Crime
Reducing Crime and Strengthening Communities
In an effort to reduce crime nationwide, Senator Reed helped pass legislation to allow local police departments across the country to hire 100,000 new police officers through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. Since 1994, Rhode Island communities have hired nearly 400 police officers through the program.
Reed has worked hard to provide law enforcement officers and first responders with the equipment they need. He hosts an annual FIRE grant workshop which Rhode Island fire departments have used to obtain over $11 million in federal support to improve their emergency response capabilities. He has also cosponsored legislation to provide police officers with life-saving bulletproof vests. Since 1999, this program has helped Rhode Island police departments purchase over 6,200 vests.
Senator Reed has also worked to curb drug use and reduce juvenile crime. He fought for initiatives like the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program, which focuses on out of school-hours activities for children that have been proven to reduce crime, drug use, and teen pregnancy.
Reed has also sought to provide law enforcement with the resources they need to deter, prevent, and prosecute sex offenders and child predators. He has supported measures such as Meghan's Law and the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Database Act to crack down on violent offenders who prey on the most vulnerable members of our society.
A member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS), Reed has worked hard to secure billions of dollars for local communities to create a unified, interoperable, emergency communications system so police, firefighters, and homeland security officials can talk and exchange data with each other during emergencies.
He recently succeeded in including over $3.6 million for Rhode Island public safety, anti-drug, and anti-gang initiatives in the 2009 CJS spending bill that was approved by the full Appropriations Committee. Reed authored provisions in the bill to help the Providence Police Department focus on reducing drug-related crime and violence in neighborhoods by targeting street dealers. He also secured funding in the bill to assist the Pawtucket Police Department with keeping at-risk children in school and away from crime and violence.
Reed has also worked at the federal level to provide the Rhode Island Department of Corrections with the resources it needs to strengthen its prisoner reentry program. By providing inmates who have served their time and are preparing to be released with job-skill training, substance abuse treatment, and other support services, it increases their opportunity to successfully transition back into society as law-abiding citizens. This is a sound investment in safeguarding our communities and reducing the chances that ex-offenders will become re-offenders.
Learn more about Senator Reed's efforts to improve Rhode Island's emergency response capabilities and bolster our homeland security.
Recent News:
Rhode Island to Receive Nearly $900,000 to Aid Victims of Crime
Rhode Island State Police Receives $250,000 to Combat Online Predators
RI Department of Corrections Receives Nearly $300,000 for Female Prisoner Reentry Initiative
Outside Links:
