Thursday, 4:30 PM
Romney files arrest warrant bill
By Raja Mishra, Globe Staff
Governor Mitt Romney today filed legislation that would require local police departments to put all felony and serious misdemeanor arrest warrants into a national FBI database.
This would enable any police department in the state to quickly check whether a suspect has a recent history of troublemaking or violence, the governor's office said. Currently, local police chiefs have discretion over when and which warrants to enter into the database.
Romney said police must often confront suspects without knowing the full extent of the danger they might present. Under the bill, police would have to enter violent crime and narcotics trafficking warrants within 24 hours, and other felonies and serious misdemeanors within 72 hours.
