THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 18, 1994 TAG: 9407180080
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
Young people 12 through 17 are the most common victims of violent crime in America, being raped, robbed or assaulted at five times the rate for adults 35 and older, the Justice Department said Sunday.
One juvenile in 13 was a victim of a violent crime during 1992, the year the statistics were gathered, up 23 percent from 1987, when one juvenile in every 17 was a victim.
``These statistics are disturbing, and they are compelling proof that we must get the crime bill to President Clinton's desk,'' said Attorney General Janet Reno. ``The crime bill's combination of policing, punishment and prevention will give us the tools we need to help reduce this grim toll.''
The crime bill now before Congress calls for 100,000 more police on the street, a ``three-strikes-and-you're-out'' measure to lock up repeat criminals and boot camps for young offenders. ILLUSTRATION: Reno
by CNB