
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, August 5, 1995                   TAG: 9508080024
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                LENGTH: Short

ALLEN: `GET TOUGH' WORKS

Gov. George Allen told approximately 4,000 Fraternal Order of Police delegates who gathered this week that Virginia's tough attitude toward crime has made the state safer. He cited abolishing parole, reforming criminal sentencing and requiring prisoners and able-bodied welfare recipients to work.

The Republican governor chided ``criminal apologists'' - those who blame society for a criminal's behavior.

``This misguided philosophy regards the criminals as the victims and not as the victimizers,'' Allen said. ``Today, we are living in the societal wreckage of this kind of thinking.''

In a news conference immediately after his speech Thursday, Allen announced he will distribute nearly $3 million in 44 grants to Virginia localities for drug enforcement.

The money for the grants will come from an additional $2 fine added to each traffic or criminal offense, Allen said.

``I think it's a great idea that the criminals are helping to get more law-enforcement officers on the street,'' he said.

With about 270,000 members, the FOP is the largest law-enforcement group in the country.

by CNB