FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AG FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1997 (202) 616-2765 TDD (202) 514-1888 AS AMERICA'S STUDENTS GO BACK TO SCHOOL, FOUR JUSTICE REPORTS PUT NEW FOCUS ON SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WASHINGTON, D.C -- In an effort to ensure a safe and disciplined learning environment for America's children, the Justice Department today highlighted new reports on hate crimes, information sharing and afterschool programs. Attorney General Janet Reno said, "Together these reports will help provide our children with the learning environment they need to focus on what's in the classroom, not what's on the streets." Produced by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, A Policy Maker's Guide to Hate Crimes provides information on preventing, prosecuting and investigating hate crimes. Healing the Hate, an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) guide, offers a curriculum that combines prejudice reduction with violence prevention. The Justice Department is holding regional training sessions to assist schools in implementing the curriculum for middle and early high school students. "This curriculum can help our schools give young people an understanding of the dangers of prejudice and offers suggestions on how to prevent it," added Reno. Sharing Information, also from OJJDP, will assist law enforcement, educators and juvenile justice professionals in sharing critical information about children while still complying with federal law that limits disclosure from student records. With case studies on successful information sharing partnerships, this new guide promotes safe schools while respecting the privacy of students. "Linking police officers, teachers and social service providers in information sharing networks is essential to improving America's juvenile justice systems," said Reno. Finally, the National Institute of Justice has released Youth Afterschool Programs and Law Enforcement, a study that highlights the critical role that local police can play in building a successful afterschool program. ### 97-383