ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 13, 1996 TAG: 9612130048
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
The nation's juvenile crime rate declined last year primarily because fewer people under age 15 were arrested for violent crimes, Attorney General Janet Reno said Thursday.
Overall violent crime in 1995 fell 4 percent for people under age 17, but the greatest decline - 7 percent - occurred among youths age 10 to 14, according to Justice Department analysis released Thursday.
FBI figures released in August showed that the 1995 violent crime arrest rate dropped for the first time since 1987. The latest report was issued by the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Reno said the new figures show that an expected explosion in teen-age crime can be averted through community policing, mentor programs and groups like the Boys and Girls Clubs.
The Justice Department also announced the availability of $16.5 million in grants to states for programs to prevent gang violence and other juvenile crime. States can use the money to pay for a variety of efforts, including mentoring, truancy prevention and gang intervention.
The juvenile crime analysis also found:
* Juvenile arrests for murder fell 14 percent since 1994 and 23 percent since 1993.
* Rape arrests among youths dropped 4 percent, robbery arrests dropped 1 percent, and aggravated assault arrested dropped 3 percent from 1994 to 1995.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 37 linesby CNB