The U.S. Justice Department will hold a National Summit on Crime Reduction and Public Safety within 120 days to help DOJ’s internal task force on that subject formulate federal anti-crime policy. In a memo yesterday to United States Attorneys around the nation, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he has asked for recommendations by July 27 on “focused enforcement against violent offenders” and on federal policy related to charging, sentencing, and marijuana issues.
Sessions said subcommittees of the task force will focus on a variety of issues, including developing violent crime reduction strategies, supporting crime prevention and prisoner re-entry efforts, updating charging and sentencing policies, reviewing asset forfeiture guidance, reducing illegal immigration and human trafficking, combating hate crimes, and evaluating marijuana enforcement policy. At the summit, DOJ plans to learn from federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies, crime victims’ groups, and community organizations about successful local efforts to fight violent crime. The Attorney General already has discussed the issue with local officials and residents in Richmond, Va., and St. Louis, and plans similar trips in the coming weeks.