FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         CRM
FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1995                               (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

CRIMINAL DIVISION CHIEF JO ANN HARRIS TO LEAVE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT


     WASHINGTON, D.C. --  Jo Ann Harris, Assistant Attorney
General in charge of the Department of Justice's Criminal
Division, today announced her resignation to return to her family
in New York City and Boston.
     Harris, age 62, said she was keeping a promise she made to
her husband Greg to serve for no more than two years.  He
remained at their New York home, while she occupied a rented
apartment near the Justice Department building.  Harris has a
step-son and step-daughter and three grandchildren who live in
Boston.
     Harris said she would leave the Justice Department this
summer, as soon as an orderly transition can be arranged.  She
intends to rejoin the faculty at Pace University School of Law in
White Plains, New York.
     "Jo Ann Harris enriched the Justice Department every day,"
said Attorney General Janet Reno, "and that included many
Saturdays and Sundays.
     "Tireless and dedicated to the rule of law, Jo Ann Harris
brought wit and judgment and wisdom to the very difficult work of
enforcing the nation's criminal statutes," Reno said.
     Harris served previously as Chief of the Criminal Division's
Fraud Section in 1979-81.  She also had two stints in the U.S.
Attorney's Office in New York, 1974-79, and 1981-83.
     In her letter of resignation, Harris said she had informed
the Attorney General in March of her intention to leave.  She
praised her colleagues in the Criminal Division's for "their
total devotion to "doing the right thing."
     The Criminal Division has more than 400 attorneys, and
develops, enforces and supervises the application of nearly 1,000
federal criminal laws.
     Harris' resignation letter is attached.

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