Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

Standing with law enforcement and promoting fairness in our criminal justice system

Our nation’s law enforcement officers are on the front lines of keeping our communities safe, and Senator Coons believes that they should have the full resources they need to carry out their missions. In a time of limited budgets, it is critical to find new ways that the federal government can better assist law enforcement agencies at the state and local level and share best practices.  In order to deliver on our country’s promise of justice for all, we must continue to work towards reforms that promote fairness in our criminal justice system.

As co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, Senator Coons’ law enforcement priorities include:

Advancing criminal justice reform. Americans deserve a federal commitment to public safety that maximizes the value of every dollar spent. That’s why Senator Coons supports efforts to reform the criminal justice system, including restructuring our criminal sentencing system, the promotion of evidence-based policing, and the use of innovative methods such as specialized courts for drug offenses, mental health issues, and veterans.

Addressing violence within our communities. The city of Wilmington, like many cities across the country, is working to reduce violent crime. Senator Coons led efforts for Wilmington’s inclusion within the Department of Justice’s Violence Reduction Network. This program brought together a number of federal law enforcement agencies with the Wilmington Police Department in an all-hands-on-deck approach to curb violence in Wilmington.  Moving forward, Senator Coons will continue to advocate for resources to tackle these challenges.

Breaking down silos to fight crime. In Delaware and across the country, cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve is increasingly important to ensuring public safety. Senator Coons supports responsible information-sharing programs that connect federal, state, and local law enforcement to identify crimes that attempt to exploit jurisdictional boundaries.

Ending sexual violence and domestic abuse. The scourge of domestic abuse requires vigilant oversight and a community dedicated to its eradication. Senator Coons was proud to cosponsor and see the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and to lead reauthorization of the Victims of Child Abuse Act.