Rockford Police to Partner with Federal Prosecutors to Combat Crime

Rockford- It comes in the form of a strict federal law that law enforcement could use against local criminals. Tougher sentences, time served in federal prison, it's all part of an initiative Rockford leaders unveiled at their monthly Rockstat meeting. One they are hoping will lower crime rates,taking cues from what's being done in the city of Aurora.

City of Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey says "one of the things they did over a decade ago was to partner with federal prosecutors, federal FBI, ATF agents, etcetera and go after these complex but important prosecutions under what's known as the federal RICO Act."

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act otherwise known as RICO targets organized crime.  Under it they can be charged in federal court for ordering others to commit violent crimes.

Morrissey explains "those prosecutions also resulted in long sentences and the folks that got sentenced within the gang organizations went to prisons outside of the state of Illinois." This is crucial. Gang leaders sentenced to prisons out of state have a harder time keeping their organizations in tact.

City leaders say using this statute will lower gun crimes plaguing the community. Morrissey says "what we want to see is those federal prosecutions on the gun cases, but just as importantly, probably more importantly, the gang cases on that RICO statute."

All while lowering the burden on local law enforcement. Rockford Police Chief Chet Epperson says "we're spending thousands and thousands and millions of dollars on our own local criminal justice system that we have. So we have to change our way of doing business."

The city plans on partnering with federal prosecutors and agencies this year.