John Kerry today sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) urging the Department to immediately implement recommendations that came as a direct result of an investigation Kerry requested last year.

In March of 2007, Kerry requested an investigation into DOJ’s administration of federal death benefits for the families of 34 eligible firefighters, police officers and other public safety officers who died in the line of duty.

Massachusetts firefighters: Photo by ariwriter (CC)    » read more »

Obama cosponsored legislation in 2005 to restore grant funding

April 3, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) joined a bipartisan coalition of senators in calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to fully fund the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) Program in this year's Supplemental Appropriations bill. For more than two decades, the Byrne/JAG program has provided funding each year for nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement officials to help make communities safer and improve criminal justice programs.    » read more »

Sheriffs, police chiefs to partner with the state on gang prevention efforts

March 31, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Signaling her commitment to fighting gang activity, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today signed the criminal street gang measure, House Bill 2712. In addition, the governor and Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) announced that community involvement in gang prevention and intervention program planning will be a required component of all grant applications for enforcement funds.

In expressing her appreciation to the law enforcement community and legislators for participating in a work group upon whose recommendations the bill was built, the governor said she wanted to do more.    » read more »

Senator Says Auxiliary Officers Killed in Line of Duty Deserve Full Benefits

March 27, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to grant full death benefits to the families of two New York City Auxiliary Police Officers gunned down in the line of duty.    » read more »

03/27/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued six rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction in a California court of the person or persons responsible for each of the following unsolved murder cases in California.

The following is a brief description of each crime and the reward amount offered:

* On January 26, 2005, 65-year-old James Booth was shot to death on the porch of his Hayward home. The Governor is offering a reward in the amount of $50,000. It was requested by Hayward Police Chief Lloyd Lowe.

* On April 29, 2007, 19-year-old Aaron Anthony Breaux was shot to death in Fremont. The Governor is offering a reward in the amount of $50,000. It was requested by Fremont Police Chief Craig T. Steckler.    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- MILWAUKEE – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today signed SB 176, a bill that stops payment to Milwaukee police officers after they are fired for committing a serious crime.

“With this bill, if a police officer is fired for a serious crime, pay appropriately stops after termination,” Governor Doyle said. “Milwaukee has so many great, hardworking officers who have earned the public support, so I hope the bill I am signing today moves us past controversies and lets the public recognize Milwaukee’s cops for the good work they do.“

Governor Doyle thanked Senators Coggs and Carpenter and Representative Toles for their work on the bill.

Governor Doyle also signed the following 2 bills into law today:    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Attorney General narcotics agents today arrested three men involved in a $1.6 million cocaine distributing operation in Harrisburg. One of the accused is a Pennsylvania Department of Revenue employee.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said that this investigation, known as "Operation High Stakes," put an end to John Hollins' alleged distribution scheme, which had been operating since 1987.

Pennsylvania Attorney General announces Operation High Stakes: 3 arrested in $1.6 million cocaine distributing operation bust in Harrisburg.    » read more »

- Federally supported NJ State Police program carries out provisions of Patricia’s Law

March 19, 2008 -- Trenton, NJ – The New Jersey State Police has launched a DNA identification project for long-term missing and unidentified deceased persons that supports the implementation of the state’s new New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine ceremonially signs Patricia's Law: Patricia’s Law sets new guidelines for police to follow in missing persons’ cases, including collecting DNA material. Photo: NJ Gov.'s office.    » read more »

March 18, 2008 -- Trenton, NJ – New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram today formally launched the state’s historic gun trace partnership with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the issuance of a new law enforcement directive that orders all local police departments to input data on guns used in the commission of a crime to the New Jersey State Police and the ATF.    » read more »

March 17, 2008 -- MONTGOMERY -- Alabama Governor Bob Riley wants the state to involve faith- and community-based organizations in helping prisoners who are returning to society so the ex-convicts avoid a relapse into a life of crime.

The Governor is launching a program called the Community Partnership for Recovery and Reentry, which will actively engage faith-based organizations and community groups to provide pre-release and post-release support for the ex-prisoners and the communities they are returning to as they complete their prison sentences.    » read more »

(As Entered into the Record)

March 14, 2008 -- It’s a privilege to join my colleagues in supporting the “Firearms Information Use Act” to repeal the Tiahrt Amendment and lift the veil of secrecy that currently surrounds the flow of guns in our country. The Act will give law enforcement agencies the support they need to do their job, while protecting information about undercover officers, confidential informants, ongoing investigations, and lawful firearms purchasers. It’s a basic open-government measure that is critical for the public safety of communities across America.    » read more »

Amendments Support Additional Funding for Byrne and COPS Grant Programs

March 14, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed two amendments to the 2009 budget, both cosponsored by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, to include additional funding in the budget for two programs instrumental in helping state and local law enforcement agencies fight violent crime. Feingold cosponsored an amendment by Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to provide $906 million for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program.    » read more »