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| Wilson: Project Exile Needed in NM |
April 11, 2000 |
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Bill Provides Incentives for States to Aggressively Prosecute Violent Criminals Who Use Guns
WASHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Heather Wilson today hailed passage of the “Project Exile: The Safe Streets and Neighborhood Act of 2000,” of which she was an original cosponsor. The bill would help make neighborhoods and communities safer by providing flexible grants to states that commit to vigorously prosecute violent criminals who use guns. Wilson has urged Governor Johnson to consider implementing the program in New Mexico.
“If you are a violent criminal who uses a gun I don’t want to see you in my neighborhood for a long time,” said Wilson. “We want safe neighborhoods where our children play and go to school. Project Exile sends a clear message to violent criminals that we will not tolerate gun crimes. This is a proven, common sense approach to stopping violent crime and I hope New Mexico will strongly consider adopting this successful program.”
The Project Exile Act will provide resources to states that ensure a mandatory minimum sentence of five years (without parole) for any adult who uses or carries a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) or serious drug trafficking offense (an offense under state law involving manufacturing or distributing a controlled substance, for which a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more is prescribed by law).
“In states and communities around the country where aggressive prosecution of gun crimes has been coupled with tough prison sentences, violent crime has gone down dramatically,” said Wilson. “This bill would provide $100 million over the next 5 years as an incentive for states to implement such programs.”
In order to qualify for grants, states must take three steps: 1) require a mandatory minimum sentence without parole for anyone who uses or carries a firearm in any violent crime or serious drug trafficking offense, or for a violent convict who is caught possessing gun; 2) implement a public awareness campaign to make violent criminals aware of the tough sentences for gun crimes; and, 3) work with federal law enforcement authorities to promote federal cooperation to ensure criminals who use guns receive tough sentences.
Qualifying states would be allowed to use their funds to strengthen their criminal and juvenile justice systems in a wide variety of ways: hiring and training more judges, prosecutors and probation officers; increasing prison capacity; and developing information-sharing case management systems to build case files for serious offenders.
Project Exile is based on a successful program in Richmond, Virginia where the local DA agreed with the U.S. attorney to prosecute violent criminals who use guns in the federal courts where, if convicted, they get a minimum five year sentence.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Albuquerque was recently named as one of 15 cities nationwide to share $7.1 million in increased funds for firearms prosecutions. “Albuquerque now has the money for two new Assistant U.S. Attorneys to prosecute violent criminals who use guns. We can start this today in New Mexico, and I would like to see that happen,” Wilson said.
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