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| Wilson Announces Gun Violence Prosecution Funding |
January 24, 2002 |
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Funds will give Albuquerque courts the ability
to bring more violent criminals to justice
Washington, DC-Congresswoman Heather Wilson announced today that the Community Gun Violence Program administered by the New Mexico Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office has been awarded a $480,000 grant to increase the prosecution of crimes involving guns. This program, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), will provide funding directly to chief prosecutors to hire assistant prosecutors who will focus their attention on prosecuting violent crimes, drug trafficking and gang-related crimes.
“In New Mexico we’ve been working diligently to end the scourge of violent crime,” said Wilson. “With this funding, we can focus our efforts, and achieve our goals more quickly. We will let criminals know that in Albuquerque, offenders that use guns during a crime will not be let off easy.”
The Community Gun Violence Program was set up by the U.S. Department of Justice to send resources directly to local jurisdictions, giving them the ability to swiftly prosecute violent crimes committed with guns. The resources provided under this program will help pay the salary costs of prosecutors dedicated to prosecuting firearm-related violent crimes for a 3-year period. They will also be required to retain this counsel for one year following the end of the program.
For more information, members of the media may contact District Attorney Kari Brandenburg at (505) 841-7023.
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