109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1322
To allow for the prosecution of members of criminal street gangs,
and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 28, 2005
Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. KENNEDY, and Mr. FEINGOLD) introduced
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
A BILL
To allow for the prosecution of members of criminal street gangs,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `American Neighborhoods Taking
the Initiative--Guarding Against Neighborhood Gangs Act of 2005' or the `ANTI-GANG
Act'.
(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
TITLE I--CRIMINAL STREET GANGS
Sec. 101. Criminal street gangs; definitions
Sec. 102. Criminal street gangs prohibited acts, penalties, and forfeiture
Sec. 103. Clerical amendments
Sec. 104. Conforming amendments
Sec. 105. Designation of and assistance for `high intensity' interstate
gang activity areas
Sec. 106. Gang prevention grants
Sec. 107. Gang prevention information grants
Sec. 108. Enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative to improve
enforcement of criminal laws against violent gangs
Sec. 109. Additional resources needed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
to investigate and prosecute violent criminal street gangs
Sec. 110. Expansion of Federal witness relocation and protection program
Sec. 111. Grants to State and local prosecutors to protect witnesses and
victims of crime
Sec. 112. Witness protection services
TITLE II--RELATED MATTERS INVOLVING VIOLENT CRIME PROSECUTION
Sec. 201. Study on expanding Federal authority for juvenile offenders
Sec. 202. Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act
TITLE I--CRIMINAL STREET GANGS
SEC. 100. FINDINGS.
(1) violent crime and drug trafficking are pervasive problems at the national,
State, and local level;
(2) the crime rate is exacerbated by the association of persons in gangs
to commit acts of violence and drug offenses;
(3) according to the most recent National Drug Threat Assessment, criminal
street gangs are responsible for the distribution of much of the cocaine,
methamphetamine, heroin, and other illegal drugs being distributed in rural
and urban communities throughout the United States;
(4) gangs commit acts of violence or drug offenses for numerous motives,
such as membership in or loyalty to the gang, for protecting gang territory,
and for profit;
(5) gang presence has a pernicious effect on the free flow of commerce in
local businesses and directly affects the freedom and security of communities
plagued by gang activity;
(6) gangs often recruit and utilize minors to engage in acts of violence
and other serious offenses out of a belief that the criminal justice systems
are more lenient on juvenile offenders;
(7) gangs often intimidate and threaten witnesses to prevent successful
prosecutions;
(8) gang recruitment can be deterred both through increased vigilance, strong
criminal penalties, equal partnerships with State and local law enforcement,
and proactive intervention efforts, particularly targeted at juveniles,
prior to gang involvement; and
(9) State and local prosecutors, in hearings before the Committee on the
Judiciary of the Senate, enlisted Congress's help in the prevention, investigation,
and prosecution of gang crimes and in the protection of witnesses and victims
of gang crimes.
SEC. 101. CRIMINAL STREET GANGS; DEFINITIONS.
Section 521 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
`Sec. 521. Criminal street gang; definitions
`As used in this chapter:
`(1) CRIMINAL STREET GANG-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The term `criminal street gang' means an ongoing formal
or informal group, club, organization, or association of 3 or more persons
through or for which they individually, jointly, or in combination, have
committed or attempted to commit, for the direct or indirect benefit of,
at the direction of, or in association with the group, club, organization,
or association, 3 or more unrelated predicate gang crimes, provided that--
`(i) one of the predicate gang crimes is a violent gang crime;
`(ii) one predicate gang crime must occur after the date of enactment
of the ANTI-GANG Act, and the last of which must occur not later than
10 years (excluding any period of imprisonment) after the commission
of a prior predicate gang crime; and
`(iii) the activities of the criminal street gang must substantially
affect interstate or foreign commerce.
`(i) IN GENERAL- As used in this paragraph, the term `ongoing', means
that the criminal street gang has an independent identity and existence
extending beyond the planning or carrying out of any offense or series
of offenses which happen to be predicate gang crimes.
`(ii) FACTORS- The presence or absence of any of the following evidentiary
factors is relevant to show the existence or nonexistence of an ongoing
criminal street gang, or to show that any predicate gang crime was committed
through or for a criminal street gang:
`(I) A common name, insignia, flag, means of recognition, secret signal
or code.
`(II) A common creed, belief, structure, leadership or command structure,
method of operation or criminal enterprise, concentration or specialty.
`(III) Membership, age or other qualifications, initiation rites,
geographical or territorial situs, boundary, or location, or other
unifying mark, manner, protocol, or method of expressing or indicating
membership.
`(C) THREE OR MORE PERSONS- As used in this paragraph, the term `3 or
more persons', shall not require that the same 3 or more persons be involved
in 2 or more predicate gang crimes.
`(D) UNRELATED- As used in this paragraph, the term `unrelated', means
that the predicate gang crimes are not part of a single course of conduct
with a single criminal objective, and do not represent essentially 1 composite
harm even if such gang crimes constitute legally distinct offenses occurring
at different times. Violent gang crimes committed on different days shall
always be considered to be unrelated.
`(2) PREDICATE GANG CRIME- The term `predicate gang crime', means any act
or threat, or attempted act or threat, which is chargeable under Federal
or State law, and punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year, involving--
`(A) a violent gang crime, which includes--
`(xii) explosive materials under subsection (d), (e), (f), or (i) of
section 844;
`(B) a `serious drug offense', as that term is defined under section 924(e)(2)(A);
`(C) obstruction of justice (including offenses under sections 1503 and
1510);
`(D) tampering with or retaliating against a witness, victim, or informant
(including offenses under sections 1512 and 1513);
`(E) fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents
or access devices under sections 1028 and 1029;
`(F) interference with commerce by threats of violence under section 1951;
`(G) money laundering under section 1956;
`(H) engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified
unlawful activity under section 1957;
`(I) the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire;
`(J) the interstate transportation, sale, or receipt of stolen goods under
sections 2312 through 2315;
`(K) the receipt, possession, and transfer of firearms, except for violations
of section 922(g); or
`(L) any act involving the Immigration and Nationality Act, section 274
(relating to bringing in and harboring certain aliens), section 277 (relating
to aiding or assisting certain aliens to enter the United States), or
section 278 (relating to importation of aliens for immoral purposes).
`(3) STATE- The term `State' means each of the several States of the United
States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession
of the United States.'.
SEC. 102. CRIMINAL STREET GANGS--PROHIBITED ACTS, PENALTIES, AND FORFEITURE.
Chapter 26 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following:
`Sec. 522. Prohibited acts; penalties and forfeiture
`(a) Recruitment and Retention in Criminal Street Gangs- It shall be unlawful
for any person--
`(1) to recruit, solicit, command, employ, persuade, induce, entice, or
coerce any person to become a member of or participate in, any criminal
street gang with the intent that the person recruited will do any act to
effect the criminal activities of a criminal street gang; or
`(2) by use of force, threat, or intimidation directed at any person, or
by the infliction of bodily injury upon any person, to knowingly prevent
a person from leaving a criminal street gang.
`(b) Participation in a Criminal Street Gang- It shall be unlawful for any
person--
`(1) to do any act with the intent to effect the criminal activities of
a criminal street gang;
`(2) to commit, attempt to commit, aid or abet the commission of, or conspire
to commit any predicate gang crime--
`(A) in furtherance or in aid of the activities of the criminal street
gang;
`(B) for the direct or indirect benefit of the criminal street gang, or
in association with the criminal street gang; or
`(C) for the purpose of gaining entrance to, or maintaining or increasing
position in, the criminal street gang;
while knowingly being a member of or participating in a criminal street
gang; or
`(3) to employ, use, command, counsel, persuade, induce, entice, or coerce
any individual to commit any predicate gang crime--
`(A) in furtherance or in aid of the activities of the criminal street
gang;
`(B) for the direct or indirect benefit of the criminal street gang, or
in association with the criminal street gang; or
`(C) for the purpose of gaining entrance to or maintaining or increasing
position in the criminal street gang;
while knowingly being a member of or participating in a criminal street
gang.
`(c) Witness Intimidation- It shall be unlawful for any person to travel in
interstate or foreign commerce, or use the mail or any facility in interstate
or foreign commerce, or to employ, use, command, counsel, persuade, induce,
entice, or coerce any individual to do the same, to threaten, influence, or
prevent from testifying any witness in a Federal or State criminal proceeding--
`(1) in furtherance or in aid of the activities of a criminal street gang;
`(2) for the direct or indirect benefit of, at the direction of, or in association
with a criminal street gang; or
`(3) for the purpose of gaining entrance to or maintaining or increasing
position in a criminal street gang.
`(d) Underlying Offenses-
`(1) NO LIMITATION ON UNDERLYING OFFENSES- Nothing in this section shall
be construed to prohibit the conviction or sentencing of any person for
an underlying offense that is included in the definition of `predicate gang
crimes'.
`(2) VENUE FOR UNDERLYING OFFENSES- Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, venue for any Federal underlying offense charged as a predicate
gang crime in a prosecution under this section shall lie in the same district
as a prosecution under this section.
`(1) RECRUITING- Whoever violates subsection (a)(1) or (b)(1) of this section
shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than 3 years, or
both; provided that if the person recruited under subsection (a)(1) is a
minor and the violator is 18 years of age or older, then the violator shall
be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
`(2) PREVENTING FROM LEAVING- Whoever violates subsection (a)(2) or (c)
shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or
both; provided that if the person prevented from leaving under subsection
(a)(2) is a minor and the violator is 18 years of age or older, then the
violator shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 15 years,
or both.
`(3) GANG CRIMES- Whoever violates subsection (b)(2) or (b)(3) shall be
fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both; except--
`(A) where the predicate gang crime is a serious drug offense, then whoever
violates these subsections shall be fined under this title, imprisoned
not more than 30 years, or both; or
`(B) where the predicate gang crime is a violent gang crime, whoever violates
these subsections shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for any
term of years or for life, or both.
`(1) IN GENERAL- A person who violates any provision of this section shall,
in addition to any other penalty and irrespective of any provision of State
law, forfeit to the United States--
`(A) any property constituting, or derived from, any proceeds the person
obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the violation; and
`(B) any property used, or intended to be used, in any manner or part,
to commit, or to facilitate the commission of the violation.
`(2) APPLICATION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT- Subsections (b), (c), (e),
(f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), and (p) of section 413
of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 853) shall apply to a forfeiture
under this section.
`(g) Certification by the United States Attorney- No prosecution of any offense
described under this section involving a predicate gang crime that is otherwise
exclusively chargeable under State law shall be undertaken by the United States
except upon the certification in writing of the Attorney General, the Deputy
Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General, any Assistant Attorney General
specially designated by the Attorney General, or the United States attorney
for the district in which the offense will be prosecuted, after consultation
with State and local prosecutors, that in his judgment a prosecution by the
United States is in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial
justice, which function of certification may not be delegated.'.
SEC. 103. CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.
The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 26 of title 18, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
`521. Criminal street gangs; definitions.
`522. Prohibited acts; penalties and forfeiture.'.
SEC. 104. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Authorization of Interception of Wire, Oral, and Electronic Communications-
Section 2516(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (q), by striking `or';
(2) by redesignating paragraph (r) as paragraph (s); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (q) the following:
`(r) any violation of section 522 (relating to criminal street gangs); or'.
(b) Orders for Restitution- Section 3663(c)(4) of title 18, United States
Code, is amended by striking `chapter 46 or chapter 96' and inserting `chapters
26, 46, or 96'.
(c) Amendment of Special Sentencing Provision Prohibiting Prisoner Communications-
Section 3582(d) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting `chapter 26 (criminal street gangs),' before `chapter 95';
and
(2) by inserting `a criminal street gang or' before `an illegal enterprise'.
SEC. 105. DESIGNATION OF AND ASSISTANCE FOR `HIGH INTENSITY' INTERSTATE
GANG ACTIVITY AREAS.
(a) Definitions- In this section:
(1) GOVERNOR- The term `Governor' means a Governor of a State or the mayor
of the District of Columbia.
(2) HIGH INTENSITY INTERSTATE GANG ACTIVITY AREA- The term `high intensity
interstate gang activity area' means an area within a State that is designated
as a high intensity interstate gang activity area under subsection (b)(1).
(3) HIGH INTENSITY INTERSTATE GANG AND DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA- The term `high
intensity interstate gang and drug trafficking area' means an area within
a State that is cross-designated as a high intensity interstate gang and
drug trafficking area under subsection (b)(2).
(4) STATE- The term `State' means a State of the United States, the District
of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United
States. The term `State' shall include an `Indian tribe', as defined under
section 102 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25
U.S.C. 479a).
(b) High Intensity Interstate Gang Activity Areas-
(1) DESIGNATION- The Attorney General, after consultation with the Governors
of appropriate States, may designate specific areas that are located within
1 or more States as high intensity interstate gang activity areas.
(2) CROSS-DESIGNATION- The Attorney General, after consultation with the
Governors of appropriate States and the Director of the Office of National
Drug Control Policy, may cross-designate specific areas already designated
as high intensity interstate drug trafficking areas under section 707 of
the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 (21
U.S.C. 1706) as high intensity interstate gang and drug trafficking areas.
(3) ASSISTANCE- In order to provide Federal assistance to high intensity
interstate gang activity areas or high intensity interstate gang and drug
trafficking areas, the Attorney General shall--
(A) establish criminal street gang enforcement teams, consisting of Federal,
State, and local law enforcement authorities, for the coordinated investigation,
disruption, apprehension, and prosecution of criminal street gangs and
offenders in each high intensity interstate gang activity area or high
intensity interstate gang and drug trafficking area;
(B) direct the reassignment or detailing from any Federal department or
agency (subject to the approval of the head of that department or agency,
in the case of a department or agency other than the Department of Justice)
of personnel to each criminal street gang enforcement team; and
(C) provide all necessary funding for the operation of the criminal street
gang enforcement team in each high intensity interstate gang activity
area or high intensity interstate gang and drug trafficking area.
(4) COMPOSITION OF CRIMINAL STREET GANG ENFORCEMENT TEAM- The team established
under paragraph (2)(A) shall consist of agents and officers, where feasible,
from--
(A) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives;
(B) the Department of Homeland Security;
(C) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
(D) the Drug Enforcement Administration;
(E) the Internal Revenue Service;
(F) the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
(G) the United States Marshal's Service;
(H) the United States Postal Service;
(I) State and local law enforcement; and
(J) Federal, State, and local prosecutors.
(5) COORDINATION- In each area cross-designated as a high intensity interstate
gang and drug trafficking area, the team established under paragraph (2)(A)
shall fully coordinate its antigang activities with antidrug trafficking
activities undertaken by Federal, State, and local officials under section
707 of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of
1998 (21 U.S.C. 1706).
(6) CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION- In considering an area for designation as
a high intensity interstate gang activity area or high intensity interstate
gang and drug trafficking area under this section, the Attorney General
shall consider--
(A) the current and predicted levels of gang crime activity in the area;
(B) the extent to which violent crime in the area appears to be related
to criminal street gang activity, such as drug trafficking, murder, robbery,
assaults, carjacking, arson, kidnapping, extortion, and other criminal
activity;
(C) the extent to which State and local law enforcement agencies have
committed resources to--
(i) respond to the gang crime problem; and
(ii) participate in a gang enforcement team;
(D) the extent to which a significant increase in the allocation of Federal
resources would enhance local response to the gang crime activities in
the area; and
(E) any other criteria that the Attorney General considers to be appropriate.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
$40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010 to carry out this section.
SEC. 106. GANG PREVENTION GRANTS.
(a) Authority To Make Grants- The Office of Justice Programs of the Department
of Justice shall make grants, in accordance with such regulations as the Attorney
General may prescribe, to States, units of local government, tribal governments,
and qualified private entities, to develop community-based programs that provide
crime prevention, research, and intervention services that are designed for
gang members and at-risk youth.
(b) Use of Grant Amounts- Amounts received by a grantee under this section
may be used by the grantee, directly or through subgrants, only for 1 or more
of the following activities:
(1) Preventing initial gang recruitment and involvement among younger teenagers.
(2) Reducing gang involvement through nonviolent and constructive activities,
such as community service programs, development of nonviolent conflict resolution
skills, employment and legal assistance, family counseling, and other safe,
community-based alternatives for high-risk youth.
(3) Developing in-school and after-school gang safety, control, education,
and resistance procedures and programs.
(4) Identifying and addressing early childhood risk factors for gang involvement,
including parent training and childhood skills development.
(5) Identifying and fostering protective factors that buffer children and
adolescents from gang involvement.
(1) PERIOD- A grant under this section shall be made for a period of not
more than 2 years.
(2) MAXIMUM- The amount of a grant under this section may not exceed $1,000,000.
(d) Annual Report- Each recipient of a grant under this section shall submit
to the Attorney General, for each year in which funds from a grant received
under this section are expended, a report containing--
(1) a summary of the activities carried out with grant funds during that
year;
(2) an assessment of the effectiveness of the crime prevention, research,
and intervention activities of the recipient;
(3) a strategic plan for the year following the year covered under paragraph
(1); and
(4) such other information as the Attorney General may require.
(e) Minimum Allocation- Unless all eligible applications submitted by any
State or unit of local government within such State for a planning or implementation
grant under this section have been funded, such State, together with grantees
within the State (other than Indian tribes), shall be allocated in each fiscal
year under this section not less than 0.75 percent of the total amount appropriated
in the fiscal year for planning or implementation grants under this section.
(f) Definition- In this section, the term `units of local government' includes
sheriffs, police agencies, and local prosecutor offices.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations-
(1) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated for grants under
this section $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010.
(2) LIMITATION- Of amounts made available for grants under this section,
not less than 50 percent shall be available only for areas designated pursuant
to section 105 as high intensity interstate gang activity areas or high
intensity interstate gang and drug trafficking areas.
SEC. 107. GANG PREVENTION INFORMATION GRANTS.
(a) Authority To Make Grants- The Office of Justice Programs of the Department
of Justice shall make grants, in accordance with such regulations as the Attorney
General may prescribe, to States, units of local government, and tribal governments
to fund technology, equipment, and training for State and local sheriffs,
police agencies, and prosecutor offices in order to--
(1) increase accurate identification of gang members and violent offenders;
(2) maintain databases with such information to facilitate coordination
among law enforcement and prosecutors; and
(3) otherwise improve the investigation and prosecution of criminal street
gangs.
(1) PERIOD- A grant under this section shall be made for a period of not
more than 2 years.
(2) MAXIMUM- The amount of a grant under this section may not exceed $1,000,000.
(c) Annual Report- Each recipient of a grant under this section shall submit
to the Attorney General, for each year in which funds from a grant received
under this section are expended, a report containing--
(1) a summary of the activities carried out with grant funds during that
year;
(2) an assessment of the effectiveness of the crime prevention, research,
and intervention activities of the recipient;
(3) a strategic plan for the year following the year covered under paragraph
(1); and
(4) such other information as the Attorney General may require.
(d) Minimum Allocation- Unless all eligible applications submitted by any
State or unit of local government within such State for a planning or implementation
grant under this section have been funded, such State, together with grantees
within the State (other than Indian tribes), shall be allocated in each fiscal
year under this section not less than 0.75 percent of the total amount appropriated
in the fiscal year for planning or implementation grants under this section.
(e) Definition- In this section, the term `units of local government' includes
sheriffs, police agencies, and local prosecutor offices.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
for grants under this section $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006
through 2010.
SEC. 108. ENHANCEMENT OF PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE
ENFORCEMENT OF CRIMINAL LAWS AGAINST VIOLENT GANGS.
(a) In General- The Attorney General shall expand the Project Safe Neighborhoods
program to require each United States attorney to--
(1) identify, investigate, and prosecute significant criminal street gangs
operating within their district;
(2) coordinate the identification, investigation, and prosecution of criminal
street gangs among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies;
(3) consult with State and local prosecutors to determine how Federal, State,
and local law enforcement resources can best be used to serve the public
interest and secure substantial justice; and
(4) coordinate and establish criminal street gang enforcement teams, established
under section 105(b), in high intensity interstate gang activity areas within
the district of the United States attorney.
(b) Additional Assistant United States Attorneys for Project Safe Neighborhoods-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General may hire 94 additional Assistant United
States attorneys to carry out the provisions of this section.
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated
$7,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010 to carry out this
section.
SEC. 109. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE VIOLENT CRIMINAL STREET GANGS.
(a) Responsibilities of Attorney General- The Attorney General shall require
the Federal Bureau of Investigation to--
(1) increase funding for the Safe Streets Program;
(2) support the criminal street gang enforcement teams, established under
section 105(b), in designated high intensity interstate gang activity areas;
and
(3) consult with State and local prosecutors to determine how Federal, State,
and local law enforcement resources can best be used to serve the public
interest and secure substantial justice.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations-
(1) IN GENERAL- In addition to amounts otherwise authorized, there are authorized
to be appropriated to the Federal Bureau of Investigation $5,000,000 for
each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010 to carry out the Safe Streets
Program.
(2) AVAILABILITY- Any amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) shall remain
available until expended.
SEC. 110. EXPANSION OF FEDERAL WITNESS RELOCATION AND PROTECTION PROGRAM.
Section 3521(a)(1) of title 18 is amended by inserting `, criminal street
gang, serious drug offense, homicide,' after `organized criminal activity'.
SEC. 111. GRANTS TO STATE AND LOCAL PROSECUTORS TO PROTECT WITNESSES AND
VICTIMS OF CRIME.
(1) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General is authorized to make grants to State
and local prosecutors and the United States attorney for the District of
Columbia for the purpose of providing short-term protection to witnesses
in trials involving an organized criminal activity, criminal street gang,
serious drug offense, homicide, or other serious offense.
(2) ALLOCATION- Each prosecutor receiving a grant under this section may
either--
(A) use the grant to provide witness relocation and protection; or
(B) pursuant to a cooperative agreement with the Attorney General, credit
the grant to the United States Marshal's Service to cover the costs of
providing witness relocation and protection on behalf of the prosecutor.
(1) IN GENERAL- Each prosecutor desiring a grant under this section shall
submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner,
and accompanied by such information as the Attorney General may reasonably
require.
(2) CONTENTS- Each application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall--
(A) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is
sought; and
(B) provide such additional assurances as the Attorney General determines
to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section.
(c) Minimum Allocation- Unless all eligible applications submitted by State
and local prosecutors within a State for planning or implementation grants
under this section have been funded, the grantees within the State shall be
allocated in each fiscal year under this section not less than 0.75 percent
of the total amount appropriated in the fiscal year for planning or implementation
grants pursuant to this section.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $60,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through
2010.
SEC. 112. WITNESS PROTECTION SERVICES.
Section 3526 of title 18, United States Code (Cooperation of other Federal
agencies and State governments; reimbursement of expenses) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
`(c) In any case in which a State government requests the Attorney General
to provide temporary protection under section 3521(e) of this title, the costs
of providing temporary protection are not reimbursable if the investigation
or prosecution in any way relates to crimes of violence committed by a gang,
as defined under the laws of the relevant State seeking assistance under this
title.'.
TITLE II--RELATED MATTERS INVOLVING VIOLENT CRIME PROSECUTION
SEC. 201. STUDY ON EXPANDING FEDERAL AUTHORITY FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
(a) In General- Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees
on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on
the costs and benefits associated with expanding Federal authority to prosecute
offenders under the age of 18 who are gang members who commit criminal offenses.
(b) Contents- The report submitted under subsection (a) shall--
(1) examine the ability of the judicial systems of the States to respond
effectively to juveniles who are members of `criminal street gangs', as
defined under section 521 of title 18, United States Code;
(2) examine the extent to which offenders who are 16 and 17 years old are
members of criminal street gangs, and are accused of committing violent
crimes and prosecuted in the adult criminal justice systems of the individual
States;
(3) determine the percentage of crimes committed by members of `criminal
street gangs' that are committed by offenders who are 16 and 17 years old;
(4) examine the extent to which United States attorneys currently bring
criminal indictments and prosecute offenders under the age of 18, and the
extent to which United States attorneys' offices include prosecutors with
experience prosecuting juveniles for adult criminal violations;
(5) examine the extent to which the Bureau of Prisons houses offenders under
the age of 18, and has the ability and experience to meet the needs of young
offenders;
(6) estimate the cost to the Federal Government of prosecuting and incarcerating
16 and 17 year olds who are members of criminal street gangs and are accused
of violent crimes; and
(7) detail any benefits for Federal prosecutions that would be realized
by expanding Federal authority to bring charges against 16 and 17 year olds
who are members of criminal street gangs and are accused of violent crimes.
SEC. 202. PROSECUTORS AND DEFENDERS INCENTIVE ACT.
(a) Short Title- This section may be cited as the `Prosecutors and Defenders
Incentive Act'.
(b) Loan Repayment for Prosecutors and Public Defenders- Title I of the Omnibus
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
`PART HH--LOAN REPAYMENT FOR PROSECUTORS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS
`SEC. 2901. GRANT AUTHORIZATION.
`(a) Purpose- The purpose of this section is to encourage qualified individuals
to enter and continue employment as prosecutors and public defenders.
`(b) Definitions- In this section:
`(1) PROSECUTOR- The term `prosecutor' means a full-time employee of a State
or local agency who--
`(A) is continually licensed to practice law; and
`(B) prosecutes criminal cases at the State or local level.
`(2) PUBLIC DEFENDER- The term `public defender' means an attorney who--
`(A) is continually licensed to practice law; and
`(i) a full-time employee of a State or local agency or a nonprofit
organization operating under a contract with a State or unit of local
government, that provides legal representation to indigent persons in
criminal cases; or
`(ii) employed as a full-time Federal defender attorney in a defender
organization established pursuant to subsection (g) of section 3006A
of title 18, United States Code, that provides legal representation
to indigent persons in criminal cases.
`(3) STUDENT LOAN- The term `student loan' means--
`(A) a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of title IV of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.);
`(B) a loan made under part D or E of title IV of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq. and 1087aa et seq.); and
`(C) a loan made under section 428C or 455(g) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078-3 and 1087e(g)) to the extent that such loan
was used to repay a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized
Stafford Loan, or a loan made under section 428 or 428H of such Act.
`(c) Program Authorized- The Attorney General shall establish a program by
which the Department of Justice shall assume the obligation to repay a student
loan, by direct payments on behalf of a borrower to the holder of such loan,
in accordance with subsection (d), for any borrower who--
`(1) is employed as a prosecutor or public defender; and
`(2) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower seeks forgiveness.
`(1) IN GENERAL- To be eligible to receive repayment benefits under subsection
(c), a borrower shall enter into a written agreement that specifies that--
`(A) the borrower will remain employed as a prosecutor or public defender
for a required period of service of not less than 3 years, unless involuntarily
separated from that employment;
`(B) if the borrower is involuntarily separated from employment on account
of misconduct, or voluntarily separates from employment, before the end
of the period specified in the agreement, the borrower will repay the
Attorney General the amount of any benefits received by such employee
under this section;
`(C) if the borrower is required to repay an amount to the Attorney General
under subparagraph (B) and fails to repay such amount, a sum equal to
that amount shall be recoverable by the Federal Government from the employee
(or such employee's estate, if applicable) by such methods as are provided
by law for the recovery of amounts owed to the Federal Government;
`(D) the Attorney General may waive, in whole or in part, a right of recovery
under this subsection if it is shown that recovery would be against equity
and good conscience or against the public interest; and
`(E) the Attorney General shall make student loan payments under this
section for the period of the agreement, subject to the availability of
appropriations.
`(A) IN GENERAL- Any amount repaid by, or recovered from, an individual
or the estate of an individual under this subsection shall be credited
to the appropriation account from which the amount involved was originally
paid.
`(B) MERGER- Any amount credited under subparagraph (A) shall be merged
with other sums in such account and shall be available for the same purposes
and period, and subject to the same limitations, if any, as the sums with
which the amount was merged.
`(A) STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT AMOUNT- Student loan repayments made by the
Attorney General under this section shall be made subject to such terms,
limitations, or conditions as may be mutually agreed upon by the borrower
and the Attorney General in an agreement under paragraph (1), except that
the amount paid by the Attorney General under this section shall not exceed--
`(i) $10,000 for any borrower in any calendar year; or
`(ii) an aggregate total of $60,000 in the case of any borrower.
`(B) BEGINNING OF PAYMENTS- Nothing in this section shall authorize the
Attorney General to pay any amount to reimburse a borrower for any repayments
made by such borrower prior to the date on which the Attorney General
entered into an agreement with the borrower under this subsection.
`(e) Additional Agreements-
`(1) IN GENERAL- On completion of the required period of service under an
agreement under subsection (d), the borrower and the Attorney General may,
subject to paragraph (2), enter into an additional agreement in accordance
with subsection (d).
`(2) TERM- An agreement entered into under paragraph (1) may require the
borrower remain employed as a prosecutor or public defender for less than
3 years.
`(f) Award Basis; Priority-
`(1) AWARD BASIS- Subject to paragraph (2), the Attorney General shall provide
repayment benefits under this section on a first-come, first-served basis,
and subject to the availability of appropriations.
`(2) PRIORITY- The Attorney General shall give priority in providing repayment
benefits under this section in any fiscal year to a borrower who--
`(A) received repayment benefits under this section during the preceding
fiscal year; and
`(B) has completed less than 3 years of the first required period of service
specified for the borrower in an agreement entered into under subsection
(d).
`(g) Regulations- The Attorney General is authorized to issue such regulations
as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
`(h) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and such sums as
may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.'.
END