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STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO ON THE

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics today released the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) for 1999. The survey shows that the nation's violent crime rate fell by more than 10 percent in 1999, the largest one year drop since the NCVS was started in 1973.

Attorney General Janet Reno issued the following statement:

• "The continuing drop in violent crime rates throughout the nation is good news for all Americans. It demonstrates that the innovative and collaborative policies and programs among federal state and local law enforcement work.

• "There are a number of factors that have led to this historic reduction in crime. The Administration's program to put more police officers on our streets, more prosecutions and tougher sentences for violent offenders, prevention programs that work, a healthy economy, and a new approach to crime fighting that involves unprecedented collaborative partnerships between communities and federal, state and local law enforcement have all contributed to the continued reduction in crime."

• "While these numbers are heartening, there is a great deal more work to be done. Every crime that we can prevent is one less victim. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to continue to reduce crime and make our streets and communities as safe they can possibly be."

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