After three murders and an attack on a federal prosecutor in a New York courtroom, a group representing federal prosecutors is calling for stepped-up security, including home alarms, self-defense training, and the right to carry firearms, the National Law Journal repors. The National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, which represents the 5,400 federal prosecutors, wants secure parking for prosecutors, particularly those who handle dangerous criminal cases. “Statistically, we are threatened more than judges,” said Steve Cook, chairman of the group’s security committee and a Tennessee federal prosecutor. “Security is a very important issue for us.”
In a recent survey answered by 1,257 federal prosecutors — or 23 percent of the work force — 46 percent said they had been threatened or assaulted due to their job, and 81 percent said someone in their office had been threatened. The survey showed that 78 percent rated secure parking as very important, and 42 percent rated home alarms very important. Eighty-one percent believe Assistant U.S. Attorneys should be authorized to carry firearms if they so choose. NAAUSA officials met with Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip and shared the survey results with him. The group plans to step up lobbying efforts for a bill to fund some of their proposals. Heavy lobbying last year led to prosecutors being partially included in the Court Security Act of 2007, which was originally intended only for judges. The law protects prosecutors from having their driver’s license information made public.
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