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Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Seth Effron
Date: May 8, 2006 Phone: 919/733-5612
GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES $47.7 MILLION “SECURE COMMUNITIES” INITIATIVE
Budget provides new tools to local law enforcement and expands efforts to fight crime
RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley today announced a $47.7 million “Secure Communities” initiative to expand crime fighting efforts in North Carolina by improving technology for local law enforcement agencies and adding more investigators, prosecutors, judges and clerks to the criminal justice system. In budget recommendations Easley will send to the General Assembly, he will also include more money to fill gaps in vital programs being cut by the federal government.
“We need to make certain that our justice system moves as swiftly as possible and that it is not hampered by delays or backlogs,” Easley said. “Local law enforcement officials cannot do anything if there is a brick wall at the courthouse. We owe it to the victims and their families; and we owe it to the law enforcement officers that work tirelessly to get criminals off the streets and behind bars.”
The governor said the improved revenue picture makes it possible to move ahead with much-needed expansions in the law enforcement and criminal justice systems. The “Secure Communities” initiative will provide the resources needed to prosecute cases more quickly.
“We must give our law enforcement officers the tools that they need to keep our neighborhoods secure from crime,” said Easley. “In the rapidly changing world of technology, we can ill afford for criminals to have better computers and software than our law enforcement agencies.”
Easley is adding 12 SBI agents to help local law enforcement both in the field and in the crime lab. He is also including $1.9 million to modernize and upgrade the North Carolina Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System (SAFIS) network. With these improvements, local law enforcement officials will be able to more quickly determine the identity and background of criminal suspects. In addition, Easley is providing $137,700 to update the state’s sex offender registry hardware and software. It is the first upgrade since 1998.
Following the tragedy of September 11, 2001, law enforcement and public protection agencies became acutely aware of coordination problems when various agencies discovered their communications networks were not compatible. North Carolina was one of the first states to work to remedy this and make sure that all public safety agencies could communicate and coordinate effectively. Easley will provide another $10 million to continue statewide expansion of this vital network (VIPER) for state and local law enforcement agencies to communicate with one another.
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| Full Text | Michael F. Easley Governor State of North Carolina Office of the Governor Governor's Press Office State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001 (919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005 FAX (919) 733-5166 For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Seth Effron Date: May 8, 2006 Phone: 919/733-5612 GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES $47.7 MILLION “SECURE COMMUNITIES” INITIATIVE Budget provides new tools to local law enforcement and expands efforts to fight crime RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley today announced a $47.7 million “Secure Communities” initiative to expand crime fighting efforts in North Carolina by improving technology for local law enforcement agencies and adding more investigators, prosecutors, judges and clerks to the criminal justice system. In budget recommendations Easley will send to the General Assembly, he will also include more money to fill gaps in vital programs being cut by the federal government. “We need to make certain that our justice system moves as swiftly as possible and that it is not hampered by delays or backlogs,” Easley said. “Local law enforcement officials cannot do anything if there is a brick wall at the courthouse. We owe it to the victims and their families; and we owe it to the law enforcement officers that work tirelessly to get criminals off the streets and behind bars.” The governor said the improved revenue picture makes it possible to move ahead with much-needed expansions in the law enforcement and criminal justice systems. The “Secure Communities” initiative will provide the resources needed to prosecute cases more quickly. “We must give our law enforcement officers the tools that they need to keep our neighborhoods secure from crime,” said Easley. “In the rapidly changing world of technology, we can ill afford for criminals to have better computers and software than our law enforcement agencies.” Easley is adding 12 SBI agents to help local law enforcement both in the field and in the crime lab. He is also including $1.9 million to modernize and upgrade the North Carolina Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System (SAFIS) network. With these improvements, local law enforcement officials will be able to more quickly determine the identity and background of criminal suspects. In addition, Easley is providing $137,700 to update the state’s sex offender registry hardware and software. It is the first upgrade since 1998. Following the tragedy of September 11, 2001, law enforcement and public protection agencies became acutely aware of coordination problems when various agencies discovered their communications networks were not compatible. North Carolina was one of the first states to work to remedy this and make sure that all public safety agencies could communicate and coordinate effectively. Easley will provide another $10 million to continue statewide expansion of this vital network (VIPER) for state and local law enforcement agencies to communicate with one another. -- MORE -- |
