NCJ Number
79786
Date Published
1981
Length
430 pages
Annotation
Testimony is presented on Federal, State, and local law enforcement cooperation, particularly regarding Federal disaster assistance, and the insanity defense. Speakers include city officials from Atlanta, law professors, and attorneys. Further discussion on these and other issues is presented.
Abstract
A concerted attack on crime must involve every level of government. The Federal role should be to conduct and underwrite research into the violent crime problem, to assist State and local governments financially, to develop an emergency assistance program for local agencies, and to provide technical assistance. Financial assistance is needed to respond to short-term crises and to encourage skills and program development. An on-going mechanism at the Federal and local levels is needed to concentrate on violent crime control. In addition, the insanity defense should not be abolished, and violent crime should be addressed by providing the resources to make prosecution swifter, conviction more accurately related to the crimes committed, and sentencing not longer but more certain. Issues of commitment and release should be addressed and the definition of dangerousness clarified. The history of the insanity defense and its course in Federal criminal law are also addressed along with the question of incompetency as a pretrial determination. Inexpensive methods of enhancing Federal, State, and local law enforcement operations are mentioned, with attention to the role of the U.S. Attorney, and San Diego's Cross-Designation Program, which switches the duties of Deputy District Attorneys with Assistant U.S. Attorneys, is described. The final speaker suggests some measures government can take to combat violent crime, including the establishment of a national, intergovernmental council to address the problem and coordinate programs. No references are supplied.