FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1995                        (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

         SENATE SUBCOMMITTE VOTES TO KILL COPS PROGRAM
                     AND WEAKEN CRIME BILL
                                
          Reno: "We've Come Too Far to Turn Back Now"

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno today reacted
sharply to a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee's vote to kill the
100,000 police hiring program, cut funding for the Violence Against
Women Act, eliminate the drug court program and weaken other
elements of last year's Crime Act.

     "It makes no sense to put fewer cops on the beat, more addicts
on our streets, and more domestic violence and rape victims on
their own with nowhere to turn," said Reno.  "It is a stinging
rebuke of our nation's major police organizations, who unanimously
agree that this is the one crime program that is working to make
our streets safer."

The COPS Program

     "We've already committed funds for more than 20,000 officers,
and more are on the way," said Reno.  "We can't scrap a proven
success for an open-ended block grant program that wouldn't
guarantee a single new officer."  

     COPS Director Joe Brann called the vote "deeply
disappointing."  "I believe that the Subcommittee's action is out
of touch with the goals of America's law enforcement officers." 
Law enforcement groups have condemned the block grant proposal.

     President Clinton has repeatedly vowed to veto any attempt to
tamper with the COPS program.The Violence Against Women Act

     The Subcommittee also voted to slash funding for the Justice
Department's portion of the Violence Against Women Act grants,
which were slated under last year's crime bill to rise to nearly
$175 million next year.  The vote would reduce that figure by
nearly $75 million.

     "We can't turn our back on women in the fight against sexual
assaults, rape and domestic abuse," said Bonnie Campbell, Director
of the Justice Department's Violence Against Women Office.  "These
cuts would mean fewer shelters, prosecutors and police officers to
fight violence against women and help victims."


Drug Courts

     The Subcommittee also voted to provide eliminate the Crime
Act's $1 billion drug court program.  Drug courts are designed to
force criminals out of the cycle of drug addiction before they
return to the streets.  Offenders must undergo mandatory, periodic
drug testing, mandatory substance abuse treatment, and are subject
to graduated sanctions for failing to show satisfactory progress in
their treatment regimens.  Only non-violent offenders are eligible
to participate.

     "More than half of those who enter the criminal justice have
substance abuse problems," said Reno.  "Studies show that drug
courts help offenders kick the habit and break the cycle of
addiction and recidivism, and the drug court in Miami cut
recidivism by one-third.  That's why they are supported by a
bipartisan spectrum of prosecutors, judges, public defenders, law
enforcement officials, and treatment specialists from across the
country." 

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