    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [April 12, 1998]
    [Page 553]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on School Crime
    April 12, 1998

        Today the Attorney General and Secretary of
    Education forwarded to me an important, but
    troubling, study on school crime. Although the study shows that the
    overall crime rate in our schools did not change significantly between
    1989 and 1995, it confirms that some schools have serious problems. Most
    disturbing, the study found that the number of students reporting gangs
    in their schools has nearly doubled. This is unacceptable. Gangs--and
    the guns, drugs, and violence that go with them--must be stopped from
    ever reaching the schoolhouse door.
        Congress can help lead the way by passing the antigang and youth
    violence strategy that I sent to them more than a year ago. It is based
    on what we know works--tough, targeted deterrence and better antigang
    prevention. Through this approach, police and prosecutors in Boston
    literally disarmed the gangs and brought juvenile gun murders to a halt.
    We should not wait any longer to help other communities do the same.

    Note: This statement was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on April 11, but it was embargoed for released until 6:30 p.m.
    on April 12.