AG
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1996                           (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

            STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO 
                    ON DECLINING CRIME RATES 


     WASHINGTON, DC -- Attorney General Janet Reno made the
following statement regarding the October 13 release of the FBI's
annual report on crime in the United States:

     "The FBI's statistics indicate that 1995 had the lowest murder
rate in a decade and the lowest violent crime rate since 1989. 
These declines are a result of many different causes, including our
bi-partisan efforts to give local law enforcement the tools they
need to combat crime.  This is good news, but this is no time to
rest on our laurels.  Crime is still too high.  We need to bolster
our efforts to be tough and smart on crime, including our
commitment to community policing and increased cooperation among
federal, state and local law enforcement."   

                               ### 

NOTE:  The FBI statistics for 1995 and the Attorney General's
comment are embargoed for use until Sunday, October 13.  

96-506