Michael Crapo on Crime Republican Sr Senator (ID)

Punish convicts to the highest extent of the law

In the wake of numerous controversial court decisions at the District, Appellate and Supreme Court levels, many Americans have become disillusioned with our current judicial system.

We have seen an explosion in the availability of illegal drugs and criminal activity in many parts of the country. We want our families to live in safe communities, attend schools where violence and illegal drugs have no place and patronize businesses that adhere to a code of ethics. It is equally important that homes be safe havens. I have worked for laws that will protect our families and communities, and enforce equal protection under the law.

Broaden use of death penalty

Supports the following principles concerning crime:
• Broaden use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
• Fund programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
• Expand funding for community policing programs.
• Increase funding for local Boys & Girls Clubs and other independent organizations in communities with at-risk youth.

More prisons, more truth in sentencing

Supports the following principles concerning crime:
• Increase spending to build more federal prisons.
• Impose “truth in sentencing” for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole.
• Increase penalties for the possession of any illegal firearms.
• Prosecute youths accused of a felony as adults.

Voted NO on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program.

Proponents recommend voting YES because:

This amendment reinstates the COPS Program. I remind everyone, when the COPS Program was functioning, violent crime in America reduced 8.5% a year for 7 years in a row. Throughout the 1990s, we funded the COPS Program at roughly $1.2 billion, and it drove down crime. Now crime is rising again. The COPS Program in the crime bill worked, and the Government Accounting Office found a statistical link between the COPS grants and a reduction in crime. The Brookings Institution reported the COPS Program is one of the most cost-effective programs we have ever had in this country. Local officials urgently need this support.

Opponents recommend voting NO because:

The COPS Program has some history. It was started by President Clinton. He asked for 100,000 police officers. He said that when we got to 100,000, the program would stop. We got to 110,000 police officers and the program continues on and on and on.

This program should have ended 5 years ago or 6 years ago, but it continues. It is similar to so many Federal programs that get constituencies that go on well past what their original purpose was. It may be well intentioned, but we cannot afford it and we shouldn't continue it. It was never thought it would be continued this long.

Voted NO on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program.

Voted YES on allowing Habeus Corpus appeals in capital cases.

Voted YES on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals.

Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder.

Voted NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment.

Rated 25% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes.

CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants) is a membership organization of families of prisoners, prisoners, former prisoners and other concerned citizens. CURE's two goals are

1. to use prisons only for those who have to be in them; and
2. for those who have to be in them, to provide them all the rehabilitative opportunities they need to turn their lives around.

Supports capital punishment for certain crimes.

The Christian Coalition voter guide [is] one of the most powerful tools Christians have ever had to impact our society during elections. This simple tool has helped educate tens of millions of citizens across this nation as to where candidates for public office stand on key faith and family issues.

The CC survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Capital punishment for certain crimes, such as first degree murder & terrorism"

More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty.

[As part of the Contract with America, within 100 days we pledge to bring to the House Floor the following bill]:

The Taking Back Our Streets Act:
An anti-crime package including stronger truth in sentencing, “good faith” exclusionary rule exemptions, effective death penalty provisions, and cuts in social spending from this summer’s crime bill to fund prison construction and additional law enforcement to keep people secure in their neighborhoods and kids safe in their schools.