Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 42 : Section 14053


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 14053. Violent crime and drug emergency areas

    (a) Definitions
      In this section - 
        "major violent crime or drug-related emergency" means an
      occasion or instance in which violent crime, drug smuggling, drug
      trafficking, or drug abuse violence reaches such levels, as
      determined by the President, that Federal assistance is needed to
      supplement State and local efforts and capabilities to save
      lives, and to protect property and public health and safety.
        "State" means a State, the District of Columbia, the
      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands,
      American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
    (b) Declaration of violent crime and drug emergency areas
      If a major violent crime or drug-related emergency exists
    throughout a State or a part of a State, the President may declare
    the State or part of a State to be a violent crime or drug
    emergency area and may take appropriate actions authorized by this
    section.
    (c) Procedure
      (1) In general
        A request for a declaration designating an area to be a violent
      crime or drug emergency area shall be made, in writing, by the
      chief executive officer of a State or local government,
      respectively (or in the case of the District of Columbia, the
      mayor), and shall be forwarded to the Attorney General in such
      form as the Attorney General may by regulation require. One or
      more cities, counties, States, or the District of Columbia may
      submit a joint request for designation as a major violent crime
      or drug emergency area under this subsection.
      (2) Finding
        A request made under paragraph (1) shall be based on a written
      finding that the major violent crime or drug-related emergency is
      of such severity and magnitude that Federal assistance is
      necessary to ensure an effective response to save lives and to
      protect property and public health and safety.
    (d) Irrelevancy of population density
      The President shall not limit declarations made under this
    section to highly populated centers of violent crime or drug
    trafficking, drug smuggling, or drug use, but shall also consider
    applications from governments of less populated areas where the
    magnitude and severity of such activities is beyond the capability
    of the State or local government to respond.
    (e) Requirements
      As part of a request for a declaration under this section, and as
    a prerequisite to Federal violent crime or drug emergency
    assistance under this section, the chief executive officer of a
    State or local government shall - 
        (1) take appropriate action under State or local law and
      furnish information on the nature and amount of State and local
      resources that have been or will be committed to alleviating the
      major violent crime- or drug-related emergency;
        (2) submit a detailed plan outlining that government's short-
      and long-term plans to respond to the violent crime or drug
      emergency, specifying the types and levels of Federal assistance
      requested and including explicit goals (including quantitative
      goals) and timetables; and
        (3) specify how Federal assistance provided under this section
      is intended to achieve those goals.
    (f) Review period
      The Attorney General shall review a request submitted pursuant to
    this section, and the President shall decide whether to declare a
    violent crime or drug emergency area, within 30 days after
    receiving the request.
    (g) Federal assistance
      The President may - 
        (1) direct any Federal agency, with or without reimbursement,
      to utilize its authorities and the resources granted to it under
      Federal law (including personnel, equipment, supplies,
      facilities, financial assistance, and managerial, technical, and
      advisory services) in support of State and local assistance
      efforts; and
        (2) provide technical and advisory assistance, including
      communications support and law enforcement-related intelligence
      information.
    (h) Duration of Federal assistance
      (1) In general
        Federal assistance under this section shall not be provided to
      a violent crime or drug emergency area for more than 1 year.
      (2) Extension
        The chief executive officer of a jurisdiction may apply to the
      President for an extension of assistance beyond 1 year. The
      President may extend the provision of Federal assistance for not
      more than an additional 180 days.
    (i) Regulations
      Not later than 120 days after September 13, 1994, the Attorney
    General shall issue regulations to implement this section.
    (j) No effect on existing authority
      Nothing in this section shall diminish or detract from existing
    authority possessed by the President or Attorney General.



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