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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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In January of 2004, Prosecutor Arthur Busch announced a joint initiative for the Gun Enforcement and Prosecution Unit. sing the title of the Gun Project, it was a collaborative effort of the Genesee County Prosecutors Office, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, and local police agencies. The program was part of U.S. Justice Department's Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. Busch emphasized ho the project involved collaboration between local law enforcement and the federal authorities.
In the Press release Busch emphasized how the Project Safe Neighborhoods and the Flint Gun project were both local and national commitment towards reducing gun crime violence in America. "Our success depends on strengthening the existing network of local programs that target gun crime and providing those programs with additional tools to get the job done right." |
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Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:11 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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"The effectiveness of Project Safe Neighborhoods depends on the ability of federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified offensive. The goal is to create safer neighborhoods by reducing gun violence and sustaining the reduction.
Many cities and states have begun to respond effectively in this epidemic of gun violence. Model programs have begun programs such as Project Exile in Richmond,VA, and operation Ceasefire in Boston, MA, have achieved success in reducing violence and firearm related deaths. Programs such as Exile and Ceasefire in select cities have achieved much success. Nevertheless, the problem of gun violence remains unacceptably high for much of the nation and particularly Genesee county, Michigan". |
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Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:32 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The local strategy included:
1. To toughen the plea bargaining policies as they related to firearm violations;
2. To trace all guns seized by police, where possible, to determine if they are stolen or have been used in other crimes
3. A federal grant helped add four (4) new Assistant Prosecutors to enforce the existing gun laws;
4. Two (2) Genesee County Prosecutors weer cross-designated so they could serve as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys. hese Prosecutors were able to prosecute gun cases in both the state and federal courts.
5. A new protocol and enhanced coordination with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan,allowed for the identification of gun cases that would be better brought to the Federal Courts in order to gettougher andlonger prison sentences for repeat offenders. |
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Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:24 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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6. The Prosecutors Office trained their staff on legal updates as well as both the state and federal firearm statutes.
7. Gun Offenders in Genesee County received longer prison/jail sentences.
8. The Genesee County Prosecutor,s monthly orientation meetings with offenders on Probation and parole to inform them of the federal andstate laws relating to repeat offenders. |
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Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:43 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Additionally, Prosecutor Busch's staf, local police, the United States Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan developed a joint understanding between the federal and local law enforcement community. They signed A Memorandum of Understanding regarding the establishment for this program of this program action. The Agreement concluded :
!. There is a strong connection between illegal firearms and the ability for the criminal element to perpetuate violent crime;
2. Without firearms many criminal enterprises related to drugs, gangs, and other organized crime would not be successful;
3. Collaboration among local, state , and federal law enforcement agencies had the ability to lead to more efficient and effective delivery of law enforcement services to the residents of Genesee County. |
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Tue Apr 23, 2019 11:27 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The Gun Enforcement and Prosecution Unit was a vertical prosecution unit that was part of the Flint Gun Project. It specialized in handling gun law violations. The unit had four specialized prosecutors an the supervisor was Unit Chief Timothy Cassidy. The priority of the Gun Unit was the enforcement of existing gun laws including the following category of cases:
a) Felons in possession
b) Prosecution of those who steal firearms
c) Prosecution of people possessing guns with obliterated serial numbers
d) Gun trafficking
e) Prosecution of serious, predatory, violence of community significance, committed with a firearm. |
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Tue Apr 23, 2019 11:52 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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In some cases the unit was asked to take on extremely complex cases that involved organized criminal activity such a gang or/and organized crime group. Many of the unit's cases were homicides, armed robberies and other violent crimes where a gun was used.
Busch described how the unit's extremely talented trial attorneys were in the media as they took on high profile cases in Genesee County. The Assistant Prosecutor's that were assigned to the unit, Busch emphasized, were experienced and accomplished trial attorneys. |
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Tue Apr 23, 2019 12:15 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Vertical Prosecution occurs when the same assistant prosecutor works the case from the very beginning contact with the investigating police thru the sentencing of the criminal defendant. This type of prosecution model is very effective to gain continuity and better knowledge .of witnesses and the facts of a case. |
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Tue Apr 23, 2019 12:33 pm |
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