FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AG
MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2000
(202) 514-2008
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
TDD (202) 514-1888

ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO TO VISIT SEATTLE PROGRAM
THAT HELPS AT-RISK YOUTH

Also Plans to Praise Federal Law Enforcement for Counter-terrorism Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno will travel to Seattle tomorrow to talk with youth and mentors involved in a program focused on providing mentoring and before- and after-school programs to at-risk youth. Specifically, Reno will visit two juvenile crime prevention programs, the SafeFutures Youth Center and the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration Mentoring Program.

"It's programs like these that have helped lower our crime rate for 7 straight years by keeping at-risk youth on the right track," said Reno.

During the visit, which has been scheduled for several months, Reno will also meet with officials from the FBI, INS, Customs, ATF, Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorneys office to praise them for their counter-terrorism efforts over the past several weeks.

The SafeFutures Program, established by the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency in 1996 and administered by Seattle's Human Services Department, is a community-oriented approach for reducing juvenile crime and victimization. Seattle is one of six communities across the nation awarded federal crime-fighting funds to combat juvenile crime and delinquency. SafeFutures targets the low-income neighborhoods of the Central Area, Southeast Seattle/Rainier Valley, the International District, and Delridge, which are high crime areas.

The Seattle SafeFutures Center emphasizes a community partnership model to address violence by children of all ages, ranging from those at risk of involvement in delinquency to more serious and violent juvenile offenders, through early prevention and intervention. This program focuses on enhancing school retention efforts, increasing and improving the quality of before- and after-school programs, mentoring, mental health, and family strengthening programs.

In addition to meeting with federal law enforcement officials and visiting the SafeFutures Program, Reno will participate in a round-table discussion with domestic violence service providers. The roundtable will include discussion of how Seattle has used its Violence Against Women Funds from the Department of Justice, in coordination with the Seattle Police Department, to target under-served communities. During her visit, the Attorney General will also pay a courtesy visit to Mayor Schell.

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