    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 53 (Monday, January 4, 1999)]
    [Page 2532]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on the 1997 National Crime Victimization Survey

    December 27, 1998

        The 1997 National Crime Victimization Survey released by the
    Department of Justice today shows that violent crime fell 7 percent last
    year and 21 percent since I took office. With the violent crime rate now
    its lowest level since 1973, Americans are safer today than they have
    been in many years. These new figures again show that our strategy of
    more police, stricter gun laws, and better crime prevention is working.
    But we are not yet done. Working together, both in Washington and in
    communities across our Nation, we must redouble our efforts to make our
    streets, homes, and schools safer for all Americans.

    Note: This statement was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary at 8 a.m. on December 27 but was embargoed for release until 9
    a.m.