Legislative Information
Useful resources concerning crime prevention legislation
Members can use the Legislative Information Center to
- Gather information on proposed legislation related to crime, violence, and substance abuse prevention
- Find contact information for elected federal and state officials and their staffs
- Learn about the federal legislative process
Follow these links to find your senators and representatives:
Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2007
A bill was recently introduced in the House of Representatives to make changes to Title XV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The proposed changes will occur in the following sections:
- SEC. 150010. Designation of and Assistance for High-Intensity Interstate Gang Activity Areas.
- SEC. 3. Grants to State and Local Prosecutors To Combat Violent Crime and To Protect Witnesses and Victims of Crimes.
- SEC. 31707. Authorization of Appropriations.
To read the full report, click here.
Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act of 2007
This bill contains three major elements: Prevention and Economic Empowerment, Suppression and Community Anti-gang Initiatives, and Punishment and Improved Crime Data. Each of these elements contains several subtitles which include reauthorization of programming, call for increased penalties for crimes committed, provide additional grants and funding for programming, and economic empowerment to name a few. This bill was introduced to the House Judiciary Committee on March 26, 2007
To read this full report click here.
Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007
Hate crime acts are those offenses involving actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin in which a person, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive or incendiary device attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person. This bill will allow for harsher sentencing should there be an attempt to kill a victim or if a victim of hate crimes is killed, kidnapped, or sexually assaulted.
To read this full report click here.
The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program: Background and Context
This report discusses various aspects of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSCA) as it exists under current law. The discussion is prefaced with background information about school safety and drug abuse issues and the impact of the SDFSC program, if any, on these issues.
Click here to read the full memorandum from Gallery Watch.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Sex Offender Registration and Related Provisions of H.R. 4472, H.R. 3132, and S. 1086
This memorandum provides a side-by-side analysis of various sex offender-related provisions in the Children’s Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2006 (H.R. 4472), the Children’s Safety Act of 2005 (H.R. 3132), and the Jacob Wetterling, Megan Nicole Kanka, and Pam Lychner Sex Offender Registration and Notification Grant Act (S. 1086). The House passed H.R. 4472 and H.R. 3132 on March 8, 2006 and September 14, 2005, respectively; the Senate passed S. 1086 on May 4, 2006. Among others, provisions analyzed in this memorandum include
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Registration requirements for sex offenders
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Registration requirements for jurisdictions and monitoring of sex offenders
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National sex offender public website
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National sex offender registry
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Address verification procedures
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Community notification
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Studies and reports on effectiveness of programs
Click here to read the full memorandum from Gallery Watch.
School Safety Resources for Parents, Schools, Law Enforcement Officials, and Communities
To further the goals of the Conference On School Safety, some existing resources for parents, schools, law enforcement officials, and communities appear below. These resources deal with helping schools and communities prepare for and prevent school violence, and cope with and respond to instances of violence. The list also includes statistics and research on school safety and has been prepared by Gallerywatch.com.
Safety Resources for Parents, Schools, Law Enforcement Officials, and Communities.pdf
An Emergency Communications Safety Net: Integrating 911 and Other Services
Congress and other entities are reviewing the present capability and future effectiveness of America's network of emergency telecommunications services. Emergency 911 calls on both landline and wireless networks are considered by many to be part of the public safety network. As technologies that can support 911 improve, many are seeing the possibility of integrating 911 into a wider safety net of emergency communications and alerts.
To read this full report to Congress, click here.
Cybercrime
Forty-three countries, including the United States, signed the Council of Europe’s Convention on Cybercrime of November 2001. The U.S. Senate ratified the Convention on August 3, 2006. The Convention seeks to better combat cybercrime by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative abilities, and boosting international cooperation. Supporters argue that the Convention will enhance deterrence, while critics counter it will have little effect without participation by countries in which cybercriminals operate freely. Others warn it will endanger privacy and civil liberties.
To read this full report to Congress, click here.
