Meeting America's Challenge

President Bill Clinton:
Meeting America's Challenge of Taking Back
Our Streets From Crime, Gangs and Drugs

"At last we have begun to find a way to reduce crime, forming community partnerships with local police forces to catch criminals and prevent crime. This strategy, called community policing, is clearly working. Violent crime is coming down all across America. In New York City, murders are down 25%, in St. Louis, 18%, in Seattle, 32%. But we still have a long way to go before our streets are safe and our people are free from fear."

President Clinton, State of the Union Address
January 23, 1996

A Record of Accomplishment:

Won Passage of the Most Comprehensive Crime Bill Ever

In 1994, after more than six years of gridlock, a bipartisan majority in Congress passed the toughest, smartest Crime Bill in the nation s history. It passed with the strong support of every major law enforcement organization in the country, as well as prosecutors, mayors, and state and local officials. The new law now provides:

A targeted "Three-Strikes-and-You're-Out" provision to put career violent offenders behind bars for life.
An expanded death penalty for drug kingpins, murderers of federal law enforcement officers and nearly 60 additional categories of violent felons.
Funding for 100,000 more prison cells to help states ensure that violent offenders serve their full sentences.
Increased penalties for sex offenders and a registration requirement for violent sexual offenders.

More Police and Community Policing

The President's plan to put 100,000 more police officers on the street through community policing represents the federal government s biggest commitment ever to local law enforcement. The funding of $8.8 billion will result in an almost 20% increase in the nation s police force levels. Already, 43,000 officers have been funded.
The number of murders fell 8% in 1995 -- one of the largest decreases in more than 30 years. The nation s largest cities saw their overall crime fall 6% during the same period.

Keeping Guns Out of the Hands of Criminals

Stood up to the gun lobby and won passage of the Brady Bill which provides for a 5-day waiting period and background checks of prospective handgun buyers. In the two years since its enactment, the Brady Law has stopped more than 60,000 fugitives and felons and other criminals from purchasing handguns.
Banned the manufacture and importation of 19 of the deadliest assault weapons while specifically protecting more than 650 legitimate sporting weapons. Cop-killing assault weapons, like the Uzi, are the weapons of choice for drug dealers and gangs -- not hunters and sportsmen.

Combatting Drug Use

Developed a comprehensive National Drug Control Strategy that will reduce illegal drug use through law enforcement, prevention, treatment and interdiction.
Breaking the cycle of drugs and crime through universal drug testing in the criminal justice system and by providing funding for drug courts.
The number of Americans who use cocaine has declined 30% since 1992.

Fighting to End Domestic Violence

Tripled funding for battered women's shelters.
Bolstered local law enforcement, prosecution and victims' services to better address violence against women through $26 million in state grants. (Violence Against Women Act)
Improved the responses of police, prosecutors and judges to domestic violence and other violence against women; forced sex offenders to pay restitution to their victims.
Established nationwide 24-hour domestic violence hotline providing immediate crisis intervention, counseling and referrals for those in need.

Making Our Schools and Communities Safer

Keeping dangerous weapons out of our children s classrooms by enforcing a "Zero Tolerance" gun policy in schools.
Reducing violence and drug abuse in our schools by investing in school security, drug prevention programs and counseling. (Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act)
Encouraged schools to adopt school uniform policies to help reduce violence while promoting discipline and respect.
Helped protect families and children who live in public housing from gangs, drugs and violent crime by instituting a "One-Strike-and-You're-Out" policy for residents who engage in criminal activity.

Securing America s Borders

Stood firm against illegal immigration and deported a record 51,600 illegal and criminal aliens in 1995 -- a 15% increase over 1994.
Increasing the number of Border Patrol agents along the southwestern border by 50% to stem the flow of illegal aliens into the United States.

The Challenges ahead:

While overall crime rates dropped, juveniles are increasingly the perpetrators -- and the victims -- of some of our country's most violent crimes. That is why reducing juvenile crime is a key component of President Clinton's crime-fighting agenda. The President is getting tougher with juvenile criminals by:

Urging Congress to pass legislation providing tougher sentences for gun-wielding drug dealers and gang members. (Armed Dangerous Felons Act)
Submitting to Congress legislation that gives prosecutors the discretion to prosecute juvenile offenders as adults -- juveniles who commit adult crimes should face adult consequences.
Calling on states to ensure that prisoners serve at least 85% of their sentences, and to follow the federal lead in requiring all those arrested to be drug-tested as they enter the criminal justice system.

President Bill Clinton: Meeting America's Challenge of Taking Back Our Streets From Crime, Gangs and Drugs