(MONTGOMERY)--Attorney General Luther Strange has announced a package of law enforcement bills that he is advocating to strengthen and support law enforcement in Alabama. These include bills to more effectively fight illegal gambling, to regulate synthetic marijuana, to preserve citizens’ rights and the integrity of legal proceedings, to combat looting, and to protect law enforcement officers.

"During my first year as Attorney General, I have been honored to meet with law enforcement officers throughout Alabama and I am impressed and grateful for their dedication to protect our citizens and enforce our laws," said Attorney General Strange. "These bills reflect concerns they have shared with me about changes needed in the laws to help them perform these important duties. I hope that the Legislature will give these bills their attention and take these actions to help the people of Alabama."

The Attorney General says he will push for improvements to statutes to make Alabama's illegal gambling laws stronger and more effective.

Under current law the maximum penalty for any illegal gambling enterprise is a misdemeanor, regardless of how many millions of dollars are being made from this illegal activity. The maximum penalties for the crimes of promoting illegal gambling and the possession of gambling records in the first-degree should be increased from class A misdemeanors to class C felonies. This would deter large-scale illegal gambling enterprises and also restore the punishment range to its original form when the Legislature first passed these statutes in 1977.

The maximum penalty for the crime of possessing more than 10 slot machines should be increased from a class A misdemeanor to a class C felony.

Law enforcement needs the authority to seize and condemn real property that is being used for purposes of illegal gambling. After a trial in circuit court, the property would be sold and proceeds would go to the law enforcement agencies that seized the property. This would create consistency in the criminal code and treat illegal gambling casinos in the same manner as illegal drug houses.