| The time has come to attack the
crime problem across the board. The problem has grown too serious for
anymore piece meal approaches. Something must be done in the areas of
prevention, prosecution, and punishment. Only by addressing all of these
areas can this internal enemy of the American people be brought under
control.
A Crime Control Plan must include the
following points:
Prevention:
Ban the manufacture and importation of
firearms capable of holding more than one bullet at a time. While the
complete elimination of repeating firearms is politically impossible, we
don’t have to make the problem worse. This concept still allows the
manufacture of weapons very capable of legitimate uses - and - the
existing legal repeating firearms will increase in value as the ban goes
into effect.
Promote neighborhood watch programs
utilizing the eyes of retired Americans to protect the homes of still
working Americans. This concept provides neighborhood protection while
working Americans are on the job - and - provides useful flexible
employment for older Americans.
Establish a new maritime armed service
where young people can enlist for a single four year term crewing small
armed sailing ships protecting American interests at sea. This concept
provides a challenging confidence building experience for young people
during their formative years - and - provides the United States military
with a new and flexible capability.
Create, for obtaining a local business
license, a requirement that the head of each company spend one day a year in the local
school system explaining his or her views on what education is required
to work locally. This concept both provides students with realistic
local expectations - and - provides businesses with a look at future
employees. Both are worthwhile endeavors.
Prosecution:
"Fast Track" the prosecution of
repeat offenders. Repeat offenders should not have months in which to
commit additional crimes while awaiting trial. This concept will reduce
crime by removing repeat offenders quickly - and - reduce the court
backlog by removing some common legal delaying tactics.
Create "Special Project Teams"
to temporarily work for local officials. These teams will consist of
police officers, investigators, judges, and mobile court facilities.
At
the request of local officials a team can come in and work under the
direction of the local officials for eight months. The objective is to
clean up criminal court and investigative backlogs - and - to target
specific types of crime.
Charge the full cost of court to the
attorney initiating action in civil cases should he or she not get the
settlement requested. The effect of this concept will be to reduce the
number of cases. The benefit will be reduced civil court backlog - and -
reduced jury duty requirements.
Punishment:
Expand the use of tracking devices to
allow home and work incarceration. This concept allows judges a flexible
alternative to prison sentences - and - allows the convicted person to
continue paying his own way during punishment period. Additionally,
breaking incarceration becomes a clear cut crime itself and such
individuals can be quickly removed from society.
Develop a public works project where
young prisoners can be interned away from hardened criminals and work
for pay. These prisoners would be required to pay for their upkeep, but
at rates that will allow them to not be destitute when they are
released. This concept will remove young prisoners from the "crime
training centers" that our prisons have become - and - offer them
an option to returning to crime upon release.
Treat white collar crimes as crimes. The
punishment should always include time in the prison system. Robbing
people with a computer is still robbing, corporate executives didn’t
get into their positions without knowing what they are doing. This
concept will both produce better corporate executives -and - restore
some confidence in corporate America.
A visible and honest path to a
better life is the biggest deterrent to crime - but the certainty of
punishment comes in second. Will these initiatives eliminate crime
in America? Not a chance. But they will reduce it - they will
Make America Better.
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