As President Barack Obama tackles gun violence through executive action,novel York City officials are turning to the courts to address the pockets of gun crime that are still a persistent problem in the city.
As early as next week, officials will unveil a plot for specialized gun courts in novel York City. That means specific judges in each of the five boroughs would focus on fast-tracking gun-related cases.
NYPD Commissioner William Bratton says the goal is to ensure that people who carry guns are prosecuted quickly and get the punishment they deserve.
Problem solving courts are nothing novel — the city already has drug courts — but the emphasis there is on alternatives to incarceration.
Bratton, and speaking on the Brian Lehrer Show,said the Citizens Crime Commission has been working on the plot for months with various district attorney’s offices and court officials.
It's unclear how these novel gun courts will be different from gun courts the city tried in 2003 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Those courts led to harsher sentences but appear to have fizzled over time.Officials wouldn't provide any details on the novel gun courts until the official announcement. Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson’s Office released the statement below:“A committed judge will help us prosecute gun cases faster and more efficiently in Brooklyn. We are in discussions with court officials approximately setting up this specialized piece and having it up and running in the coming weeks.”
Source: wnyc.org