THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 20, 1994 TAG: 9408200258
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: JON FRANK, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
After Congress finishes with the crime bill debate and moves on to other issues, the nation's policemen are going to have to live with the results.
What do they want from the federal government to help solve what many Americans believe is nation's number one problem - violent crime?
Four police chiefs in Hampton Roads this week shared their views about the crime bill and explained their thoughts about some of its most controversial parts.
None was foursquare behind the bill, although all liked the idea of receiving help with crime fighting.
Some provisions received almost unanimous approval. Those included the portions of the bill calling for 100,000 more police officers, construction of more prisons and the three-strikes-you're-out idea.
``That is an approach that we ought to have,'' Norfolk's Chief Melvin C. High said about the life sentence after three felonies. ``People need consequences for their acts.''
The crime bill's assault-weapons ban also received mostly favorable ratings from the Hampton Roads chiefs.
But Chief G.F. Jackson of Suffolk wanted more information about just what weapons would be banned. He also questioned whether the ban would help keep the guns out of the hands of violent criminals.
``It is already difficult to obtain these weapons,'' Jackson said. ``But I don't know how you are going to prohibit the (people) you don't want to have weapons from having the weapons.''
Midnight basketball and the expansion of the death penalty to cover more than 60 federal crimes were much less popular with the chiefs.
``I don't know how shooting hoops at midnight is going to solve any problems,'' Suffolk's Jackson said. ``It's ludicrous. I am all for finding outlets for people, but I don't see how that is going to build useful citizenship. It doesn't teach job skills or anything.''
Newport News Police Chief William F. Corvello also expressed doubts about the night basketball program. The program, designed for inner-city residents, would create a late-night basketball league interwoven with social programs.
``I support preventative programs to complement traditional approaches, but no midnight basketball,'' Corvello said. He said he would support, instead, educational and training programs.
Norfolk's High was less critical of using taxpayers' money to finance night basketball.
``It has some good points,'' High said. ``A lot of teens and young adults are out there and they need some structure and management so they don't contribute to the problem of crime and violence. I would like to see something along those lines.''
The expansion of the death penalty to cover an additional 60 federal crimes also came in for criticism.
Suffolk's Jackson said that a sharp increase in the number of capital crimes might turn public opinion against the use of execution as the ultimate punishment.
``Basically, I think most of the people who get (the death penalty) deserve it,'' Jackson said. ``And I think the most heinous crimes are already covered.''
The biggest concern of the chiefs is that the bill is more about social programs than crime fighting. They have misgivings that its cumulative effect would decrease the crime rate.
Chief Dennis A. Mook of Portsmouth said that the bill seems to be a ``Band-Aid approach.''
Mook said the promise of more police officers was deceiving because the bill requires localities to pay 25 percent of their salaries, a financial burden that cities like Portsmouth would find difficult to shoulder.
``It's just too political,'' Suffolk's Jackson added. ``They are throwing everything in there but the kitchen sink and it becomes so muddled that I don't know what it is.''
Norfolk's High also expressed concern that the bill might be more show than substance. After all, he said, 100,000 additional police officers will have to be spread across the country. High said the bill may not have enough money and manpower in it to truly help with the problem.
``We have a huge crime problem in America,'' High said. ``And it will take a huge effort to confront it and overcome it. It is an entrenched, difficult situation that will take a major effort to address.'' MEMO: Main story on page A1.
ILLUSTRATION: Photos
High
Jackson
Corvello
Mook
KEYWORDS: CRIME BILL CRIME REFORM by CNB