HR 3547
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3547
To increase and enhance law enforcement resources committed to
investigation and prosecution of violent gangs, to deter and punish violent
gang crime, to protect law-abiding citizens and communities from violent
criminals, to revise and enhance criminal penalties for violent crimes,
to expand and improve gang prevention programs, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 17, 2007
Mr. SCHIFF (for himself, Mrs. BONO, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr. ARCURI,
Mr. CHANDLER, and Mr. CUMMINGS) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee
on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To increase and enhance law enforcement resources committed to
investigation and prosecution of violent gangs, to deter and punish violent
gang crime, to protect law-abiding citizens and communities from violent
criminals, to revise and enhance criminal penalties for violent crimes,
to expand and improve gang prevention programs, 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.
This Act may be cited as the `Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression
Act'.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--NEW FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAWS NEEDED TO FIGHT VIOLENT NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL,
REGIONAL, AND LOCAL GANGS THAT AFFECT INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE
Sec. 101. Revision and extension of penalties related to criminal street
gang activity.
TITLE II--VIOLENT CRIME REFORMS TO REDUCE GANG VIOLENCE
Sec. 201. Murder and other violent crimes committed during and in relation
to a drug trafficking crime.
Sec. 202. Expansion of rebuttable presumption against release of persons
charged with firearms offenses.
Sec. 203. Statute of limitations for violent crimes and terrorism offenses.
Sec. 204. Study of hearsay exception for forfeiture by wrongdoing.
Sec. 205. Possession of firearms by dangerous felons.
Sec. 206. Conforming amendment.
Sec. 207. Amendments relating to violent crime.
Sec. 208. Publicity campaign about new criminal penalties and gang-related
outreach.
Sec. 209. Predicate crimes for authorization of interception of wire,
oral, and electronic communications.
Sec. 210. Clarification of Hobbs Act.
Sec. 211. Making personal information about certain witnesses and informants
publicly available with unlawful intent.
Sec. 212. Prohibition on firearms possession based on valid gang injunction
and conviction for gang-related misdemeanor.
Sec. 213. Granting the Attorney General the authority to deny the sale,
delivery, or transfer of a firearm or the issuance of a firearms or explosives
license or permit to dangerous terrorists.
Sec. 214. Amendment of sentencing guidelines.
TITLE III--INCREASED FEDERAL RESOURCES TO DETER AND PREVENT SERIOUSLY
AT-RISK YOUTH FROM JOINING ILLEGAL STREET GANGS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Sec. 301. Designation of and assistance for high intensity gang activity
areas.
Sec. 302. Gang prevention grants.
Sec. 303. Enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative to improve
enforcement of criminal laws against violent gangs.
Sec. 304. Additional resources needed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
to investigate and prosecute violent criminal street gangs.
Sec. 305. Grants to prosecutors and law enforcement to combat violent
crime.
Sec. 306. Short-Term State Witness Protection Section.
Sec. 307. Witness protection services.
Sec. 308. Expansion of Federal witness relocation and protection program.
Sec. 309. Family abduction prevention grant program.
Sec. 310. Study on adolescent development and sentences in the Federal
system.
TITLE IV--RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
FOR FORMER OFFENDERS
Sec. 401. Grants to assist juvenile offender reintegration projects.
Sec. 402. Employment and education grants to assist in reducing recidivism.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
(1) violent crime and drug trafficking are pervasive problems at the national,
State, and local level;
(2) according to recent Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime
Reports, violent crime in the United States is on the rise, with a 2.3
percent increase in violent crime in 2005 (the largest increase in the
United States in 15 years) and an even larger 3.7 percent jump during
the first 6 months of 2006, and the Police Executive Research Forum reports
that, among jurisdictions providing information, homicides are up 10.21
percent, robberies are up 12.27 percent, and aggravated assaults with
firearms are up 9.98 percent since 2004;
(3) these disturbing rises in violent crime are attributable in part to
the spread of criminal street gangs and the willingness of gang members
to commit acts of violence and drug trafficking offenses;
(4) according to a recent National Drug Threat Assessment, criminal street
gangs are responsible for much of the retail distribution of the cocaine,
methamphetamine, heroin, and other illegal drugs being distributed in
rural and urban communities throughout the United States;
(5) 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;
(6) gang presence and intimidation, and the organized and repetitive nature
of the crimes that gangs and gang members commit, has a pernicious effect
on the free flow of interstate commercial activities and directly affects
the freedom and security of communities plagued by gang activity, diminishing
the value of property, inhibiting the desire of national and multinational
corporations to transact business in those communities, and in a variety
of ways directly and substantially affecting interstate and foreign commerce;
(7) 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;
(8) gangs often intimidate and threaten witnesses to prevent successful
prosecutions;
(9) gangs prey upon and incorporate minors into their ranks, exploiting
the fact that adolescents have immature decision-making capacity, therefore,
gang activity and recruitment can be reduced and deterred through increased
vigilance, appropriate criminal penalties, partnerships between Federal
and State and local law enforcement, and proactive prevention and intervention
efforts, particularly targeted at juveniles and young adults, prior to
and even during gang involvement;
(10) State and local prosecutors and law enforcement officers have enlisted
the help of Congress in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution
of gang crimes and in the protection of witnesses and victims of gang
crimes; and
(11) because State and local prosecutors and law enforcement have the
expertise, experience, and connection to the community that is needed
to assist in combating gang violence, consultation and coordination between
Federal, State, and local law enforcement and collaboration with other
community agencies is critical to the successful prosecutions of criminal
street gangs and reduction of gang problems.
TITLE I--NEW FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAWS NEEDED TO FIGHT VIOLENT NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL,
REGIONAL, AND LOCAL GANGS THAT AFFECT INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE
SEC. 101. REVISION AND EXTENSION OF PENALTIES RELATED TO CRIMINAL STREET
GANG ACTIVITY.
(a) In General- Chapter 26 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to
read as follows:
`CHAPTER 26--CRIMINAL STREET GANGS
`522. Criminal street gang prosecutions.
`523. Recruitment of persons to participate in a criminal street gang.
`Sec. 521. Definitions
`(1) CRIMINAL STREET GANG- The term `criminal street gang' means a formal
or informal group, organization, or association of 5 or more individuals--
`(A) each of whom has committed at least 1 gang crime; and
`(B) who collectively commit 3 or more gang crimes (not less than 1
of which is a serious violent felony, and if fewer than 2 of which are
serious violent felonies, not less than 1 of which is a violent felony)
in furtherance of the group, organization, or association, in separate
criminal episodes (not less than 1 of which occurs after the date of
enactment of the Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act,
and the last of which occurs not later than 5 years after the commission
of a prior gang crime).
`(2) GANG CRIME- The term `gang crime' means an offense under Federal
law punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year, or a felony offense
under State law that is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 5 years
or more in any of the following categories:
`(A) A crime that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened
use of physical force against the person of another, or is burglary,
arson, kidnapping, or extortion.
`(B) A crime involving obstruction of justice, or tampering with or
retaliating against a witness, victim, or informant.
`(C) A crime involving the manufacturing, importing, distributing, possessing
with intent to distribute, or otherwise trafficking in a controlled
substance or listed chemical (as those terms are defined in section
102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)).
`(D) Any conduct punishable under--
`(i) section 844 (relating to explosive materials);
`(ii) subsection (a)(1), (d), (g)(1) (where the underlying conviction
is a violent felony or a serious drug offense (as those terms are
defined in section 924(e)), (g)(2), (g)(3), (g)(4), (g)(5), (g)(8),
(g)(9), (g)(10), (g)(11), (i), (j), (k), (n), (o), (p), (q), (u),
or (x) of section 922 (relating to unlawful acts);
`(iii) subsection (b), (c), (g), (h), (k), (l), (m), or (n) of section
924 (relating to penalties);
`(iv) section 930 (relating to possession of firearms and dangerous
weapons in Federal facilities);
`(v) section 931 (relating to purchase, ownership, or possession of
body armor by violent felons);
`(vi) sections 1028 and 1029 (relating to fraud, identity theft, and
related activity in connection with identification documents or access
devices);
`(vii) section 1084 (relating to transmission of wagering information);
`(viii) section 1952 (relating to interstate and foreign travel or
transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises);
`(ix) section 1956 (relating to the laundering of monetary instruments);
`(x) section 1957 (relating to engaging in monetary transactions in
property derived from specified unlawful activity); or
`(xi) sections 2312 through 2315 (relating to interstate transportation
of stolen motor vehicles or stolen property).
`(E) Any conduct punishable under 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) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324, 1327, and 1328).
`(F) Any crime involving aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault, pimping
or pandering involving prostitution, sexual exploitation of children
(including sections 2251, 2251A, 2252 and 2260), peonage, slavery, or
trafficking in persons (including sections 1581 through 1592) and sections
2421 through 2427 (relating to transport for illegal sexual activity).
`(3) MINOR- The term `minor' means an individual who is less than 18 years
of age.
`(4) SERIOUS VIOLENT FELONY- The term `serious violent felony' has the
meaning given that term in section 3559.
`(5) 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.
`(6) VIOLENT FELONY- The term `violent felony' means any offense that
has as an element the use of physical force against the person of another,
or is burglary, arson, kidnapping, or extortion, but is not a serious
violent felony.
`Sec. 522. Criminal street gang prosecutions
`(a) Street Gang Crime- It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly
commit, or conspire (with any act to effect the object of the conspiracy),
threaten, or attempt to commit, a gang crime for the purpose of furthering
the activities of a criminal street gang, or gaining entrance to or maintaining
or increasing position in a criminal street gang, or as consideration for
anything of pecuniary value to or from a criminal street gang, if the activities
of that criminal street gang occur in or affect interstate or foreign commerce.
`(1) COMMISSION; ATTEMPTS; CONSPIRACY LEADERS- Any person who commits,
attempts to commit, or conspires to commit (and occupies a position of
organizer, a supervisory position, or any other position of management
within the criminal street gang for such conspiracy) an offense described
under subsection (a) that is--
`(A) murder, kidnapping, or conduct that would violate section 2241
if the conduct occurred in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction
of the United States, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned
for any term of years or for life;
`(B) any other serious violent felony, shall be fined under this title
and imprisoned for not more than 30 years;
`(C) any violent felony, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned
for not more than 20 years; and
`(D) not described in subparagraphs (A) through (C), shall be fined
under this title and imprisoned for not more than 10 years.
`(2) OTHER CONSPIRACY MEMBERS- Any person who conspires to commit (and
who does not occupy a position of organizer, a supervisory position, or
any other position of management within the criminal street gang for such
conspiracy) an offense described under subsection (a) that is--
`(A) murder, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not
more than 25 years; and
`(B) any other serious violent felony or violent felony, shall be fined
under this title and imprisoned for not more than 15 years.
`(3) THREATS- Any person who threatens to commit an offense described
under subsection (a) that is--
`(A) described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1), shall
be fined under this title and imprisoned for not more than 10 years;
and
`(B) not described in such subparagraphs, shall be fined under this
title and imprisoned for not more than 8 years.
`Sec. 523. Recruitment of persons to participate in a criminal street
gang
`(a) Prohibited Acts- It shall be unlawful to knowingly recruit, employ,
solicit, induce, command, coerce, or cause another person to be or remain
as a member of a criminal street gang, or attempt or conspire to do so (with
any act to effect the object of the conspiracy), with the intent to cause
that person to participate in a gang crime, if the defendant travels in
interstate or foreign commerce in the course of the offense, or if the activities
of that criminal street gang are in or affect interstate or foreign commerce.
`(b) Penalties- Whoever violates subsection (a) shall--
`(1) with respect to a person who is over 18 years of age and who recruited,
employed, solicited, induced, commanded, coerced, or caused a minor to
participate or remain in a criminal street gang (or conspired to do so
while occupying a position of organizer, a supervisory position, or any
other position of management in such conspiracy)--
`(A) be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or
both; and
`(B) at the discretion of the sentencing judge, be liable for any costs
incurred by the Federal Government, or by any State or local government,
for housing, maintaining, and treating the minor until the person attains
the age of 18 years;
`(2) with respect to a person who induces, commands, or coerces the participation
or remaining in a criminal street gang of another person (or conspires
to do so while occupying a position of organizer, a supervisory position,
or any other position of management in such conspiracy) while incarcerated,
be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both;
`(3) with respect to a person who conspires to commit an offense described
in paragraph (1) or (2) (but who does not occupy a position of organizer,
a supervisory position, or any other position of management in such conspiracy),
be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 7 years, or both;
`(4) with respect to a person who violates such subsection and is not
described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3), (other than a person described
in paragraph (5)), be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than
5 years, or both; and
`(5) with respect to a person who conspires to commit an offense which
violates such subsection and is not described in paragraph (1), (2), or
(3) (but who does not occupy a position of organizer, a supervisory position,
or any other position of management in such conspiracy), be fined under
this title, imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both.
`(c) Consecutive Nature of Penalties- Any term of imprisonment imposed under
subsection (b)(2) shall be consecutive to any term imposed for any other
offense.
`Sec. 524. Forfeiture
`(a) Criminal Forfeiture- A person who is convicted of a violation of this
chapter shall forfeit to the United States--
`(1) any property used, or intended to be used, in any manner or part,
to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, the violation; and
`(2) any property constituting, or derived from, any proceeds obtained,
directly or indirectly, as a result of the violation.
`(b) Procedures Applicable- Pursuant to section 2461(c) of title 28, the
provisions of section 413 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 853),
except subsections (a) and (d) of that section, shall apply to the criminal
forfeiture of property under this section.'.
(b) Amendment Relating to Priority of Forfeiture Over Orders for Restitution-
Section 3663(c)(4) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking
`chapter 46 or' and inserting `chapter 26, chapter 46, or'.
(c) Money Laundering- Section 1956(c)(7)(D) of title 18, United States Code,
is amended by inserting `, section 522 (relating to criminal street gang
prosecutions), and 523 (relating to recruitment of persons to participate
in a criminal street gang)' before `, section 541'.
(d) 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'.
TITLE II--VIOLENT CRIME REFORMS TO REDUCE GANG VIOLENCE
SEC. 201. MURDER AND OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES COMMITTED DURING AND IN RELATION
TO A DRUG TRAFFICKING CRIME.
(a) In General- Part D of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 424. MURDER AND OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES COMMITTED DURING AND IN RELATION
TO A DRUG TRAFFICKING CRIME.
`(a) In General- Whoever, during and in relation to any drug trafficking
crime, knowingly commits any crime of violence against any individual that
is an offense under Federal law punishable by imprisonment for more than
1 year or a felony offense under State law that is punishable by a term
of imprisonment of 5 years or more, or threatens, attempts or conspires
to do so, shall be punished by a fine under title 18, United States Code,
and--
`(1) for murder, kidnapping, or conduct that would violate section 2241
if the conduct occurred in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction
of the United States, by imprisonment for any term of years or for life;
`(2) for a serious violent felony (as defined in section 3559 of title
18, United States Code) other than a felony described in paragraph (1),
by imprisonment for not more than 30 years;
`(3) for a crime of violence that is not a serious violent felony, by
imprisonment for not more than 20 years;
`(4) for conspiring to commit a crime of violence, by imprisonment for
not more than 10 years; and
`(5) for threatening to commit a crime of violence, by imprisonment for
not more than 8 years.
`(b) Venue- A prosecution for a violation of this section may be brought
in--
`(1) the judicial district in which the murder or other crime of violence
occurred; or
`(2) any judicial district in which the drug trafficking crime may be
prosecuted.
`(c) Definitions- In this section--
`(1) the term `crime of violence' means an offense that has as an element
the use of physical force against the person of another; and
`(2) the term `drug trafficking crime' has the meaning given that term
in section 924(c)(2) of title 18, United States Code.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of contents for the Comprehensive Drug
Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-513; 84 Stat. 1236)
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 423, the following:
`Sec. 424. Murder and other violent crimes committed during and in relation
to a drug trafficking crime.'.
SEC. 202. EXPANSION OF REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION AGAINST RELEASE OF PERSONS
CHARGED WITH FIREARMS OFFENSES.
Section 3142(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended in the matter
following paragraph (3), by inserting after `that the person committed'
the following: `an offense under subsection (g)(1) (where the underlying
conviction is a drug trafficking crime or crime of violence (as those terms
are defined in section 924(c))), (g)(2), (g)(3), (g)(4), (g)(5), (g)(8),
(g)(9), (g)(10), or (g)(11) of section 922,'.
SEC. 203. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR VIOLENT CRIMES AND TERRORISM OFFENSES.
(a) Statute of Limitations for Violent Crimes- Chapter 213 of title 18,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`Sec. 3299A. Violent crime offenses
`No person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any noncapital felony
crime of violence, including any racketeering activity or gang crime which
involves any crime of violence, unless the indictment is found or the information
is instituted not later than 8 years after the date on which the alleged
violation occurred or the continuing offense was completed.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter
213 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
`3299A. Violent crime offenses.'.
(c) Statute of Limitations for Terrorism Offenses- Section 3286(a) of title
18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking `Eight-Year' and inserting
`Ten-Year'; and
(2) in the first sentence, by striking `8 years' and inserting `10 years'.
SEC. 204. STUDY OF HEARSAY EXCEPTION FOR FORFEITURE BY WRONGDOING.
The Judicial Conference of the United States shall study section 804(b)
of the Federal Rules of Evidence to determine the necessity and desirability
of amending that section, including the possible expansion of section 804(b)(6),
and shall make modifications as the Judicial Conference sees fit.
SEC. 205. POSSESSION OF FIREARMS BY DANGEROUS FELONS.
(a) In General- Section 924(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
`(1) A person who violates subsection (d) or (g) of section 922 of this
title and has previously been convicted by any court referred to in section
922(g)(1) of a violent felony or a serious drug offense shall--
`(A) in the case of 1 such prior conviction, where a period of not more
than 10 years has elapsed since the later of the date of conviction and
the date of release of the person from imprisonment for that conviction,
be imprisoned for not more than 15 years, fined under this title, or both;
`(B) in the case of 2 such prior convictions, committed on occasions different
from one another, and where a period of not more than 10 years has elapsed
since the later of the date of conviction and the date of release of the
person from imprisonment for the most recent such conviction, be imprisoned
for not more than 20 years, fined under this title, or both; and
`(C) in the case of 3 such prior convictions, committed on occasions different
from one another, and where a period of not more than 10 years has elapsed
since the later of date of conviction and the date of release of the person
from imprisonment for the most recent such conviction--
`(i) in the case of a person who violates subsection (d) of such section
922, be imprisoned for any term of years or for life and fined under
this title, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court
shall not suspend the sentence of, or grant a probationary sentence
to, such person with respect to the conviction under such subsection
(d); or
`(ii) in the case of a person who violates subsection (g) of such section
922, be imprisoned not less than fifteen years or for life and fined
under this title and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
court shall not suspend the sentence of, or grant a probationary sentence
to, such person with respect to the conviction under such subsection
(g).'.
(b) Amendment to Sentencing Guidelines- Pursuant to its authority under
section 994(p) of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing
Commission shall amend the Federal Sentencing Guidelines to provide for
an appropriate increase in the offense level for violations of section 922(g)
of title 18, United States Code, in accordance with section 924(e) of that
title 18, as amended by subsection (a).
SEC. 206. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
The matter preceding paragraph (1) in section 922(d) of title 18, United
States Code, is amended by inserting `, transfer,' after `sell'.
SEC. 207. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO VIOLENT CRIME.
Section 924(h) of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
`(h) Whoever knowingly transfers a firearm that has moved in or that otherwise
affects interstate or foreign commerce, knowing that the firearm will be
used to commit, or possessed in furtherance of, a crime of violence (as
defined in subsection (c)(3)) or drug trafficking crime (as defined in subsection
(c)(2)) shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not more than 20
years.'.
SEC. 208. PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN ABOUT NEW CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND GANG-RELATED
OUTREACH.
(a) Media Campaigns- The Attorney General is authorized to conduct media
campaigns in any area designated as a high intensity gang activity area
under section 301 and any area with existing and emerging problems with
gangs, as needed, to--
(1) educate individuals in that area about the changes in criminal penalties
made by this Act; and
(2) provide information to individuals in that area about service providers
in the community that provide gang-involved or at-risk youth with positive
alternatives to gangs and other violent groups and that address the needs
of those who leave gangs and other violent groups and those reentering
society from prison (including service providers experienced at reaching
youth and adults who have been involved in violence and violent gangs
or groups).
(b) Report- The Attorney General shall report to the Committee on the Judiciary
of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives
the amount of expenditures and all other aspects of the media campaigns
conducted under this section.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008
through 2012.
SEC. 209. PREDICATE CRIMES FOR AUTHORIZATION OF INTERCEPTION OF WIRE,
ORAL, AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS.
Section 2516(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking `or' and the end of paragraph (r);
(2) by redesignating paragraph (s) as paragraph (u); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (r) the following:
`(s) any violation of section 424 of the Controlled Substances Act (relating
to murder and other violent crimes in furtherance of a drug trafficking
crime);
`(t) any violation of section 522 or 523; or'.
SEC. 210. CLARIFICATION OF HOBBS ACT.
Section 1951(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting `including the unlawful impersonation
of a law enforcement officer (as that term is defined in section 245(c)
of this title),' after `by means of actual or threatened force,'; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting `including the unlawful impersonation
of a law enforcement officer (as that term is defined in section 245(c)
of this title),' after `by wrongful use of actual or threatened force,'.
SEC. 211. MAKING PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CERTAIN WITNESSES AND INFORMANTS
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE WITH UNLAWFUL INTENT.
(a) Offense- Whoever knowingly makes restricted personal information about
a covered individual, or a member of the immediate family of that covered
individual, publicly available in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce--
(1) with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite the commission
of a crime of violence against that covered individual, or a member of
the immediate family of that covered individual; or
(2) with the intent that the restricted personal information will be used
to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate the commission of a crime of violence
against that covered individual, or a member of the immediate family of
that covered individual;
shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned not more than
10 years, or both.
(b) Definitions- In this section--
(1) the term `restricted personal information' means, with respect to
an individual, the Social Security number, the home address, home phone
number, mobile phone number, personal email, or home fax number of that
individual;
(2) the term `covered individual' means a witness or informant in a Federal
or State criminal investigation or prosecution;
(3) the term `crime of violence' has the meaning given that term in section
16 of title 18, United States Code; and
(4) the term `immediate family' has the meaning given that term in section
115(c)(2) of title 18, United States Code.
SEC. 212. PROHIBITION ON FIREARMS POSSESSION BASED ON VALID GANG INJUNCTION
AND CONVICTION FOR GANG-RELATED MISDEMEANOR.
(a) In General- Section 922(g) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (8), by striking `or' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the comma at the end and inserting a
semicolon;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
`(10) who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor gang-related
offense; or
`(11) who otherwise has, within the last 5 years, been found by any court
to be in contempt of a gang injunction order, so long as the finding of
contempt was issued after a hearing of which such person received actual
notice, and at which such person had an opportunity to participate and
challenge the sufficiency of process and the constitutional validity of
the underlying gang injunction order,'.
(b) Definition- Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
`(36)(A) The term `misdemeanor gang-related offense' means an offense
that--
`(i) is a misdemeanor under Federal, State, or Tribal law; and
`(ii) has, as an element, the membership of the defendant in a criminal
street gang, illegal association with a criminal street gang, or participation
in a criminal street gang activity.
`(B)(i) A person shall not be considered to have been convicted of such
an offense for purposes of this chapter, unless--
`(I) the person was represented by counsel in the case, or knowingly
and intelligently waived the right to counsel in the case; and
`(II) in the case of a prosecution for an offense described in this
paragraph for which a person was entitled to a jury trial in the jurisdiction
in which the case was tried--
`(aa) the case was tried by a jury; or
`(bb) the person knowingly and intelligently waived the right to have
the case tried by a jury, by guilty plea or otherwise.
`(ii) A person shall not be considered to have been convicted of such
an offense for purposes of this chapter if the conviction has been expunged
or set aside, or is an offense for which the person has been pardoned
or has had civil rights restored (if the law of the applicable jurisdiction
provides for the loss of civil rights under such an offense) unless the
pardon, expungement, or restoration of civil rights expressly provides
that the person may not ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms.
`(37) The term `gang injunction order' means a court order that--
`(A) names the defendant as a member of a criminal street gang; and
`(B) restrains the defendant from associating with other gang members.'.
SEC. 213. GRANTING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE AUTHORITY TO DENY THE SALE,
DELIVERY, OR TRANSFER OF A FIREARM OR THE ISSUANCE OF A FIREARMS OR EXPLOSIVES
LICENSE OR PERMIT TO DANGEROUS TERRORISTS.
(a) Standard for Exercising Attorney General Discretion Regarding Transferring
Firearms or Issuing Firearms Permits to Dangerous Terrorists- Chapter 44
of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting the following new section after section 922:
`Sec. 922A. Attorney General's discretion to deny transfer of a firearm
`The Attorney General may deny the transfer of a firearm pursuant to section
922(t)(1)(B)(ii) if the Attorney General determines that the transferee
is known (or appropriately suspected) to be or have been engaged in conduct
constituting, in preparation for, in aid of, or related to terrorism, or
providing material support thereof, and the Attorney General has a reasonable
belief that the prospective transferee may use a firearm in connection with
terrorism.';
(2) by inserting the following new section after section 922A:
`Sec. 922B. Attorney General's discretion regarding applicants for firearm
permits which would qualify for the exemption provided under section 922(t)(3)
`The Attorney General may determine that an applicant for a firearm permit
which would qualify for an exemption under section 922(t) is known (or appropriately
suspected) to be or have been engaged in conduct constituting, in preparation
for, in aid of, or related to terrorism, or providing material support thereof,
and the Attorney General has a reasonable belief that the applicant may
use a firearm in connection with terrorism.'; and
(3) in section 921(a), by adding at the end the following:
`(36) The term `terrorism' means `international terrorism' as defined in
section 2331(1), and `domestic terrorism' as defined in section 2331(5).
`(37) The term `material support' means `material support or resources'
within the meaning of section 2339A or 2339B.
`(38) The term `responsible person' means an individual who has the power,
directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management
and policies of the applicant or licensee pertaining to firearms.'.
(b) Effect of Attorney General Discretionary Denial Through the National
Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) on Firearms Permits- Section
922(t) of such title is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), by inserting `or State law, or that the Attorney
General has determined to deny the transfer of a firearm pursuant to section
922A' before the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting after `or State law' the following:
`or if the Attorney General has not determined to deny the transfer of
a firearm pursuant to section 922A';
(3) in paragraph (3)(A)(i)--
(A) by striking `and' at the end of subclause (I); and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
`(III) was issued after a check of the system established pursuant to
paragraph (1);';
(4) in paragraph (3)(A)--
(A) by adding `and' at the end of clause (ii); and
(B) by adding after and below the end the following:
`(iii) the State issuing the permit agrees to deny the permit application
if such other person is the subject of a determination by the Attorney
General pursuant to section 922B;';
(5) in paragraph (4), by inserting after `or State law,' the following:
`or if the Attorney General has not determined to deny the transfer of
a firearm pursuant to section 922A,'; and
(6) in paragraph (5), by inserting after `or State law,' the following:
`or if the Attorney General has determined to deny the transfer of a firearm
pursuant to section 922A,'.
(c) Unlawful Sale or Disposition of Firearm Based on Attorney General Discretionary
Denial- Section 922(d) of such title is amended--
(1) by striking `or' at the end of paragraph (8);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (9) and inserting `;
or';
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
`(10) has been the subject of a determination by the Attorney General
pursuant to section 922A, 922B, 923(d)(1)(H), or 923(e) of this title.'.
(d) Attorney General Discretionary Denial as Prohibitor- Section 922(g)
of such title is amended--
(1) by striking `or' at the end of paragraph (8);
(2) by striking the comma at the end of paragraph (9) and inserting; `;
or'; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
`(10) who has received actual notice of the Attorney General's determination
made pursuant to section 922A, 922B, 923(d)(1)(H), or 923(e) of this title.'.
(e) Attorney General Discretionary Denial of Federal Firearms Licenses-
Section 923(d)(1) of such title is amended--
(1) by striking `Any' and inserting `Except as provided in subparagraph
(H), any';
(2) in subparagraph (F)(iii), by striking `and' at the end;
(3) in subparagraph (G) by striking the period and inserting `; and';
and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
`(H) The Attorney General may deny a license application if the Attorney
General determines that the applicant (including any responsible person)
is known (or appropriately suspected) to be or have been engaged in
conduct constituting, in preparation for, in aid of, or related to terrorism,
or providing material support thereof, and the Attorney General has
a reasonable belief that the applicant may use a firearm in connection
with terrorism.'.
(f) Discretionary Revocation of Federal Firearms Licenses- Section 923(e)
of such title is amended--
(1) in the 1st sentence--
(A) by inserting after `revoke' the following: `--(1)'; and
(B) by striking the period and inserting a semicolon;
(2) in the 2nd sentence--
(A) by striking `The Attorney General may, after notice and opportunity
for hearing, revoke' and insert `(2)'; and
(B) by striking the period and inserting `; or'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
`(3) any license issued under this section if the Attorney General determines
that the holder of the license (including any responsible person) is known
(or appropriately suspected) to be or have been engaged in conduct constituting,
in preparation for, in aid of, or related to terrorism, or providing material
support thereof, and the Attorney General has a reasonable belief that
the applicant may use a firearm in connection with terrorism.'.
(g) Attorney General's Ability To Withhold Information in Firearms License
Denial and Revocation Suit- Section 923(f) of such title is amended--
(1) in the 1st sentence of paragraph (1), by inserting `, except that
if the denial or revocation is pursuant to subsection (d)(1)(H) or (e)(3),
then any information on which the Attorney General relied for this determination
may be withheld from the petitioner if the Attorney General determines
that disclosure of the information would likely compromise national security'
before the period; and
(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting after the 3rd sentence the following:
`With respect to any information withheld from the aggrieved party under
paragraph (1), the United States may submit, and the court may rely on,
summaries or redacted versions of documents containing information the
disclosure of which the Attorney General has determined would likely compromise
national security.'.
(h) Attorney General's Ability To Withhold Information in Relief From Disabilities
Lawsuits- Section 925(c) of such title is amended by inserting after the
3rd sentence the following: `If receipt of a firearms by the person would
violate section 922(g)(10), any information which the Attorney General relied
on for this determination may be withheld from the applicant if the Attorney
General determines that disclosure of the information would likely compromise
national security. In responding to the petition, the United States may
submit, and the court may rely on, summaries or redacted versions of documents
containing information the disclosure of which the Attorney General has
determined would likely compromise national security.'.
(i) Penalties- Section 924(k) of such title is amended--
(1) by striking `or' at the end of paragraph (2);
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking `, or' and inserting `; or'; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
`(4) constitutes an act of terrorism (as defined in section 921(a)(36)),
or material support thereof (as defined in section 921(a)(37)), or'.
(j) Remedy for Erroneous Denial of Firearm or Firearm Permit Exemption-
Section 925A of such title is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking `Remedy for erroneous denial
of firearm' and inserting `Remedies';
(2) by striking `Any person denied a firearm pursuant to subsection (s)
or (t) of section 922' and inserting the following:
`(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), any person denied a firearm pursuant
to section 922(t) or pursuant to a determination made under section 922B,';
and
(3) by adding after and below the end the following:
`(b) In any case in which the Attorney General has denied the transfer of
a firearm to a prospective transferee pursuant to section 922A or has made
a determination regarding a firearm permit applicant pursuant to section
922B, an action challenging the determination may be brought against the
United States. The petition must be filed not later than 60 days after the
petitioner has received actual notice of the Attorney General's determination
made pursuant to section 922A or 922B. The court shall sustain the Attorney
General's determination on a showing by the United States by a preponderance
of evidence that the Attorney General's determination satisfied the requirements
of section 922A or 922B. To make this showing, the United States may submit,
and the court may rely on, summaries or redacted versions of documents containing
information the disclosure of which the Attorney General has determined
would likely compromise national security. On request of the petitioner
or the court's own motion, the court may review the full, undisclosed documents
ex parte and in camera. The court shall determine whether the summaries
or redacted versions, as the case may be, are fair and accurate representations
of the underlying documents. The court shall not consider the full, undisclosed
documents in deciding whether the Attorney General's determination satisfies
the requirements of section 922A or 922B.'.
(k) Provision of Grounds Underlying Ineligibility Determination by the National
Instant Criminal Background Check System- Section 103 of the Brady Handgun
Violence Prevention Act (Public Law 103-159) is amended--
(A) by inserting after `is ineligible to receive a firearm,' the following:
`or the Attorney General has made a determination regarding an applicant
for a firearm permit pursuant to section 922B of title 18, United States
Code'; and
(B) by inserting after `the system shall provide such reasons to the
individual,' the following: `except for any information the disclosure
of which the Attorney General has determined would likely compromise
national security'; and
(A) in the 1st sentence, by inserting after `subsection (g) or (n) of
section 922 of title 18, United States Code or State law' the following:
`or if the Attorney General has made a determination pursuant to section
922A or 922B of such title,';
(B) by inserting `, except any information the disclosure of which the
Attorney General has determined would likely compromise national security'
before the period; and
(C) by adding at the end the following: `Any petition for review of
information withheld by the Attorney General under this subsection shall
be made in accordance with section 925A of title 18, United States Code.'.
(l) Unlawful Distribution of Explosives Based on Attorney General Discretionary
Denial- Section 842(d) of such title is amended--
(1) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (9) and inserting `;
or'; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
`(10) has received actual notice of the Attorney General's determination
made pursuant to section 843(b)(8) or (d)(2) of this title.'.
(m) Attorney General Discretionary Denial as Prohibitor- Section 842(i)
of such title is amended--
(1) by adding `or' at the end of paragraph (7); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
`(8) who has received actual notice of the Attorney General's determination
made pursuant to section 843(b)(8) or (d)(2),'.
(n) Attorney General Discretionary Denial of Federal Explosives Licenses
and Permits- Section 843(b) of such title is amended--
(1) by striking `Upon' and inserting the following: `Except as provided
in paragraph (8), on'; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
`(8) The Attorney General may deny the issuance of a permit or license
to an applicant if the Attorney General determines that the applicant
or a responsible person or employee possessor thereof is known (or appropriately
suspected) to be or have been engaged in conduct constituting, in preparation
of, in aid of, or related to terrorism, or providing material support
thereof, and the Attorney General has a reasonable belief that the person
may use explosives in connection with terrorism.'.
(o) Attorney General Discretionary Revocation of Federal Explosives Licenses
and Permits- Section 843(d) of such title is amended--
(1) by inserting `(1)' in the first sentence after `if';
(2) by striking the period at the end of the first sentence and inserting
the following: `; or (2) the Attorney General determines that the licensee
or holder (or any responsible person or employee possessor thereof) is
known (or appropriately suspected) to be or have been engaged in conduct
constituting, in preparation for, in aid of, or related to terrorism,
or providing material support thereof, and that the Attorney General has
a reasonable belief that the person may use explosives in connection with
terrorism.'.
(p) Attorney General's Ability To Withhold Information in Explosives License
and Permit Denial and Revocation Suits- Section 843(e) of such title is
amended--
(1) in the 1st sentence of paragraph (1), by inserting `except that if
the denial or revocation is based on a determination under subsection
(b)(8) or (d)(2), then any information which the Attorney General relied
on for the determination may be withheld from the petitioner if the Attorney
General determines that disclosure of the information would likely compromise
national security' before the period.
(2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following: `In responding
to any petition for review of a denial or revocation based on a determination
under section 843(b)(8) or (d)(2), the United States may submit, and the
court may rely on, summaries or redacted versions of documents containing
information the disclosure of which the Attorney General has determined
would likely compromise national security.'.
(q) Ability To Withhold Information in Communications to Employers- Section
843(h)(2) of such title is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting `or section 843(b)(1) (on grounds
of terrorism) of this title,' after `section 842(i),'; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) by inserting `or section 843(b)(8)' after `section 842(i)'; and
(B) in clause (ii), by inserting `, except that any information that
the Attorney General relied on for a determination pursuant to section
843(b)(8) may be withheld if the Attorney General concludes that disclosure
of the information would likely compromise national security' before
the semicolon.
(r) Conforming Amendment to Immigration and Nationality Act- Section 101(a)(43)(E)(ii)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(43)(E)(ii) is amended
by striking ` or (5)' and inserting `(5), or (10)'.
SEC. 214. AMENDMENT OF SENTENCING GUIDELINES.
(a) In General- Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of title 28,
United States Code, and in accordance with this section, the United States
Sentencing Commission shall review and, if appropriate, amend its guidelines
and policy statements to conform with this title and the amendments made
by this title.
(b) Requirements- In carrying out this section, the United States Sentencing
Commission shall--
(1) establish new guidelines and policy statements, as warranted, in order
to implement new or revised criminal offenses under this title and the
amendments made by this title;
(2) consider the extent to which the guidelines and policy statements
adequately address--
(A) whether the guidelines offense levels and enhancements--
(i) are sufficient to deter and punish such offenses; and
(ii) are adequate in view of the statutory increases in penalties
contained in this title and the amendments made by this title; and
(B) whether any existing or new specific offense characteristics should
be added to reflect congressional intent to increase penalties for the
offenses set forth in this title and the amendments made by this title;
(3) consider whether specific offense characteristics should be added
to increase the guideline range--
(A) by additional offense levels, if a criminal defendant committing
a gang crime or gang recruiting offense was an alien who was present
in the United States in violation of section 275 or 276 of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1325 and 1326) at the time the offense
was committed; and
(B) by further additional offense levels, if such defendant had also
previously been ordered removed or deported under the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) on the grounds of having committed
a crime;
(4) determine under what circumstances a sentence of imprisonment imposed
under this title or the amendments made by this title shall run consecutively
to any other sentence of imprisonment imposed for any other crime, except
that the Commission shall ensure that a sentence of imprisonment imposed
under section 424 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841 et seq.),
as added by this Act, shall run consecutively, to an extent that the Sentencing
Commission determines appropriate, to the sentence imposed for the underlying
drug trafficking offense;
(5) account for any aggravating or mitigating circumstances that might
justify exceptions to the generally applicable sentencing ranges;
(6) ensure reasonable consistency with other relevant directives, other
sentencing guidelines, and statutes;
(7) make any necessary and conforming changes to the sentencing guidelines
and policy statements; and
(8) ensure that the guidelines adequately meet the purposes of sentencing
set forth in section 3553(a)(2) of title 18, United States Code.
TITLE III--INCREASED FEDERAL RESOURCES TO DETER AND PREVENT SERIOUSLY
AT-RISK YOUTH FROM JOINING ILLEGAL STREET GANGS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
SEC. 301. DESIGNATION OF AND ASSISTANCE FOR HIGH INTENSITY GANG ACTIVITY
AREAS.
(a) Definitions- In this section:
(1) GOVERNOR- The term `Governor' means a Governor of a State, the Mayor
of the District of Columbia, the tribal leader of an Indian tribe, or
the chief executive of a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the
United States.
(2) HIGH INTENSITY GANG ACTIVITY AREA- The term `high intensity gang activity
area' or `HIGAA' means an area within 1 or more States or Indian country
that is designated as a high intensity gang activity area under subsection
(b)(1).
(3) INDIAN COUNTRY- The term `Indian country' has the meaning given the
term in section 1151 of title 18, United States Code.
(4) INDIAN TRIBE- The term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given the term
in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)).
(5) 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.
(6) TRIBAL LEADER- The term `tribal leader' means the chief executive
officer representing the governing body of an Indian tribe.
(b) High Intensity Gang Activity Areas-
(1) DESIGNATION- The Attorney General, after consultation with the Governors
of appropriate States, may designate as high intensity gang activity areas,
specific areas that are located within 1 or more States, which may consist
of 1 or more municipalities, counties, or other jurisdictions as appropriate.
(2) ASSISTANCE- In order to provide Federal assistance to high intensity
gang activity areas, the Attorney General shall--
(A) establish local collaborative working groups, which shall include--
(i) criminal street gang enforcement teams, consisting of Federal,
State, tribal, and local law enforcement authorities, for the coordinated
investigation, disruption, apprehension, and prosecution of criminal
street gangs and offenders in each high intensity gang activity area;
(ii) educational, community, and faith leaders in the area;
(iii) service providers in the community, including those experienced
at reaching youth and adults who have been involved in violence and
violent gangs or groups, to provide gang-involved or seriously at-risk
youth with positive alternatives to gangs and other violent groups
and to address the needs of those who leave gangs and other violent
groups, and those reentering society from prison; and
(iv) evaluation teams to research and collect information, assess
data, recommend adjustments, and generally assure the accountability
and effectiveness of program implementation;
(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;
(C) direct the reassignment or detailing of representatives from--
(i) the Department of Justice;
(ii) the Department of Education;
(iii) the Department of Labor;
(iv) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(v) the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
(vi) any other 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)
to each high intensity gang activity area to identify and coordinate
efforts to access Federal programs and resources available to provide
gang prevention, intervention, and reentry assistance;
(D) prioritize and administer the Federal program and resource requests
made by the local collaborative working group established under subparagraph
(A) for each high intensity gang activity area;
(E) provide all necessary funding for the operation of each local collaborative
working group in each high intensity gang activity area; and
(F) provide all necessary funding for national and regional meetings
of local collaborative working groups, criminal street gang enforcement
teams, and educational, community, social service, faith-based, and
all other related organizations, as needed, to ensure effective operation
of such teams through the sharing of intelligence and best practices
and for any other related purpose.
(3) COMPOSITION OF CRIMINAL STREET GANG ENFORCEMENT TEAM- Each team established
under paragraph (2)(A)(i) shall consist of agents and officers, where
feasible, from--
(A) the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
(B) the Drug Enforcement Administration;
(C) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives;
(D) the United States Marshals Service;
(E) the Department of Homeland Security;
(F) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
(G) State, local, and, where appropriate, tribal law enforcement;
(H) Federal, State, and local prosecutors; and
(I) the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Law Enforcement Services,
where appropriate.
(4) CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION- In considering an area for designation as
a high intensity gang activity 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 qualitative and quantitative data indicate that
violent crime in the area is related to criminal street gang activity,
such as murder, robbery, assaults, carjacking, arson, kidnapping, extortion,
drug trafficking, and other criminal activity;
(C) the extent to which State, local, and, where appropriate, tribal
law enforcement agencies, schools, community groups, social service
agencies, job agencies, faith-based organizations, and other organizations
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;
(i) has a comprehensive strategy to respond to local gang-related
issues (including prevention and intervention);
(ii) coordinates Federal actions and resources to support local implementation
of such comprehensive strategy; and
(iii) maximizes the resources available from the various levels of
government for responding to gang-related issues; and
(F) any other criteria that the Attorney General considers to be appropriate.
(5) RELATION TO HIDTAS- If the Attorney General establishes a high intensity
gang activity area that substantially overlaps geographically with any
existing high intensity drug trafficking area (in this section referred
to as a `HIDTA'), the Attorney General shall direct the local collaborative
working group for that high intensity gang activity area to enter into
an agreement with the Executive Board for that HIDTA, providing that--
(A) the Executive Board of that HIDTA shall establish a separate high
intensity gang activity area law enforcement steering committee, and
select (with a preference for Federal, State, and local law enforcement
agencies that are within the geographic area of that high intensity
gang activity area) the members of that committee, subject to the concurrence
of the Attorney General;
(B) the high intensity gang activity area law enforcement steering committee
established under subparagraph (A) shall administer the funds provided
under subsection (g)(1) for the criminal street gang enforcement team,
after consulting with, and consistent with the goals and strategies
established by, that local collaborative working group;
(C) the high intensity gang activity area law enforcement steering committee
established under subparagraph (A) shall select, from Federal, State,
and local law enforcement agencies within the geographic area of that
high intensity gang activity area, the members of the Criminal Street
Gang Enforcement Team, in accordance with paragraph (3); and
(D) the Criminal Street Gang Enforcement Team of that high intensity
gang activity area, and its law enforcement steering committee, may,
with approval of the Executive Board of the HIDTA with which it substantially
overlaps, utilize the intelligence-sharing, administrative, and other
resources of that HIDTA.
(c) Reporting Requirements-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than December 1 of each year, the Attorney General
shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress and the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Domestic Policy
Council that describes, for each designated high intensity gang activity
area--
(A) the specific long-term and short-term goals and objectives;
(B) the measurements used to evaluate the performance of the high intensity
gang activity area in achieving the long-term and short-term goals;
(C) the age, composition, and membership of gangs;
(D) the number and nature of crimes committed by gangs and gang members;
(E) the definition of the term `gang' used to compile that report; and
(F) the programmatic outcomes and funding needs of the high intensity
gang area, including--
(i) an evidence-based analysis of the best practices and outcomes
from the work of the relevant local collaborative working group; and
(ii) an analysis of whether Federal resources distributed meet the
needs of the high intensity gang activity area and, if any programmatic
funding shortfalls exist, recommendations for programs or funding
to meet such shortfalls.
(2) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES- In this subsection, the term `appropriate
committees of Congress' means--
(A) the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Appropriations,
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;
and
(B) the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Appropriations,
the Committee on Education and Labor, and the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives.
(d) Additional Assistant United States Attorneys- The Attorney General is
authorized to hire 94 additional Assistant United States attorneys, and
nonattorney coordinators and paralegals as necessary, to carry out the provisions
of this section.
(e) Additional Defense Counsel- In each of the fiscal years 2008 through
2012, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts
is authorized to hire 71 additional attorneys, nonattorney coordinators,
and investigators, as necessary, in Federal Defender Programs and Federal
Community Defender Organizations, and to make additional payments as necessary
to retain appointed counsel under section 3006A of title 18, United States
Code, to adequately respond to any increased or expanded caseloads that
may occur as a result of this Act or the amendments made by this Act. Funding
under this subsection shall not exceed the funding levels under subsection
(d).
(f) National Gang Research, Evaluation, and Policy Institute-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice,
after consulting with relevant law enforcement officials, practitioners
and researchers, shall establish a National Gang Research, Evaluation,
and Policy Institute (in this subsection referred to as the `Institute').
(2) ACTIVITIES- The Institute shall--
(A) promote and facilitate the implementation of data-driven, effective
gang violence suppression, prevention, intervention, and reentry models,
such as the Operation Ceasefire model, the Strategic Public Health Approach,
the Gang Reduction Program, or any other promising municipally driven,
comprehensive community-wide strategy that is demonstrated to be effective
in reducing gang violence;
(B) assist jurisdictions by conducting timely research on effective
models and designing and promoting implementation of effective local
strategies, including programs that have objectives and data on how
they reduce gang violence (including shootings and killings), using
prevention, outreach, and community approaches, and that demonstrate
the efficacy of these approaches; and
(C) provide and contract for technical assistance as needed in support
of its mission.
(3) NATIONAL CONFERENCE- Not later than 90 days after the date of its
formation, the Institute shall design and conduct a national conference
to reduce and prevent gang violence, and to teach and promote gang violence
prevention, intervention, and reentry strategies. The conference shall
be attended by appropriate representatives from criminal street gang enforcement
teams, and local collaborative working groups, including representatives
of educational, community, religious, and social service organizations,
and gang program and policy research evaluators.
(4) NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SITES- Not later than 120 days after the date
of its formation, the Institute shall select appropriate HIGAA areas to
serve as primary national demonstration sites, based on the nature, concentration,
and distribution of various gang types, the jurisdiction's established
capacity to integrate prevention, intervention, reentry and enforcement
efforts, and the range of particular gang-related issues. After establishing
primary national demonstration sites, the Institute shall establish such
other secondary sites, to be linked to and receive evaluation, research,
and technical assistance through the primary sites, as it may determine
appropriate.
(5) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION- Not later than 180 days after the date
of its formation, the Institute shall develop and begin dissemination
of information about methods to effectively reduce and prevent gang violence,
including guides, research and assessment models, case studies, evaluations,
and best practices. The Institute shall also create a website, designed
to support the implementation of successful gang violence prevention models,
and disseminate appropriate information to assist jurisdictions in reducing
gang violence.
(6) GANG INTERVENTION ACADEMIES- Not later than 6 months after the date
of its formation, the Institute shall, either directly or through contracts
with qualified nonprofit organizations, establish not less than 1 training
academy, located in a high intensity gang activity area, to promote effective
gang intervention and community policing. The purposes of an academy established
under this paragraph shall be to increase professionalism of gang intervention
workers, improve officer training for working with gang intervention workers,
create best practices for independent cooperation between officers and
intervention workers, and develop training for community policing.
(7) SUPPORT- The Institute shall obtain initial and continuing support
from experienced researchers and practitioners, as it determines necessary,
to test and assist in implementing its strategies nationally, regionally,
and locally.
(8) RESEARCH AGENDA- The Institute shall establish and implement a core
research agenda designed to address areas of particular challenge, including--
(A) how best to apply and continue to test the models described in paragraph
(2) in particularly large jurisdictions;
(B) how to foster and maximize the continuing impact of community moral
voices in this context;
(C) how to ensure the long-term sustainability of reduced violent crime
levels once initial levels of enthusiasm may subside; and
(D) how to apply existing intervention frameworks to emerging local,
regional, national, or international gang problems, such as the emergence
of the gang known as MS-13.
(9) EVALUATION- The National Institute of Justice shall evaluate, on a
continuing basis, comprehensive gang violence prevention, intervention,
suppression, and reentry strategies supported by the Institute, and shall
report the results of these evaluations by no later than October 1 each
year to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee
on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
(10) FUNDS- The Attorney General shall use not less than 3 percent, and
not more than 5 percent, of the amounts made available under this section
to establish and operate the Institute.
(g) Gang Suppression Information Grants-
(1) 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--
(A) increase accurate identification of gang members and violent offenders;
(B) maintain databases with such information to facilitate coordination
among law enforcement and prosecutors; and
(C) otherwise improve the investigation and prosecution of criminal
street gangs.
(A) PERIOD- A grant under this subsection shall be made for a period
of not more than 2 years.
(B) MAXIMUM- The amount of a grant under this subsection may not exceed
$1,000,000.
(3) ANNUAL REPORT- Each recipient of a grant under this subsection shall
submit to the Attorney General, for each year in which funds from a grant
received under this subsection are expended, a report containing--
(A) a summary of the activities carried out with grant funds during
that year;
(B) an assessment of the effectiveness of the crime prevention, research,
and intervention activities of the recipient;
(C) a strategic plan for the year following the year covered under paragraph
(1); and
(D) such other information as the Attorney General may require.
(4) DEFINITION- In this subsection, the term `units of local government'
includes sheriffs, police agencies, and local prosecutor offices.
(h) Use of Funds- Of amounts made available to a local collaborative working
group under this section for each fiscal year that are remaining after the
costs of hiring a full time coordinator for the local collaborative effort,
funds shall be used as follows:
(1) GANG ENFORCEMENT AND RESEARCH FUNDING- Fifty percent of the funds
shall be used--
(A) for the operation of criminal street gang enforcement teams;
(B) for gang suppression information grants under subsection (g);
(C) for the establishment and operation of the National Gang Research,
Evaluation, and Policy Institute; and
(D) to support and provide technical assistance to research in criminal
justice, social services, and community gang violence prevention collaborations.
(2) GANG PREVENTION FUNDING- Fifty percent of the funds shall be used
to provide at-risk youth with positive alternatives to gangs and other
violent groups and to address the needs of those who leave gangs and other
violent groups through--
(A) service providers in the community, including schools and school
districts; and
(B) faith leaders and other individuals experienced at reaching youth
who have been involved in violence and violent gangs or groups.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through
2012. Any funds made available under this subsection shall remain available
until expended.
SEC. 302. GANG PREVENTION GRANTS.
(a) Authority To Make Grants-
(1) GRANTS AUTHORIZED- The Office of Justice Programs of the Department
of Justice may 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.
(2) SELECTION PRIORITY- In selecting entities to receive grants under
this section, the Office of Justice Programs shall give priority to entities
that--
(A) have a comprehensive strategy to carry out community-based programs
described in paragraph (1) to respond to local gang-related issues (including
prevention and intervention), or, with respect to States or qualified
private entities that are not able to carry out such a strategy in a
local community, coordinate with a local entity in such community to
carry out the comprehensive strategy of such local entity;
(B) coordinate Federal actions and resources to support local implementation
of such comprehensive strategies; and
(C) maximize the resources available from the various levels of government
for such community-based programs.
(b) Use of Grant Amounts- A grant under this section may be used (including
through subgrants) for--
(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;
(6) developing and identifying investigative programs designed to deter
gang recruitment, involvement, and activities through effective intelligence
gathering;
(7) developing programs and youth centers for first-time nonviolent offenders
facing alternative penalties, such as mandated participation in community
service, restitution, counseling, and education and prevention programs;
(8) implementing regional, multidisciplinary approaches to combat gang
violence though coordinated programs for prevention and intervention (including
street outreach programs and other peacemaking activities) or coordinated
law enforcement activities that enhance reintegration strategies for offender
reentry; or
(9) identifying at-risk and high-risk students through home visits organized
through joint collaborations between law enforcement, faith-based organizations,
schools, and social workers.
(1) MAXIMUM- The amount of a grant under this section may not exceed $1,000,000.
(2) CONSULTATION AND COOPERATION- Each recipient of a grant under this
section shall have in effect on the date of the application by that entity
agreements to consult and cooperate with local, State, or Federal law
enforcement and participate, as appropriate, in coordinated efforts to
reduce gang activity and violence.
(1) RECIPIENTS- 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--
(A) a summary of the activities carried out with grant funds during
that year;
(B) an assessment of the effectiveness of the crime prevention, research,
and intervention activities of the recipient, based on data collected
by the grant recipient;
(C) a strategic plan for the year following the year described in paragraph
(1);
(D) evidence of consultation and cooperation with local, State, or Federal
law enforcement or, if the grant recipient is a government entity, evidence
of consultation with an organization engaged in any activity described
in subsection (b); and
(E) such other information as the Attorney General may require.
(2) ATTORNEY GENERAL- Not later than one year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit
to Congress a report, based on the reports submitted under paragraph (1),
identifying the best practices of grant recipients under this section
for responding to gang-related issues, and important research relating
to such best practices and issues. The Attorney General shall make such
report publicly available.
(e) Definition- In this section, the term `units of local government' includes
sheriffs departments, police departments, and local prosecutor offices.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
for grants under this section $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008
through 2012.
SEC. 303. ENHANCEMENT OF PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE
ENFORCEMENT OF CRIMINAL LAWS AGAINST VIOLENT GANGS.
(a) In General- While maintaining the focus of Project Safe Neighborhoods
as a comprehensive, strategic approach to reducing gun violence in America,
the Attorney General is authorized to 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; and
(2) coordinate the identification, investigation, and prosecution of criminal
street gangs among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.
(b) Additional Staff for Project Safe Neighborhoods-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General may hire Assistant United States
attorneys, non-attorney coordinators, or paralegals to carry out the provisions
of this section.
(2) ENFORCEMENT- The Attorney General may hire Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms, and Explosives agents for, and otherwise expend additional resources
in support of, the Project Safe Neighborhoods/Firearms Violence Reduction
program.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
$20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry out
this section. Any funds made available under this paragraph shall remain
available until expended.
SEC. 304. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE VIOLENT CRIMINAL STREET GANGS.
(a) Expansion of Safe Streets Program- The Attorney General is authorized
to expand the Safe Streets Program of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
for the purpose of supporting criminal street gang enforcement teams.
(b) National Gang Activity Database-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General shall establish a National Gang Activity
Database to be housed at and administered by the Department of Justice.
(2) DESCRIPTION- The database required by paragraph (1) shall--
(A) be designed to disseminate gang information to law enforcement agencies
throughout the country and, subject to appropriate controls, to disseminate
aggregate statistical information to other members of the criminal justice
system, community leaders, academics, and the public;
(B) contain critical information on gangs, gang members, firearms, criminal
activities, vehicles, and other information useful for investigators
in solving and reducing gang-related crimes;
(C) operate in a manner that enables law enforcement agencies to--
(i) identify gang members involved in crimes;
(ii) track the movement of gangs and members throughout the region;
(iii) coordinate law enforcement response to gang violence;
(iv) enhance officer safety;
(v) provide realistic, up-to-date figures and statistical data on
gang crime and violence;
(vi) forecast trends and respond accordingly; and
(vii) more easily solve crimes and prevent violence; and
(D) be subject to guidelines, issued by the Attorney General, specifying
the criteria for adding information to the database, the appropriate
period for retention of su