Increase law enforcement opportunities and education
Senator Roberts believes that the best way to fight crime is through increasing law enforcement opportunities and education.
Source: Campaign website, www.robertsforsenate.com, "Issues"
Mar 2, 2008
Broaden death penalty; limit appeals
Roberts supports the following principles regarding crime.
Broaden use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
Limit the number of appeals allowed to inmates on death row.
Prosecute youths accused of murder as adults.
Deport all permanent resident aliens convicted of a felony.
Source: Congressional 1996 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1996
Impose "truth in sentencing" with no parole
Roberts supports the following principles regarding crime.
Impose "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole.
Support the use of "boot camps" as alternative sentencing for adult
first-time felons.
Fund programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
Increase penalties for the possession of any illegal firearms.
Source: Congressional 1996 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1996
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.
Voted NO on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program.
Vote on an amendment to authorize $1.15 billion per year from 2000 through 2005 to continue and expand the Community Oriented Policing Services program. $600 million of the annual funding is marked for hiring additional officers [up to 50,000]
Reference:
Bill S.254
; vote number 1999-139
on May 20, 1999
Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals.
Vote on an amendment to delete provisions in the bill that would make it harder for prisoners who have been given the death penalty in state courts to appeal the decision on constitutional grounds in the federal courts ['Habeas Corpus'].
Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder.
Vote on a bill to make it harder for prisoners who have been given the death penalty in state courts to appeal the decision on constitutional grounds in the federal courts.
Rated 29% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes.
Roberts scores 29% by CURE on rehabilitation issues
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
to use prisons only for those who have to be in them; and
for those who have to be in them, to provide them all the rehabilitative opportunities they need to turn their lives around.
The ratings indicate the legislator’s percentage score on CURE’s preferred votes.
More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty.
Roberts signed the Contract with America:
[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.
Source: Contract with America 93-CWA4 on Sep 27, 1994
