Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) on Wednesday introduced legislation that would lay the groundwork for identifying useful crime prevention and intervention programs for state and local law enforcement agencies.
Russ Feingold (Gov)
The Prevention Resources for Eliminating Criminal Activity Using Tailored Interventions in Our Neighborhoods Act, dubbed the PRECAUTION Act, would establish a national commission that would act as a resource for state and local officials looking for proven law enforcement strategies.
The nine-member panel, which would include a Justice Department Office of Justice Programs official and crime experts, would draft a report on successful plans for state and local agencies to use. The commission also would identify promising programs that would be tried out in select municipalities using DOJ grant money.
“It is a long name, but it stands for an important principle — that it is better to invest in precautionary measures now than it is to pay the costs of crime — both in dollars and lives — later on,” Feingold said in a Senate floor statement Wednesday.
Feingold said state and local law enforcement officials have called for a resource to find effective crime prevention and intervention programs without sacrificing their limited funds.
“There is particular urgency for this bill as state and federal budget shortfalls continue and state and local law enforcement are forced to do more with fewer resources,” Feingold said. “There is no doubt that money is tight, which makes it all the more important that innovative and cost-effective law enforcement strategies that benefit both public safety and the government bottom line are being used in our communities.”
Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) is a co-sponsor of the bill.
