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Norm Coleman on Crime

Republican Sr Senator (MN)


Too many suspects are released without trial or jail

The biggest shortcoming of Minnesota’s criminal justice system, Coleman says, is the way many suspects are released without going to trial or serving time. He supports crime prevention and social outreach programs, but none of that should distract the system from its primary duty.
Source: MPR Election 98 coverage Sep 1, 1998

Strengthen the State Gang Task Force

We need to be doing things like strengthening the State Gang Task Force which was created on the model we built in St. Paul. The state needs to be working vigorously with local officials in dealing with the issue of crime, and drugs, and violence.
Source: MPR Election 98 coverage Sep 1, 1998

When we get tougher on enforcement, we see a change

It’s nice to talk about rehabilitation, but the criminal justice system really is about taking bad people off the streets. When we got tougher in Minneapolis we saw a change. When the governor sent in the State Patrol, when we increased the level of enforcement, we saw a change.
Source: MPR Election 98 coverage Sep 1, 1998

Voted YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program.

Amendment would increase funding for the COPS Program to $1.15 billion for FY 2008 to provide state and local law enforcement with critical resources. The funding is offset by an unallocated reduction to non-defense discretionary spending.

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.

Reference: Biden Amendment; Bill S.Amdt.529 on S.Con.Res.21 ; vote number 2007-110 on Mar 23, 2007

Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program.

Coleman co-sponsored increasing funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program

COPS Improvements Act of 2007 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to make grants for public safety and community policing programs (COPS ON THE BEAT or COPS program). Revises grant purposes to provide for:

  1. the hiring or training of law enforcement officers for intelligence, antiterror, and homeland security duties;
  2. the hiring of school resource officers;
  3. school-based partnerships between local law enforcement agencies and local school systems to combat crime, gangs, drug activities, and other problems facing elementary and secondary schools;
  4. innovative programs to reduce and prevent illegal drug (including methamphetamine) manufacturing, distribution, and use; and
  5. enhanced community policing and crime prevention grants that meet emerging law enforcement needs.
    Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to:
  1. assign community prosecutors to handle cases from specific geographic areas and address counterterrorism problems, specific violent crime problems, and localized violent and other crime problems; and
  2. develop new technologies to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in crime prevention.
Source: COPS Improvements Act (S.368/H.R.1700) 07-S368 on Jan 23, 2007

Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance.

Coleman co-sponsored reducing recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance

Legislative Outcome: Became Public Law No: 110-199.
Source: Second Chance Act (S.1060/H.R.1593) 08-S1060 on Mar 29, 2007

Other candidates on Crime: Norm Coleman on other issues:
MN Gubernatorial:
Tim Pawlenty
MN Senatorial:
Al Franken
Amy Klobuchar

Newly elected in 2008 & seated in 2009:
AK:Begich (D)
CO:Udall (D)
ID:Risch (R)
MN:Franken (D)
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OR:Merkley (D)
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Newly appointed in 2009;
special election in 2010:

DE:Kaufman (D)
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Announced retirement as of 2010:
DE:Kaufman (D)
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MO:Bond (R)
OH:Voinovich (R)


Up for 6-year term in 2010:
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Page last updated: Nov 22, 2009