Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) unveiled new comprehensive anti-crime legislation called the 2007 Biden Crime Bill on October 25, 2007. This bill is based upon a three-part approach to reduction of crime by investment in prevention programs, dedication of federal support to community-oriented policing, and ensuring that offenders serve tough-but-fair prison sentences. The bill specifically addresses modern issues such as computer hacking, on-line child exploitation, intellectual property violations, and teenage prescription drug abuse. It tackles the challenges everyday police officers face post 9/11, including increased homeland security duties and fewer federal resources. The 2007 Biden Crime Bill also authorizes funds to hire 50,000 new police officers and 1,000 new FBI agents.
Specifically, the 2007 Biden Crime Bill will:
Reauthorize the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The 2007 Biden Crime Bill revitalizes the Department of Justice COPS program by authorizing $1.15 billion per year, with $600 million set aside for hiring over the next six years. The legislation authorizes: $600 million per year for the police hiring program – enough for up to 50,000 officers to combat terrorism, school violence, and engage in community policing; $350 million per year for police departments to acquire new technology and equipment to track and fight crime; and $200 million per year to help local district attorneys hire and train community prosecutors.
Add 1,000 FBI Agents to Focus on Traditional Crime. Since 2001, between 1,000 and 2,400 FBI criminal investigators have been transitioned away from traditional crime fighting to focus on terrorism, without being replaced. The 2007 Biden Crime Bill authorizes $160 million per year for the next four years to fund an additional 1,000 FBI field agents to fight violent crime.
Add 500 Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Agents to Fight Drug Trafficking. The DEA has been suffering from a hiring freeze that has crippled the agency’s ability to deny funding to drug trafficking organizations. The 2007 Biden Crime Bill authorizes these desperately needed agents.
Reduce Recidivism. To reduce recidivism and crime, this bill with help ex-offenders successfully re-enter and re-integrate into their communities. It provides more than $1 billion for substance abuse treatment programs, academic and vocational education programs, housing and job counseling programs, and mentoring for offenders who are approaching release and who have been released.
Create A National Commission on Crime Intervention And Prevention Strategies. The bill will create a central source to identify successful intervention and prevention programs and provide resources and guidance to help state and local law implement those strategies.
Curb the Rise in Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse. To counter the growing movement teen prescription drug abuse, the bill restores and ratchets up critical funding for prevention and treatment, authorizes new grant programs that are tailored to emerging drug threats, and shuts down rogue, Internet pharmacies that do not require a prescription.
Stop Senseless Gun Violence: Renewing the Assault Weapons Ban and Closing the Gun Show Loophole. The Biden Crime Bill provides for a straight-forward reauthorization of the assault weapons ban, closing the so-called gun show loophole by requiring all gun show sales submit to federal background checks, just like any store-based firearm sale.
Update Current Law to Keep Up with Changing Technologies: The 2007 Biden Crime Bill also updates federal laws relating to child exploitation and violence against children, drug possession and trafficking, firearms, computer crimes and intellectual property and victims rights.
Specifically, the 2007 Biden Crime Bill will:
Reauthorize the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The 2007 Biden Crime Bill revitalizes the Department of Justice COPS program by authorizing $1.15 billion per year, with $600 million set aside for hiring over the next six years. The legislation authorizes: $600 million per year for the police hiring program – enough for up to 50,000 officers to combat terrorism, school violence, and engage in community policing; $350 million per year for police departments to acquire new technology and equipment to track and fight crime; and $200 million per year to help local district attorneys hire and train community prosecutors.
Add 1,000 FBI Agents to Focus on Traditional Crime. Since 2001, between 1,000 and 2,400 FBI criminal investigators have been transitioned away from traditional crime fighting to focus on terrorism, without being replaced. The 2007 Biden Crime Bill authorizes $160 million per year for the next four years to fund an additional 1,000 FBI field agents to fight violent crime.
Add 500 Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Agents to Fight Drug Trafficking. The DEA has been suffering from a hiring freeze that has crippled the agency’s ability to deny funding to drug trafficking organizations. The 2007 Biden Crime Bill authorizes these desperately needed agents.
Reduce Recidivism. To reduce recidivism and crime, this bill with help ex-offenders successfully re-enter and re-integrate into their communities. It provides more than $1 billion for substance abuse treatment programs, academic and vocational education programs, housing and job counseling programs, and mentoring for offenders who are approaching release and who have been released.
Create A National Commission on Crime Intervention And Prevention Strategies. The bill will create a central source to identify successful intervention and prevention programs and provide resources and guidance to help state and local law implement those strategies.
Curb the Rise in Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse. To counter the growing movement teen prescription drug abuse, the bill restores and ratchets up critical funding for prevention and treatment, authorizes new grant programs that are tailored to emerging drug threats, and shuts down rogue, Internet pharmacies that do not require a prescription.
Stop Senseless Gun Violence: Renewing the Assault Weapons Ban and Closing the Gun Show Loophole. The Biden Crime Bill provides for a straight-forward reauthorization of the assault weapons ban, closing the so-called gun show loophole by requiring all gun show sales submit to federal background checks, just like any store-based firearm sale.
Update Current Law to Keep Up with Changing Technologies: The 2007 Biden Crime Bill also updates federal laws relating to child exploitation and violence against children, drug possession and trafficking, firearms, computer crimes and intellectual property and victims rights.
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