HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1390~f~~ ~ Resolution ~so~v~o~n~L9D
y
IN SIIPPORT OF THE.SPEARER'S AND Lt. GOVERNOR'S ANTI-CRIME PACKAGES
WHEREAS, in Texas because of prison overcrowding and federally man-
dated prison population limits, dangerous felons are being released
prematurely;+and
WHEREAS, according to a recent report prepared by the Legislative
Budget Board, Texas is number one in the nation in criminal popula-
tion; and has more people incarcerated or free on parole and proba-
tion than any other state in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Speaker Gib Lewis has developed a legislative anti-crime
package in an effort to curb the alarming crime rate and violence
that has plagued our cities; and
WHEREAS, the legislative proposals in the House Speaker's package
would:
1. Permit a 13 year-old to be tried as an adult at a
judge's discretion if the defendant is accused of
capital murder, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated
kidnapping or aggravated assault.
2. Tighten parole release provisions.
3. Allow oral confession and physical evidence gath-
ered by law enforcement officers to .be used in tri-
als, if they meet federal constitutional require-
ments.
4. Permit juvenile records to be used as evidence.
5. Provide for a defendant to be tried at once for
several crimes, if the offenses are clearly related:
6. Send more money to crime stoppers programs at the
community level.
O
CITY OF FORT N10RTfl
- ~-
f?:
S
~~
7. Expand capital punishment to include drug-related
homicides.
8. Allow for the seizure of assets for engaging in
organized criminal activity and racketeering activ-
ity.
9. Expand the existing asset forfeiture statutes to
include all felony crimes, not just drug offenses.
(The City of Fort Worth' Enhanced Asset Forfeiture
Sill); and
WHEREAS, Lt. Governor Bill Hobby has also developed an Anti-Crime
Plan aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and crime;
and
WHEREAS, in Mr. Hobby's proposal the State would spend $164 million
on new programs to reduce child abuse, dropouts, family violence,
runaways, substance abuse and teenage pregnancies, which are regarded
by some experts as the underlying causes of criminal behavior.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COIINCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
WORTH, TEXAS that the City strongly supports passage at the 71st
State Legislature the anti-crime packages developed by Speaker Gib
Lewis and Lt. Governor Bill Hobby. In addition, the City will sup-
port passage of the legislative recommendations included in the re-
port of the Criminal Justice Task Force to the Governor.
APPROVED BY
CITY COUNCIL
fE8 21 1989
R,~.
Citg Seuetacy ~af the
Cib of P^N WoYh, Tex~e
QTY OP PORT AORTH