ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 89

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JUNE 20, 1996

By Assemblymen BUCCO, ZECKER, Kramer, Augustine, Azzolina, LeFevre, Pascrell, Kelly, Assemblywoman Murphy, Assemblymen Caraballo, Carroll, DeCroce, Blee, Zisa and Assemblywoman Myers

A Concurrent Resolution recognizing the significant contribution to law enforcement provided by "America's Most Wanted" and urging the Fox Broadcasting Company to continue to make this program available to the American public.

Whereas, The Fox Broadcasting Company for the past eight years has provided a valuable public service to the people of this nation by bringing to them each week the television program titled "America's Most Wanted"; and

Whereas, This program, hosted by victim rights advocate John Walsh, blends traditional journalism with film reenactments of crimes to enlist a nationwide audience in the identification of wanted criminals by means of a toll-free hotline which receives, on average, 2,500 calls per week; and

Whereas, The success of "America's Most Wanted" in achieving its goal of getting dangerous criminals off the streets is attested to by its record: 425 fugitives have been captured as a direct result of the program, with 11 of them coming off the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" list; and

Whereas, In addition to its "capture record" of more than one per show, "America's Most Wanted," through its missing child alerts, has been instrumental in the recovery of 19 missing children; and

Whereas, In addition to its well-deserved popularity with television viewers in New Jersey and across the nation, "America's Most Wanted" has received accolades from numerous law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, for its contributions to law enforcement; and

Whereas, Despite the wide acclaim this program has received and its admirable record of protecting the public by bringing criminal fugitives to justice, the Fox Broadcasting Company has decided to eliminate "America's Most Wanted" from its fall schedule; and

Whereas, The cancellation of "America's Most Wanted" by the Fox Broadcasting Company would represent an irreplaceable loss to the law-abiding public and a setback for law enforcement agencies nationwide; now, therefore

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

    1. This House duly recognizes and commends the significant contributions to law enforcement and public safety made by "America's Most Wanted" over the past eight years. By focusing the light of public scrutiny on the nefarious deeds of society's lawless element, this television program has assisted in the apprehension and prosecution of hundreds of criminals who might otherwise continue to roam free and to prey on law-abiding citizens.

    2. This House further urges the Fox Broadcasting Company, in recognition of the significant contributions of "America's Most Wanted" noted in this resolution, to reconsider its decision to drop this program from its fall schedule and to reinstate "America's Most Wanted" in its traditional time slot or one that is equally accessible to the nation's television viewers.

    3. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the President of the Senate and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate thereof, respectively, shall be transmitted to Mr. Rupert Murdoch, Chairman, News Corporation Ltd., and to Mr. John Matoian, President, Fox Broadcasting Company.

STATEMENT

    This resolution recognizes the valuable public service provided by the television program "America's Most Wanted" over the past eight years in assisting in the identification and capture of more than 400 criminal fugitives and the recovery of 19 missing children. The resolution further urges the Fox Broadcasting Company to reconsider its decision to drop "America's Most Wanted" from its fall schedule and to reinstate this program at its traditional time.

Urges Fox Broadcasting Company to reinstate "America's Most Wanted."