    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [October 3, 1997]
    [Page 1287]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Crime Statistics
    October 3, 1997

        Today the Federal Bureau of Investigation released its final crime
    statistics for 1996, and the results are good news for all Americans. We
    are finally--and decisively--tipping the scales of justice in favor of
    law-abiding Americans. Overall crime is down for the fifth year in a
    row, with the biggest reductions coming in violent crime (6 percent)--
    and especially murders (9 percent). Reported rapes, robberies, assaults,
    and all types of property crimes are down from the previous year. Even
    the arrest rate for violent juveniles, which had skyrocketed for 7
    years, has now gone down for 2 years in a row.
        For 5 years, my administration has worked with police, prosecutors,
    school principals, and community leaders on a tough, smart crime
    strategy to attack violent crime. Together, we have fought for more
    police in our communities, fewer guns on our streets, tougher punishment
    for violent offenders, and better opportunities for our kids. Today's
    crime statistics show that, armed with these tools, we are moving in the
    right direction.

    Note: This statement was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on October 3 but was embargoed for release until 9 a.m. on
    October 4.