The North Carolina Democratic Party believes that every person should be safe from crime. We also believe that crime is prevented not only through swift punishment for lawbreakers, but also by rearing children in loving, stable families that teach moral values and by having social, educational, and economic systems that give our people a sense of hope and community.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: In granting to our government the ultimate power to take the lives of individuals convicted of capital offenses, we have given it the most far-reaching power that can be bestowed upon any government. For this reason, we support both stronger due process safeguards and a moratorium in the application of this power until such safeguards are in place. With the advent of enhanced technology we believe it is incumbent for the State to use it so that no innocent person is mistakenly put to death by the State or wrongfully imprisoned. Neither a victim's nor a perpetrator's race, sex, or economic status should be a factor in sentencing or execution in North Carolina.

GUN SAFETY: We support efforts to increase safety and education in the handling and ownership of firearms. Furthermore, we avidly support strict enforcement of existing firearms laws.

HATE CRIMES: We support increased penalties for violent crimes motivated solely by hatred towards the victim's race, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, political beliefs, or sexual orientation.

PRISONS/PRISONERS: We support efforts to relieve prison overcrowding, including efforts to fund additional facilities and to find effective alternatives to incarceration. We oppose the privatization of prisons. Inmates should work hard to earn their keep and learn the values of hard work, respect, discipline, and teamwork. We support efforts to achieve that goal, including making sure every able-bodied prisoner is participating in work or education programs, receiving appropriate mental health and substance abuse treatment and parental training, learning a trade or getting a diploma, and to making sure prisoners do not return to a life of crime when they are released.

VICTIMS' RIGHTS: We believe that the effect of crime on victims should be considered in imposing punishment, that restitution should be required where possible, and that appropriate services to victims should be available.

YOUHTFUL OFFENDERS: The rise in juvenile crime, including gang violence, is an alarming trend that must be reversed. We support the implementation of appropriate alternative sentencing programs designed to turn around troubled youths.

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