Sessions relaunches Bush era crime-fighting plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Jeff Sessions is reviving a George W. Bush-era crime-fighting strategy that emphasizes aggressive prosecution of gun and gang crimes.

He announced on Thursday a relaunch of the program known as Project Safe Neighborhoods. It’s the latest move in the Trump administration’s tough-on-crime agenda.

The Justice Department has asked Congress for $70 million for the effort. Part of it focuses on sending certain gun crimes to federal court, where they carry longer sentences in far-away prisons.

Officials say local law enforcement will have faster access to technology that helps solve shootings. And Justice Department officials say community groups will also be involved.

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Congress eliminated funding for an earlier iteration of the program. Some groups had expressed concern that it focused too heavily on common criminals as opposed to major players.