Attorney General Sessions Releases Guidance to Federal Prosecutors

On Wednesday, March 8, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a letter to all federal prosecutors with the subject, "Commitment to Targeting Violent Crime." In his letter, AG Sessions urges United States Attorney's Offices to partner with law enforcement in an effort to identify and prosecute violent offenders. 

AG Sessions said, 

"As a next step, I am today directing the 94 United States Attorney's Offices to partner with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to specifically identify the criminals responsible for significant violent crime in their districts. Once identified, the United States Attorney's Offices must ensure that these drivers of violent crime are prosecuted, using the many tools at a prosecutor's disposal. To accomplish this goal, in all cases, federal prosecutors should coordinate with state and local counterparts to identify the venue (federal or state) that best ensures an immediate and appropriate penalty for these violent offenders."