Robert Ehrlich on Crime Former Republican MD Governor; previously Representative (MD-2)

Opposes moratorium on death penalty

Robert Ehrlich, knowing his constituency, condemns the moratorium. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a backer of the death penalty but one who knows her own constituency, calls the moratorium a small price to pay while we wait for advice on fairness.

Resurrect boot camps for juvenile justice

Ehrlich said he was nearing completion of a policy proposal for the state’s juvenile justice system. For some less-violent young offenders, “boot camps are the right solution,” Ehrlich said. “Our proposal will have a boot-camp component.”

Such programs have effectively prevented teens from committing additional crimes in other places, Ehrlich said. He said the camps could work if mental-health treatment and follow-up care components were bolstered. “Other states are getting results,” he said, mentioning Florida as an example.

Maryland operated three juvenile boot camps in Allegany County from 1996 until 1999, when the facilities were closed after The Sun published articles describing repeated beatings and violence by guards against young criminals.

Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.

Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime.

Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals.

Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder.

Rated 20% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes.

CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants) is a membership organization of families of prisoners, prisoners, former prisoners and other concerned citizens. CURE's two goals are

1. to use prisons only for those who have to be in them; and
2. for those who have to be in them, to provide them all the rehabilitative opportunities they need to turn their lives around.

No TV, R-rated movies, or coffeepots in prison cells.

Title: To prohibit the use of Federal funds for certain amenities and personal comforts in the Federal prison system. Summary: Prohibits the use of Federal funds to provide the following amenities or personal comforts in the Federal prison system:
1. in-cell television viewing;
2. viewing of a motion picture rated R, X, or NC-17;
3. instruction or training equipment for specified fighting arts, bodybuilding, or weightlifting;
4. an in-cell coffee pot, hot plate, or heating element; or
5. an electric or electronic musical instrument.

Require DNA testing for all federal executions.

Title: To reduce the risk that innocent persons may be executed.

Summary: Authorizes a person convicted of a Federal crime to apply for DNA testing to support a claim that the person did not commit:
1. the Federal crime of which the person was convicted; or

2. any other offense that a sentencing authority may have relied upon when it sentenced the person with respect to such crime.

3. Prohibits a State from denying an application for DNA testing made by a prisoner in State custody who is under sentence of death if specified conditions apply.

4. Provides grants to prosecutors for DNA testing programs.

5. Establishes the National Commission on Capital Representation.

6. Withholds funds from States not complying with standards for capital representation.

7. Provides for capital defense incentive grants and resource grants.

8. Increases compensation in Federal cases, and sets forth provisions regarding compensation in State cases, where an individual is unjustly sentenced to death.

9. Adds a certification requirement in Federal death penalty prosecutions.

10. Expresses the sense of Congress regarding the execution of juvenile offenders and the mentally retarded.

Supports capital punishment for certain crimes.

The Christian Coalition voter guide [is] one of the most powerful tools Christians have ever had to impact our society during elections. This simple tool has helped educate tens of millions of citizens across this nation as to where candidates for public office stand on key faith and family issues.

The CC survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Capital punishment for certain crimes, such as first degree murder & terrorism"

Paperback: Ron Paul
vs. Newt Gingrich
On The Issues

More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty.

[As part of the Contract with America, within 100 days we pledge to bring to the House Floor the following bill]:

The Taking Back Our Streets Act:
An anti-crime package including stronger truth in sentencing, “good faith” exclusionary rule exemptions, effective death penalty provisions, and cuts in social spending from this summer’s crime bill to fund prison construction and additional law enforcement to keep people secure in their neighborhoods and kids safe in their schools.