[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 16 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Pages 635-636]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.

[[Page 636]]

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, and it was embargoed for released until 6:30 
p.m., April 12.