[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 41 (Monday, October 13, 1997)]
[Page 1487]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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., 
October 4.