With record breaking violence in many big cities across the country, police agencies are looking at ways to reduce the numbers. Cincinnati, Ohio, in conjunction with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio announced a program which should have an impact on the violence. Cincinnati has already passed the number of shootings in 2019 with three months left in 2020.
The U.S. Attorney announced sixteen people have been indicted for federal gun violations. The federal law poses severe prison time as opposed to the comparable state laws. Federal judges are lifetime appointments which does not require re-election. They do not need to be concerned with the sentiment of the community and they also have sentencing guidelines that they must adhere to.
Violators who are convicted will serve their sentence in federal facilities in Indiana. Kentucky, Illinois and Pennsylvania making it difficult for family members to visit. Inmates are strictly controlled while in federal custody and it is known in the criminal community as “hard time.”
It will take several months for the impact to take effect as word will not get out until people begin getting sentenced and “ride out” to their new homes. Once that happens, it is expected that the “gang bangers” will go underground and the numbers will see substantial reduction.
Federal prosecutors will focus their attention on persons with prior felony convictions who are in possession of a firearm. They have re-assigned prosecutors from the white collar crime unit https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/sixteen-men-charged-federally-part-cincinnati-gun-violence-initiative
This is not the first time that the U.S. Attorney and Cincinnati PD have joined forces. In June, 2012 federal indictments were issued against a gang calling itself The Tot Lot Posse. Federal convictions decimated the gang and gave a community back to the residents. https://www.fox19.com/story/19020155/trio-connected-to-tot-lot-posse-gang-indicted-on-drug-charges/
Smell the coffee Chicago
Posted in Officer Safety, Protect our children.