FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                        AG
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1996                          (202)514-2008  
                                             TDD  (202)514-1888

             REMARKS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO
           ON THE DECREASE IN YOUTH VIOLENCE IN 1995

     As most of you know, one of my highest priorities, both before
I came to Washington and since I've been here, is to understand and
do everything possible to prevent and reduce youth crime.  We've
supported community initiatives across the nation, and I've had the
opportunity to watch chiefs and mayors and community activists at
work.

     There are extraordinary efforts under way.  People are
focusing on the truly dangerous juvenile offenders with focused
enforcement that is effective.  There are effective intervention
programs underway, with unique and creative prevention programs at
work across the nation.  

     But as I visit communities, as I talk to leaders and citizens
in the communities, they are saying, "What's working?  Are we
making a difference?  What can we do better?"

     I talked to the FBI to see what their 1995 data showed.  We
can measure juvenile crime rates by arrest rates, which is really
the only way to identify the person as a juvenile.  In 1995, rates
for juvenile violent crime and murder decreased.  This was the
first time both were down in a decade.

     The juvenile violent crime arrest rate was down 2.9 percent in
1995.  The murder arrest rate dropped 15.2 percent in 1995.  And
since 1993, it's dropped 22.8 percent.

     I share this data to encourage communities to renew their
efforts.  And I want to do everything I can to make sure that the
Department of Justice is working with them to address this critical
issue in this nation.

     We cannot relax.  These rates are still far too high.  The
number of juveniles over the next 15 years will increase
significantly.  And it is imperative that we renew our efforts at
focused enforcement, at intervention and prevention that can truly
make a difference.

     One group that I'd like specially to talk to, though, are the
young people of America.  I have had the occasion, in the last six
months, to meet with different young people.  And on at least three
occasions in these six months, they have said:

     "Why are people criticizing the young people?  Why are they
portraying us as villains?  Why are they putting us down?

     I think it is important for us to speak out for the great vast
majority of young people in this nation who are doing so much, who
are making such a difference:  volunteering in their community;
doing good school work; planning how they want to raise their
families the right way.  The young people of America want so to
contribute.  They have hopes and dreams.  And I think it is
important, for all of us, to speak out for the great youth that are
in every one of our communities, and give them the support, the
supervision, the strength to attain their goals.

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