Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993 TAG: 9302140063
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: Medium
A RECORD OF CONCERN FOR ENVIRONMENT, FAMILY PROBLEMS
Janet Reno's record as Dade County state attorney indicates she'll be deeply concerned with domestic law, tough on environmental issues, and treatment-oriented with drug violators if she is confirmed as the U.S. attorney general.Reno's record and reputation:\
\ ABORTION
Reno says she favors abortion rights.\ \ CIVIL RIGHTS
Reno has been criticized for failing to curb police violence. Almost all officers investigated for shooting black suspects are cleared.
She converted many doubters with the initially successful prosecution of Miami officer William Lozano in the death of two black men on a motorcycle.
NAACP chief Johnnie McMillian, who once criticized Reno, now speaks glowingly about her efforts.
Women's groups are supporting her, but Reno is careful to avoid calling herself a feminist. She never publicly supported the Equal Rights Amendment. \ DOMESTIC LAW
Reno says the dissolution of the American family is at the root of the nation's crime problem, and vowed that issue will be central to her efforts.
She has shown a "tough love" approach praised by judges, defense attorneys and a rapper who sang of her crackdown on child-support scofflaws.
"She supports a therapeutic jurisprudence approach - but she'll put 'em in jail where it's warranted," says Circuit Judge Linda Dakis.
For instance, Dakis says, court orders in domestic violence cases are issued quickly against violent spouses and victims are immediately taken to shelters.
But when counseling seems more appropriate, her office will support it over prosecution, she said.\ \ DRUGS
Reno says that as attorney general, she would crack down on drug traffickers.
Reno has pledged more attention to rehabilitation than past attorneys general. With her support, Dade set up a model drug court that seeks to divert users to programs designed to get them off drugs.\ \ ENVIRONMENT
One of Reno's favorite pastimes is canoeing up isolated rivers; many expect the environment to be a priority.
She ordered a grand jury investigation into the polluted Miami River, as well as into hazardous-waste disposal in Dade County, says Joe Podgor, head of Friends of the Everglades.
Reno frequently contacts conservation groups for background on local issues, says Jim Webb of the Wilderness Society.\ \ IMMIGRATION
Miami DEA chief Tom Cash said she is likely to be sensitive to the problems of immigrants, but also is aware of the burden they place on public agencies. \ PUBLIC CORRUPTION
The biggest cloud over Reno has been what some feel is her laissez-faire attitude toward public corruption.
Her office never targeted the cozy relationship between builders and top Dade officials that many claim aggravated Hurricane Andrew's destruction - even when a former county manager resigned in a land-sale scandal.
The mayors of Miami Beach, Hialeah and Sweetwater were indicted by the federal government, not Reno's office.
Reno says Florida's liberal state procedural rules make public corruption cases a nightmare for state attorneys.\ \ SENTENCING
Reno says she opposes capital punishment, but notes that her office has asked for - and received - the death penalty 80 times. She says she would do the same where federal law dictates.
Bennett Brummer, Dade's chief public defender, says Reno's office takes pains to distinguish between cases when it comes to sentencing.
"She wants to make sure some people go to jail for a long time - but on the other hand, she promotes programs that keep them out of jail as long as they get counseling and rehabilitation," he says.