Attorney General Merrick B. Garland addressed the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, expressing gratitude towards law enforcement partners and public servants for their ongoing efforts in protecting communities.
Garland highlighted the importance of collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in combating violent crime. He emphasized that such partnerships have shown tangible results, citing a recent FBI report that revealed an 11.6% decrease in homicides last year and one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years nationwide.
“Just earlier this week, the FBI released a report showing an 11.6% drop in homicides last year and one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years nationwide,” Garland stated.
He also mentioned data from the Justice Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Steering Committee indicating a continued decline in violent crime across 88 cities, including a further 16.9% drop in murders this year.
“But we know we have so much more work to do, here in Arkansas, and across the country,” he added.
Garland outlined several significant cases handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas. These included securing lengthy prison sentences for individuals involved in drug trafficking and violent crimes, such as distributing fentanyl resulting in death and possession of firearms by felons with criminal records.
“For this office, that meant working with the DEA, the FBI, and the North Little Rock Police Department to secure a 25-year prison sentence last month for a Little Rock man for distributing fentanyl resulting in someone’s death,” Garland noted.
Additionally, he announced substantial funding allocations aimed at enhancing public safety measures within Arkansas. This includes over $1 million under the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program to improve laboratory capacities for processing DNA samples and more than $4 million through the National Criminal History Improvement Program to enhance criminal history records' quality and accessibility.
“These funds will... help law enforcement agencies in Arkansas hire more officers [and] help to prevent and combat violent crime and drug trafficking,” Garland said.
In conclusion, Garland expressed pride in both his office's public servants' dedication and their collaborative relationships with various law enforcement agencies aimed at upholding justice within their district.
“I am very proud of the public servants who make up this office. And I am equally proud of the relationships they have nurtured with...the Justice Department’s indispensable partners,” he concluded before proceeding to meet with local law enforcement representatives.