[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1887-E1888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              YOUTH CRIME

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                            HON. RICK LAZIO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 30, 1996

  Mr. LAZIO of New York. Mr. Speaker, 6 months ago I stood here on the 
floor of the

[[Page E1888]]

House to express my outrage about a Federal judge who threw out key 
evidence that proved a defendant guilty of Federal drug charges. Well, 
in the words of Yogi Bear, it's like deja vu all over again.
  Just 2 weeks ago, a State appeals court in New York ruled that a 15 
year old caught with a loaded gun in a Bronx high school can't even be 
suspended because school officials illegally searched him. It was ruled 
that the school security aide who noticed the bulge in the youth's 
jacket erred in stopping and searching the student because the bulge 
was not suspicious.
  It is absolutely ludicrous that school officials are not even given 
the power and authority to maintain order within the school building, 
and have their hands tied when they attempt to root out dangerous 
influences such as loaded guns.
  If our courts insist upon hamstringing the efforts of school 
officials trying to protect students within a school building where a 
lower legal standard applies, it does not portend well for the efforts 
of law enforcement to protect the public.
  As a former county assistant district attorney, I have seen first 
hand the effects of youth crime on our communities. We need to apply 
some common sense in our efforts to promote public safety, and 
hopefully avoid such outrageous situations in the future.

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