Biden Announces Violent Crime Prevention Strategy As 2020 Becomes Deadliest Gun Violence Year In Decades; 2021 Shaping Up To Be Even Worse

Biden Announces Violent Crime Prevention Strategy As 2020 Becomes Deadliest Gun Violence Year In Decades; 2021 Shaping Up To Be Even Worse

According to a recent Washington Post article, through the first five months of 2021, gunfire killed more than 8,100 people in the United States, about 54 lives lost per day. “ The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research organization, reported 14 more deaths per day than the average toll during the same period of the previous six years. Experts have attributed the increase to a variety of new and long-standing issues — including entrenched inequality, soaring gun ownership, and fraying relations between police and the communities they serve — all intensified during the coronavirus pandemic and widespread uprisings for racial justice. As far as Albuquerque is concerned, the city has made the top 100 list of most dangerous cities 5 years in a row. Se the postscript below to this article.

Links to the Washington Post article and the Gun Violence Archive are here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/06/14/2021-gun-violence/

https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

BIDEN”S VIOLENT CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGY

President Joe Biden has repeatedly said that the country is are experiencing an epidemic of gun violence. After years of decreasing crime statistics, the homicide rate has surged across the country in major cities. The surge began in 2020 and the trend is anticipated to continue this year.

According to a June 23, White House press release, Homicides rose 30%, and gun assaults rose 8% in large cities in 2020. The number of homicides in the first quarter of 2021 was 24% higher than the number of homicides in the first quarter of 2020, and 49% higher than in the first quarter of 2019. Black and brown Americans are disproportionately harmed by the direct and indirect consequences of gun violence.

On June 23, President Joe Biden announced a comprehensive strategy on violent crime prevention amid a nationwide surge in violent crime and mass shootings. The strategy implements preventative measures that are proven to reduce violent crime, and attacks the root causes of violent crime and includes addressing the flow of firearms used to commit crimes.

Not surprisingly, Biden again advocated that congress enact an assault weapons ban.

In making the announcement, Biden had this to say:

“Crime historically rises during the summer and as we emerge from this pandemic with the country opening back up again, the traditional summer spike may be more pronounced than it usually would be. … There are things we know that work to reduce gun violence and violent crime, and things that we don’t know about. … Things we know about [include] background checks for purchasing a firearm are important. A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines — no one needs to have a weapon that can fire over 30, 40, 50, even up to 100 rounds, unless you think the deer are wearing Kevlar vests or something. Community policing and programs that keep neighborhoods safe and keep folks out of trouble — these efforts work, they save lives, but over time, these policies were gutted, are woefully underfunded.”

Biden took the opportunity to defend his administration against charges it would inappropriately curtail Americans’ Second Amendment rights. He also and countered the gun lobby’s arguments about rises in violent crime.

“The Second Amendment, from the day it was passed, limited the type of people could own a gun, and what type of weapon you could own — you couldn’t buy a cannon. The point is that there’s always been the ability to limit, rationally limit, the type of weapon that can be owned and who can own it.”

ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

President Biden announced “a major crackdown to stem the flow of guns used to commit violent crimes,” warning his administration will pursue a “zero tolerance” policy “for gun dealers who willfully violate existing laws and regulations.” Biden said:

“If you willfully sell a gun to someone who is prohibited from possessing it, if you willfully fail to run a background check, if you willfully falsify a record, if you willfully fail to cooperate with the tracing requests or inspections, my message to you is this: We’ll find you and we’ll seek your license to sell guns.”

Biden’s crime prevention strategy initiates a number of measures among federal agencies. It also will allow states to use American Rescue Plan dollars for more flexible applications, including hiring law enforcement above pre-pandemic levels or using the funds toward community violence intervention programs.

The Biden strategy will address the direct link between gun violence and the rise in violent crime by taking immediate steps to keep guns out of the wrong hands, including strengthening the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) efforts to stem the flow of firearms used in crimes, and launching multijurisdictional firearms trafficking strike forces to stop illegal gun trafficking across state lines.

Biden announced that his administration will convene and support a community violence intervention collaborative programs in more than a dozen jurisdictions. The jurisdictions must commit to using a portion of their American Rescue Plan funding or other public funding to increase investment in community violence intervention programs.

FEDERAL AGENCIES ANNOUNCE INITIATIVES

The Biden Administration is moving to act with a whole-of-government approach as the country enter the summer months when cities typically experience a spike in violence and as the country begins to reopen from the pandemic quarantine. On June 23, federal agencies announced initiative to combat violent crime.

The Treasury Department announced guidance that highlights that communities experiencing a surge in gun violence as a result of the pandemic may use American Rescue Plan funds for policing-related efforts.
The Office of Personnel Management will now consider whether to remove barriers for employment to formerly incarcerated individuals.

Housing & Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge issued a letter that addresses housing needs for formerly incarcerated individuals, including the use of 70,000 emergency housing vouchers funded by the American Rescue Plan.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Department of Justice is also taking steps to help solve the surging crime wave. Attorney General Garland said:

“The Justice Department’s violent crime reduction strategy, and our initiatives to stem the rising tide of illegal guns, will save lives. But these steps alone will not solve the problem of violent crime. … Success depends on all of us joining together — those of you in this room, the many like you across the country who are working to keep communities safe, and the people of our communities themselves.”

BIDEN’S “COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY”

Biden’s “Comprehensive Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gun Crime and Ensure Public Safety” will focus on five major strategy goals:

1. Stem the flow of firearms used to commit violence, including by holding rogue firearms dealers accountable for violating federal laws;
2 Support local law enforcement with federal tools and resources to help address summer violent crime;
3 Invest in evidence-based community violence interventions;
4 Expanding summer programming, employment opportunities, and other services and supports for teenagers and young adults; and
5 Help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reenter their communities.

Following is a discussion of each strategy goal as outlined by a White House press release:

1. STEM THE FLOW OF FIREARMS USED TO COMMIT VIOLENCE

“The Biden Administration announce that it is taking action to help stem the flow of guns into the hands of those responsible for violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is e stablishing a zero tolerance for rogue gun dealers that willfully violate the law. Gun dealers across the country are regulated by federal law that is enforced by the Dealers that fail to comply with their obligations under the law create risks for all of us.

The Justice Department is announced a new policy to underscore zero tolerance for willful violations of the law by federally licensed firearms dealers that put public safety at risk. Absent extraordinary circumstances that would need to be justified to the Director.

ATF will seek to revoke the licenses of dealers the first time that they violate federal law by willfully:

1) Transferring a firearm to a prohibited person,
2) failing to run a required background check
3) falsifying records, such as a firearms transaction form
4) failing to respond to an ATF tracing request, or
5) refusing to permit ATF to conduct an inspection in violation of the law.

ATF will notify every firearms dealer whose license is revoked about how to lawfully transfer any remaining inventory, as well as the potential criminal consequences of continuing to engage in the business of buying and selling guns without a license.”

ATF announced the following actions:

Better coordination with state and local officials with on-the-ground knowledge of which dealers are supplying firearms that show up at crime scenes.
Formalizing the use of data-driven prioritization of inspection resources. This data-driven prioritization will allow ATF to target its limited inspection resources to ensure compliance with federal law.
Equipping states that have their own gun dealer licensing systems with data from ATF inspections. ATF will begin sharing inspection data with these states so that officials there can determine whether to take their own steps to shut down dealers that fail to live up to their obligations under state law.

2. SUPPORT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HELP ADDRESS SUMMER VIOLENT CRIME

“In preparation for a possible increase in violence typically seen over the summer months, where needed and appropriate, the Justice Department is providing the following law enforcement support:

The FBI is making available cutting-edge analytical resources to support state and local law enforcement efforts to identify the most violent offenders and most dangerous criminal organizations in communities. The FBI is also deploying agents to assist with enforcement operations targeting these entities.

Where feasible, the ATF is embedding with local homicide units and expanding the availability of its National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Correlation Center, which matches ballistics from crime scenes to other ballistic evidence nationwide.

The Enforcement Administration (DEA) will focus its efforts, in coordination with state, local and Tribal law enforcement, to disrupt the activities of the most violent drug trafficking gangs and egregious drug-trafficking organizations operating in the highest-crime areas.

The United States Marshals Service, in coordination with state and local authorities, is conducting fugitive sweeps throughout the country focused on individuals subject to state or local warrants for homicide, aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated robbery, robbery with a firearm, rape or aggravated sexual assault.

The Treasury Department is notifying communities experiencing a surge in gun violence as a result of the pandemic may use the American Rescue Plan’s $350 billion in state and local funding for purposes such as:

A. Hiring law enforcement officials or paying overtime where the funds are directly focused on advancing community policing strategies in those communities experiencing an increase in gun violence associated with the pandemic.
B. Increase enforcement efforts to reduce gun violence exacerbated by the pandemic, including prosecuting gun traffickers, rogue dealers, and other parties contributing to the supply of crime guns, as well as collaborative federal/state/local efforts to identify and address gun trafficking channels.
C. Investing in technology and equipment to allow law enforcement to more efficiently and effectively respond to the rise in gun violence resulting from the pandemic.”

3. INVEST IN EVIDENCE-BASED COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTIONS

“Community violence intervention (CVI) programs have been shown to reduce violence by as much as 60%. These programs are effective because they leverage trusted messengers who work directly with individuals most likely to commit gun violence, intervene in conflicts, and connect people to social, health and wellness, and economic services to reduce the likelihood of violence as an answer to conflict.

President Biden announced his Administration will convene and support a CVI Collaborative of 15 jurisdictions that are committing to use a portion of their America Recovery Fund funding or other public funding to increase investment in their CVI infrastructure, including to anticipate and respond to the potential rise in violence this summer.

Over the next 18 months, the Biden Administration will convene meetings with officials from these communities, facilitate peer-to-peer learning, and provide technical assistance. This effort will support both proven and new strategies that reduce gun violence and strengthen community-based infrastructure to enhance public safety for children, families, and communities and to advance equity.”

4. EXPAND SUMMER PROGRAMMING, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND OTHER SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, ESPECIALLY FOR TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS

“The Department of the Treasury and the Department of Education announced how American Rescue Plan funding of $350 billion in state and local funding and the $122 billion in school funding, can be used for a variety of public safety strategies. Within the parameters explained in those guidance documents, State and territory, local, and Tribal governments can:

Hire support personnel such as nurses, counselors, and social workers;
Pay court personnel and operations costs to return to pre-pandemic operation levels;
Provide and expand employment services, including summer jobs for young people and programs that provide training and work experience for formerly incarcerated persons and other individuals who live in communities most impacted by high levels of violence;
Provide and expand summer education and enrichment programs, including summer camp;
Scale up wraparound services—such as housing, medical and mental health care, trauma-informed care, substance use disorder treatment, food assistance, and job placement services—for victims of crime, young people, formerly incarcerated persons, and individuals and households facing economic insecurity due to the pandemic;

Youth Workforce Development Funds. Young people are disproportionately likely to be involved in gun violence, either as perpetrators or victims. Youth employment programs, including summer jobs programs, can reduce their involvement in violence by as much as 35% or 45%. Workforce development programs will be implemented to keep young people safe and give them a path to success.

On June 10, the Department of Labor awarded $89 million through its YouthBuild program to provide pre-apprenticeship opportunities for young people ages 16-24. Sixty eight grantee organizations will serve more than 5,000 youth in dozens of cities.

on June 10 The Department of Labor also awarded $20 million through its Workforce Pathways for Youth program to expand workforce development activities that serve youth ages 14-21 during “out of school” time (non-school hours). Through these grants, four national grantee organizations will serve approximately 7,000 participants in multiple cities across the country. The organizations will provide career exploration services; work readiness training; career counseling; work experience (internships, summer and year-round employment, pre-apprenticeships, and registered apprenticeships); mentoring; and assistance in placing youth in employment, education, or training.”

5. HELP FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS SUCCESSFULLY REENTER THEIR COMMUNITIES.

“Employment is a key to formerly incarcerated individuals’ successful reentry into their communities. Individuals who secure employment after release have much lower recidivism rates than those who do not. Good, stable jobs promote public safety. The Biden Administration announced is taking steps to facilitate employment and associated services, such as housing assistance, for people who are formerly incarcerated.”

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR INITIATIVES

“On June 21, the Department of Labor awarded $85.5 million to help formerly incarcerated adults and young people in 28 communities transition out of the criminal justice system and connect with quality jobs. This includes $60 million for Pathway Home projects that will serve approximately 6,000 adults. By enabling services to begin while participants are still incarcerated and continue services post-release, the Pathway Home initiative eliminates the gap between release from incarceration and enrollment into a reentry program.

The Department of Labor also awarded $25.5 million in Young Adult Reentry Partnership grants to organizations that will help provide education and training services to young adults between 18-24 who were previously involved with the justice system or who left high school before graduation. The program will serve approximately 3,000 young people, offering accelerated and work-based learning such as registered apprenticeships in high-demand occupations with living wages. Grantees reduce barriers to labor market entry by providing career exploration activities, case management services, legal and other supportive services, and both job preparation and placement. Priority was given to organizations serving communities with high rates of poverty and crime.”

EXPANDING FEDERAL HIRING OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED PERSONS

“The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will evaluate the existence of any barriers faced by formerly incarcerated persons in accessing federal employment and consider whether the federal government should take further action as appropriate, including creating a new “Schedule A” excepted service hiring authority for formerly incarcerated persons. This Schedule A hiring authority would allow federal agencies to hire qualified individuals for any job opening through the non-competitive, excepted service hiring process. Schedule A positions equip people with the skills and experience to become more competitive in the job market.”

IMPLEMENTING “BAN THE BOX” POLICY

The Office of Personnel Management will also publish proposed regulations to implement the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019’s “ban the box” policy. The Fair Chance Act prohibits federal employers and federal contractors in all three branches of government from inquiring into arrest and conviction history until they have made a conditional job offer.

HIRING SECOND CHANCE ACT FELLONS

“The Department of Justice plans to post an application next month for a formerly incarcerated individual to work at DOJ as a Second Chance Act visiting fellow. This is a unique opportunity to draw on the expertise of a formerly incarcerated person as a policy advocate, legal or social services provider, or academic focusing on the successful reintegration of people returning home to their communities after incarceration. The fellow will develop innovative strategies that build upon and improve DOJ’s investments in reentry and reintegration.’

LEVERAGING TAX CREDITS TO INCENTIVIZE HIRING OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.

“The Department of Labor and Department of the Treasury will help employers leverage the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which includes incentivizes to hire formerly incarcerated individuals. Under WOTC, employers can receive up to a $2,400 credit against federal income taxes for hiring a person within one year of their conviction or release from prison for a felony offense. The Departments of Labor and Treasury will encourage employers to take up this opportunity to hire formerly incarcerated individuals. Specifically, within 90 days, the Departments will issue guidance, provide technical assistance to state workforce agencies, and release materials on ways employers can leverage this tax credit and other resources, such as the Federal Bonding Program and the American Rescue Plan’s Employee Retention Credit (ERC). For example, a small business that hires someone who was released in the last twelve months and employs them through the second half of the year could qualify for a credit of up to $16,400 per worker by claiming both the WOTC and the ERC. The Department of the Treasury will also revise online materials to make it easier to claim the tax credit.”

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/23/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-comprehensive-strategy-to-prevent-and-respond-to-gun-crime-and-ensure-public-safety/

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REQUESTED FUNDING TO COMBAT VIOLENT CRIME AND GUN VIOLENCE

On Friday, May 28, 2021, the United States Department of Justice, Public Affairs Department, issued a press release regarding funding increases by the Biden Administration for the Fiscal Year 2022. The press release is entitled:

“Proposal Reinvigorates Civil Rights Enforcement, Counters International and Domestic Terrorism, Combats Violent Crime and Gun Violence, Advances Environmental Justice, Invests in Community Policing, Addresses Inequities in the Nation’s Criminal Justice System, and Reduces the Immigration Court Backlog

Below is the press release with the link:

On May 28, 2021, President Biden submitted his Budget for Fiscal Year 2022 to Congress, totaling $35.3 billion for the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The request seeks to sustain and enhance the Justice Department’s vital work to counter both international and domestic terrorism, reinvigorate civil rights enforcement, address inequities in the nation’s criminal justice system, combat gun violence, advance environmental justice and help reduce the backlog in the nation’s immigration courts.

“This budget proposal advances the Justice Department’s three overarching goals: keeping Americans safe, adhering to the Rule of Law, and seeking equal justice under law for everyone,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These funds will strengthen our ability to counter international and domestic terrorism, support our efforts to curb violent crime, enhance our enforcement of voting rights and other civil rights laws, protect our nation from cyber-attacks, and double our resources dedicated to addressing gender-based violence and the support of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Our request will increase public safety through investments in policing and criminal justice reform, as well as by dedicating funds to combating gun violence. Importantly, this budget makes a down payment on improving access to justice, a prerequisite to equal justice. The department looks forward to working with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to help secure its timely passage.”

At the Department of Justice, the Budget would provide:

“• More than $1.5 billion to combat international and domestic terrorism – an increase of more than 12% over the FY 2021– which includes an additional $101.2 million to address domestic terrorism with a broadscale approach across the Department.
• $2.1 billion, an increase of $184.3 million, to combat gun violence while focusing on programs that address both gun safety and violent crime.
• $177.2 million over the FY 2021 appropriation to reinvigorate Federal civil rights efforts, including to re-establish and expand the Office for Access to Justice and to support the Community Relations Service with conciliators in local communities.
• $1.0 billion, an increase of $486.5 million, to address gender-based violence through the Office on Violence Against Women, nearly twice the FY 2021 investment in this effort.
• $1.6 billion, an increase of $669.3 million, to implement further reforms to the criminal justice system and continue critical investment in implementation of the First Step Act of 2018.
• $1.3 billion, an increase of $379.8 million, to support programs designed to further strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
• $44.0 million in new resources to advance environmental justice initiatives, including facilities modernization and repair.
• $177.5 million more than FY 2021 to reduce the immigration court backlog and fund new legal support efforts for children and families.
• $1.1 billion, an increase of $150.7 million, to augment Cyber Investigations and Cyber Security.”

Countering International and Domestic Terrorism

“As the Nation’s top law enforcement agency, the Department of Justice is devoted to a broad-scale approach to counter the threat of both international and domestic terrorism. While the United States has seen unprecedented and troubling levels of domestic violent extremism, the department and its law enforcement agencies remain acutely aware of the threats posed by international terrorist organizations.

The budget request includes increased funding for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the principal DOJ law enforcement agency charged with combating terrorism, to conduct domestic terrorism investigations, and for the U.S. Attorneys to manage increasing domestic terrorism caseloads. Further, the budget will support additional response capabilities at the U.S. Marshals Service and support research on the root causes of domestic radicalization at the National Institute of Justice.”

The FY 2022 budget invests more than $1.5 billion to combat international and domestic terrorism, including an additional an $101.2 million to address the rising threat of domestic terrorism.

Combating Violent Crime and Gun Violence

“The Department is committed to addressing the epidemic of gun violence and other violent crime that has taken the lives of too many people in our communities. As part of the department’s recently announced strategy to reduce violent crime, including through grantmaking opportunities, the budget request establishes innovative new grants for States to incentivize Red Flag and Gun Licensing Laws; creates a new $100 million Community Violence Intervention Initiative to tackle gun violence in our neighborhoods; provides grants for Project Safe Neighborhoods, and expands ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network. A new pilot program promotes the development, adoption and use of programs designed to help communities address situations where people become legally prohibited from possessing the firearms they own.”

The FY 2022 budget invests $2.1 billion to address gun violence and gun safety, an increase of $184.3 million over FY 2021.

Reinvigorating Civil Rights Efforts

“Protecting our Nation’s civil rights is a top priority for the Department, as far too many of our citizens still face discrimination. To help protect marginalized communities, the budget request includes funding to re-establish the Office for Access to Justice, and increases funding for the Civil Rights Division, the Community Relations Service, the Office of Justice Programs and the Office on Violence Against Women. These funds will support the enforcement of voting rights and the protection of constitutional and civil rights; mediation and conciliation services for community conflicts arising from discriminatory practices; the prosecution of hate crimes across the nation, especially in communities uniquely impacted by bias, xenophobia and hate driven by the COVID-19 pandemic; and other civil rights activities.”

The FY 2022 budget invests a total of $307.2 million in civil rights efforts, an increase of $177.2 million over FY 2021.

Addressing Inequities in the Criminal Justice System

“The Department’s budget request addresses the need to ensure equal justice for all Americans. The budget request prioritizes improving community relations through the Office of Justice Programs. The budget request establishes new programs for community-based alternatives to prison, expands the Part B Formula Grants, and increases funding for the Second Chance Act program. The Department will implement Executive Order 14006 by transferring Federal Prisoner Detention detainees from privately operated to alternate State, local, and Federal facilities with an additional $75.0 million. Finally, the budget continues the historic investment of $409.5 million by the Bureau of Prisons in the First Step Act.”

The FY 2022 budget invests over $1.6 billion to address inequities in the criminal justice system in America, an increase of $669.3 million over FY 2021 levels.

Investing in Community Policing

“Creating strong, positive ties between law enforcement and the communities they serve is critical to making the Nation’s communities safer and to rooting out systemic inequities in the justice system. Providing resources to police departments to help them reform and gain the trust of communities is a priority of this Department and this Administration. The department’s budget addresses the need to further strengthen relationships between communities and police officers by hiring local police officers and investing in racial sensitivity, hate crime and implicit bias training.

The FY 2022 budget invests a total of $1.3 billion to support law enforcement agencies, including through programs that support community-oriented policing policies and practices, as well as training for law enforcement on racial profiling, de-escalation and the duty to intervene. This is a $379.8 million increase over the FY 2021 level.”

Advancing Environmental Justice

“The Department is committed advancing environmental justice and supports the President’s Executive Order 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” The Executive Order establishes a “whole-of-government” approach to addressing the climate crisis and formalizes the government’s commitment to environmental justice. The budget request includes increased funding for the Environment and Natural Resources Division to expand its use of existing authorities in affirmative cases to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the impacts of climate change and to continue defensive and other work related to climate change. In addition, the Bureau of Prison will invest in energy saving modernization and repair projects to replace aging equipment with energy efficient models, resulting in reduced energy costs and consumption, as well as other environmentally-sound operational benefits.”

The FY 2022 budget invests $44.0 million to advance environmental justice, tackle climate change, and enhance environmental stability.

Reducing the Immigration Court Backlog

“Although the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has doubled the number of Immigration Judges onboard since 2015, caseloads continue to grow at an even faster pace, and processing times continue to increase due to a rise in the number of complex adjudications, such as those of asylum claims. The FY 2022 budget addresses this challenge by both providing additional Immigration Judges, and by promoting efficiency initiatives within EOIR. The request supports hiring 100 new Immigration Judges, as well as necessary support staff and attorneys. The request would also enable EOIR to continue to modernize its IT capabilities.

The FY 2022 budget invests $177.5 million in new resources to reduce the immigration court backlog, as well as create the Legal Representation for Immigrant Children and Families Pilot, which supports the enhancement of legal representation of immigrant children and families who seek asylum and other forms of legal protection in the United States after entering at the borders.”

The link to quoted source material is here:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-fiscal-year-2022-funding-request

A link for more information on the President’s FY22 Budget is here:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

As of June 24, the city has seen at least 6o murders. When it comes to Albuquerque, Bidens’ Violent Crime Prevention Strategy and the federal dollars it promises, it cannot come soon enough as the summer approaches.

https://www.koat.com/article/60-homicides-in-albuquerque-in-2021/36834487
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POSTCRIPT

ALBUQUERQUE MAKES THE TOP 100 MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IN 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

Neighborhood Scout’s provides comprehensive database of real estate data and compiles a listing of what it considers are the 100 most dangerous cities in the United States based on violent crime rates and population. Over the last 5 years, the city has gone from the low rank of #74 to a current rank of #21.

Following is Albuquerque’s rankings in Neighborhood Scout’s for the last 5 years:

2021

#21 Ranking Out Of 100
Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.7
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 72

2020

#23 Ranking Out Of 100

2019

#25 Ranking Out Of 100
Albuquerque Violent Crime Rate: 13.9
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 72

2018

#50 Ranking Out Of 100
Population: 559,277
Albuquerque’s Violent Crime Rate: 11.50
No. of Violent Crimes: 6,429
Assault: 3,859 | Robbery: 1,962 | Rape: 547 | Murder: 61
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 87

2017

#74 Ranking Out Of 100
Albuquerque Number of Crimes
Violent Crime 7,711
Property Crime 32,338
Total Crime: 40,049
Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents)
Violent crime rate: 13.76
Property crime rate: 57.69
Total crime rate: 71.45

https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/blog/top100dangerous

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About

Pete Dinelli was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is of Italian and Hispanic descent. He is a 1970 graduate of Del Norte High School, a 1974 graduate of Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a 1977 graduate of St. Mary's School of Law, San Antonio, Texas. Pete has a 40 year history of community involvement and service as an elected and appointed official and as a practicing attorney in Albuquerque. Pete and his wife Betty Case Dinelli have been married since 1984 and they have two adult sons, Mark, who is an attorney and George, who is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Pete has been a licensed New Mexico attorney since 1978. Pete has over 27 years of municipal and state government service. Pete’s service to Albuquerque has been extensive. He has been an elected Albuquerque City Councilor, serving as Vice President. He has served as a Worker’s Compensation Judge with Statewide jurisdiction. Pete has been a prosecutor for 15 years and has served as a Bernalillo County Chief Deputy District Attorney, as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant District Attorney and as a Deputy City Attorney. For eight years, Pete was employed with the City of Albuquerque both as a Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer overseeing the city departments of police, fire, 911 emergency call center and the emergency operations center. While with the City of Albuquerque Legal Department, Pete served as Director of the Safe City Strike Force and Interim Director of the 911 Emergency Operations Center. Pete’s community involvement includes being a past President of the Albuquerque Kiwanis Club, past President of the Our Lady of Fatima School Board, and Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.