FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1996                        (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

      ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO'S STATEMENT ON NEW CRIME NUMBERS


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno today made the
following statement in response to new National Crime Victimization
Survey data reporting a 9 percent drop in violent crime in 1995: 


     "I was gratified to hear that violent crime continues to
     fall, though we must continue to work very hard to keep
     bringing it down.  Fighting violent crime and terrorism
     is this Department's number one priority, and under
     President Clinton's leadership we have moved from
     gridlock to solutions that work.

     "There is never a single reason for results like these,
     but I credit re-energized cooperation between all levels
     of law enforcement, our attacks on major gangs and drug
     rings like the Bottoms Boys in New Orleans and the Cali
     Cartel overseas, more new police officers on the street
     under the President's crime bill, keeping guns out of the
     wrong hands with the Brady Bill and the assault weapons
     ban, and community action -- from neighborhood watch
     programs to intervention efforts that help keep young
     people away from violent crime."

     "Now we must build on our results."


     The Survey, embargoed until 4:30 p.m. EDT, is available from
the Bureau of Justice Statistics at 202/633-3047. 
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