110 HR 933 IH: Witness Security and Protection Act of U.S. House of Representatives 2007-02-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 933 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 8, 2007 Mr. Cummings (for himself, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Fattah, Mr. Towns, Ms. Lee, and Mr. Payne) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To establish within the United States Marshals Service a short term State witness protection program to provide assistance to State and local district attorneys to protect their witnesses in cases involving homicide, serious violent felonies, and serious drug offenses, and to provide Federal grants for such protection.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Witness Security and Protection Act of 2007.
2.
Short Term State Witness Protection Section
(a)
In general
Chapter 37 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
570.
Short Term State Witness Protection Section
(a)
In general
There is established in the United States Marshals Service a Short Term State Witness Protection Section which shall provide protection for witnesses in State and local trials involving homicide, or involving a serious violent felony or serious drug offense (as those terms are defined in section 3559(c)(2) of title 18), pursuant to cooperative agreements with State and local district attorneys and the United States attorney for the District of Columbia. (b)
Eligibility
The Section shall give priority in awarding grants and providing services to prosecutor’s offices in States with an average of not less than 100 murders per year during the 5-year period immediately preceding an application for protection, as calculated using the latest available crime statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
. (b)
Chapter analysis
The chapter analysis for chapter 37 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking the items for sections 570 through 576 and inserting the following: 570. Short Term State Witness Protection Section. .
3.
Grant program
(a)
Grants authorized
(1)
In general
The Attorney General is authorized to make grants to State and local district attorneys and the United States attorney for the District of Columbia for the purpose of providing short term protection to witnesses in trials involving homicide, or involving a serious violent felony or serious drug offense (as those terms are defined in section 3559(c)(2) of title 18, United States Code). (2)
Allocation
Each district attorney receiving a grant under this section may either— (A)use the grant to provide witness protection; or (B)pursuant to a cooperative agreement with the Short Term State Witness Protection Section of the United States Marshals Service, credit the grant to the Short Term State Witness Protection Section to cover the costs to the section of providing witness protection on behalf of the district attorney. (3)
Eligibility
Grants under this section may only be awarded in States with an average of not less than 100 murders per year during the most recent 5-year period, as calculated using the latest available crime statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (b)
Application
(1)
In general
Each eligible district attorney desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require. (2)
Contents
Each application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall— (A)describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; and (B)provide such additional assurances as the Attorney General determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section. (c)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $90,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010.