Jane Harman on Crime

By Jane Harman

As a mother of four, Jane Harman shares the concerns of parents about the safety of our children and other loved ones. She believes that California families have a right to safe homes, safe streets, and safe schools. As Governor, Jane Harman will help ensure our families' safety by strenthening laws that protect law-abiding citizens, punish criminals, and assist law enforcement.

Jane Harman on Crime

Safe Streets, Safe Schools, Safe Homes

Juvenile crime and gang violence remain serious problems and we need tougher laws to punish youthful offenders. But my crime fighting strategy is more than just building more prisons and detention facilities. I support strategies that work to deter crime by focusing police, prosecutors, and public works to help neighborhoods target gang violence, abate the nuisances that breed gangs, and physically rehabilitate neighborhood blocks.

We have seen the value of community policing and to expand its success, we need to hire more police. That's why I voted for the federal COPS program to put more police on our streets. And that is why I will work with local governments to see that all of our communities have the law enforcement resources necessary.

When kids are more concerned with their safety than their homework, then something is very wrong. We must assure kids of an environment suitable for learning. That is why I support creating safety zones around schools and safety corridors to schools that allow our children to get to and from school.

Through prevention, we can intercept youths before they become involved in gangs and other criminal activities. I support building youth centers, increasing after-school mentoring and tutoring programs, and other positive programs, aimed at giving young adults opportunities other than getting into trouble. One program I have long-supported is D.A.R.E, a highly acclaimed program that gives kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, or violence.

Despite the efforts of many local groups, and increased exposure to the problems of violence in the home, domestic violence is increasing. As Governor, I will ensure that there are ample resources to intervene at the earliest stages of spousal or child abuse -- before violence escalates, as well as resources to prosecute those who commit these heinous crimes.

JANE HARMAN HAS A LONG RECORD IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Law Enforcement: Jane Harman has consistently voted for federal funding for a broad spectrum of law enforcement programs, including the "COPS on the Beat" program, which assists communities in hiring more police officers. She is a cosponsor of the Law Enforcement Officials Protection Act and the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1997, which provides communities matching grants to purchase bulletproof vests for law enforcement officers. [H.R. 2829]

Crime Solving Technology: A strong advocate for utilizing the nation's investment in defense technology to aid local law enforcement fight crime, Jane Harman helped establish the Western Regional Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center in El Segundo, CA. One of five centers nationally, research at the center uses such defense technologies as imagery enhancement that has led to arrests in child abduction and murder cases. Jane Harman fought hard for increased funding of the Center and was successful in persuading the Clinton Administration to include the Center's research activities in its 1999 budget for. [H.R. 2401; P.L. 103-160; President's FY99 Budget Request]

Justice System: Jane Harman has worked hard to restore faith in the judicial process and rebuild public confidence in our justice system. She has supported increased penalties for witness tampering, witness retaliation, and jury tampering. She also voted for "Three Strikes" laws, expanded use of the federal death penalty, and for improvements in juvenile justice programs. [H.R. 1144, H.R. 2181, H.R. 1143, H.R. 1145, H.R. 3120; H.R. 729, H.R. 3353, P.L. 103-322]

Domestic Violence: Jane Harman helped secure funding for the Violence Against Women Act, which provides community medical and counseling services for women and other family members victimized by domestic violence -- and for the prosecution of abuse crimes. [H.R. 1133, H.R. 4603]

Sex Offenders: Jane Harman supported community notification of the release and resettlement of a convicted sex offender and parental notification when a juvenile sex offender is enrolled in school. [H.R. 3456, H.R. 3]