EMBARGOED UNTIL SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15th AT 6:00 P.M. (E.D.T.)

AG

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2000

(202) 514-2008

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888

STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO

ON THE HISTORIC DECLINE IN THE CRIME RATE

WASHINGTON, D.C. -The FBI today released its final Uniform Crime Report for 1999 showing that overall serious crime declined by 7% from 1998. The report shows that in 1999, the number of violent crimes was 20% below the 1995 figure, and 21% below the 1990 figure.

Attorney General Janet Reno issued the following statement:

"The crime statistics released today demonstrate that the crime fighting programs and policies we have implemented over the past 8 years are working, and American families are safer today than they have been in a generation. In our on-going effort to reduce crime, we have forged unprecedented partnerships with state and local law enforcement and with communities all across the nation. Some of the tools which have contributed to this include the funding of 100,000 new police officers, increased gun prosecutions at the federal and local level, and the Brady law, which has kept guns out of the hands of over 500,000 prohibited people.

"But we cannot rest. We must build on the progress we have made in reducing crime, and continue to work together to ensure even greater security in communities all across America."

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