Lamar Alexander on Crime Republican Sr Senator (TN); previously candidate for President

Class X: Armed robbery means mandatory sentence, no parole

Supports Capital Punishment.

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

Proponents recommend voting YES because:

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

Opponents recommend voting NO because:

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

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

Rated 75% by the NCJA, indicating a mixed record on criminal justice.

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2005 NCJA scores as follows:

• 0%- 74%: "soft-on-crime" record (approx. 133 members)
• 75%- 84%: mixed record on criminal justice (approx. 114 members)
• 85%-100%: "tough-on-crime" record (approx. 216 members)

The National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) exists to promote the development of justice systems in states, tribal nations, and units of local government that enhance public safety; prevent and reduce the harmful effects of criminal and delinquent behavior on victims, individuals and communities; adjudicate defendants and sanction offenders fairly and justly; and that are effective and efficient.

Toward this end, the Association:

• Maintains the focus of state, tribal, local and federal governments on the needs of the criminal and juvenile justice systems;
• Represents state, tribal, and local criminal and juvenile justice system concerns to the federal government;
• Provides support for the development of criminal and juvenile justice policy for the nation's governors and tribal leaders;
• Supports the public and all levels of government in the achievement of public safety by the coordination of education, community and social service systems, in addition to law enforcement and criminal justice measures;
• Serves as a catalyst for the careful consideration and promotion of effective and efficient criminal and juvenile justice policies and practices;
• Advocates for the commitment of adequate resources to support all components of the criminal and juvenile justice systems; and
• Coordinates between the different branches and levels of government and promotes broad philosophical agreement.