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U.S. to parolees: Don't be caught with gun
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
U.S. to parolees: Don't be caught with gun
May 7, 2002
BY FRAN SPIELMAN CITY HALL REPORTER
Sixty thousand criminals on parole and probation will be getting letters from the U.S. Attorney's office warning they face federal prosecution--and the stiffer penalties that come with it--if they're caught with a gun, under a long-awaited crackdown patterned after Project Exile in Richmond, Va.
"The gang-bangers who are afraid not to have a gun ought to be scared to death of us," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said.
"We have a very simple message for those who have already been to prison and done time for crimes, particularly violent crimes: If you're thinking about carrying a gun, remember what prison was like."
The Chicago area's version of the anti-gun crackdown is known as Project Safe Neighborhoods.
It calls for law enforcement at the federal, state, county and city levels to join forces in a coordinated crackdown that targets the worst offenders for the harshest penalties.
Unlike Richmond's Project Exile, not every criminal caught with a gun will be shipped off to a federal prison out of state, far away from family and friends.
Instead, state and federal prosecutors will meet every two weeks to review state gun cases for possible federal prosecution.
"The solution is not to put everyone in jail, but to get the word out that we're prepared to take the violent people off the streets for a long time--to get that word out so that we change behavior," Fitzgerald said.
The worst cases will be routed through the federal system, primarily under the Armed Career Criminal statute. The law targets those with three prior state or federal violent felony or serious drug convictions. If they're caught with a gun, they face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison with no chance for parole.
Twenty-one federal indictments were returned last week for various gun crimes.
"It's a dream come true," said Mayor Daley, who's been hounding the feds for years to follow Richmond's lead.
"If we save one life, this program will be a success, but I believe we'll save more lives."
Monday's news conference was held in the Columbus Park Refectory in the heart of crime-ridden Austin.
The setting was more than symbolic. The 11th and 15th police districts are being singled out for special treatment because they have the greatest number of parolees and probationers.
A special task force has been created in the two districts to identify individuals and groups most responsible for gun violence, to pinpoint areas where it's most likely to occur and to provide specialized training for police officers and prosecutors.
"The fact that the federal government is involved . . . is going to make a big difference," said Ald. Michael Chandler (24th), whose ward includes parts of the 11th and 15th districts.
"If you look back at Chicago history--when we were known as a rat-a-tat-tat town with Al Capone--it took the federal agents to come in and get involved. Police weren't able to do it" alone, said Chandler.
The U.S. Attorney's office plans to add the equivalent of five federal prosecutors to work exclusively on gun crimes, while the Cook County state's attorney's office gets $485,000 for more assistants. City Hall is in line for $120,000, enough to pay an assistant corporation counsel to work exclusively on gun issues. http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-guns07.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
May 7, 2002
BY FRAN SPIELMAN CITY HALL REPORTER
Sixty thousand criminals on parole and probation will be getting letters from the U.S. Attorney's office warning they face federal prosecution--and the stiffer penalties that come with it--if they're caught with a gun, under a long-awaited crackdown patterned after Project Exile in Richmond, Va.
"The gang-bangers who are afraid not to have a gun ought to be scared to death of us," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said.
"We have a very simple message for those who have already been to prison and done time for crimes, particularly violent crimes: If you're thinking about carrying a gun, remember what prison was like."
The Chicago area's version of the anti-gun crackdown is known as Project Safe Neighborhoods.
It calls for law enforcement at the federal, state, county and city levels to join forces in a coordinated crackdown that targets the worst offenders for the harshest penalties.
Unlike Richmond's Project Exile, not every criminal caught with a gun will be shipped off to a federal prison out of state, far away from family and friends.
Instead, state and federal prosecutors will meet every two weeks to review state gun cases for possible federal prosecution.
"The solution is not to put everyone in jail, but to get the word out that we're prepared to take the violent people off the streets for a long time--to get that word out so that we change behavior," Fitzgerald said.
The worst cases will be routed through the federal system, primarily under the Armed Career Criminal statute. The law targets those with three prior state or federal violent felony or serious drug convictions. If they're caught with a gun, they face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison with no chance for parole.
Twenty-one federal indictments were returned last week for various gun crimes.
"It's a dream come true," said Mayor Daley, who's been hounding the feds for years to follow Richmond's lead.
"If we save one life, this program will be a success, but I believe we'll save more lives."
Monday's news conference was held in the Columbus Park Refectory in the heart of crime-ridden Austin.
The setting was more than symbolic. The 11th and 15th police districts are being singled out for special treatment because they have the greatest number of parolees and probationers.
A special task force has been created in the two districts to identify individuals and groups most responsible for gun violence, to pinpoint areas where it's most likely to occur and to provide specialized training for police officers and prosecutors.
"The fact that the federal government is involved . . . is going to make a big difference," said Ald. Michael Chandler (24th), whose ward includes parts of the 11th and 15th districts.
"If you look back at Chicago history--when we were known as a rat-a-tat-tat town with Al Capone--it took the federal agents to come in and get involved. Police weren't able to do it" alone, said Chandler.
The U.S. Attorney's office plans to add the equivalent of five federal prosecutors to work exclusively on gun crimes, while the Cook County state's attorney's office gets $485,000 for more assistants. City Hall is in line for $120,000, enough to pay an assistant corporation counsel to work exclusively on gun issues. http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-guns07.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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Three is two too many.