Juvenile Crime Bill Falls Short on Prevention, Help, Reno Says

Atty. Gen. Janet Reno stepped into the path of the congressional law-and-order juggernaut Thursday, declaring that pending legislation to fight juvenile crime leans too heavily on punishment and does not provide enough help for teens prone to crime.

At a time when Washington and many state capitals have been getting relentlessly tougher on criminals of all ages, Reno--who made clear she spoke for the Clinton administration--suggested government should also provide activities for juveniles that could give them alternatives to crime.

She proposed more grant money for states and communities to start after-school recreational programs and touted a program in Boston that sends police and probation officers to the homes of youthful offenders at night to see if they are complying with their probation.

As the Senate moved a juvenile crime bill closer to a vote by the full chamber, Reno said at her weekly news briefing that the Republican-sponsored measure, while containing “some good elements,” should be amended to include “crime-prevention programs which help keep young people on the right path.”

Reno spoke as the Senate Judiciary Committee met to try to finish work on the measure, which could reach the floor this month.

The House earlier this year approved a tough and potentially far-reaching measure that would allow those as young as 13 who are facing serious federal charges to be tried as adults in federal courts. It also would disburse $1.5 billion in crime-fighting funds to states that bring their laws into compliance with the federal standards, which would all but abolish the special treatment usually accorded young people accused of violent crimes.

The Senate bill, providing $3.6 billion over five years, recognizes that states handle most street crimes and would push them to toughen their juvenile justice systems through incentive grants, much as the House legislation does.

About 60% of the grant money has designated uses: building juvenile facilities, drug testing of youthful offenders and updating criminal record-keeping. The remaining 40% could be used by states for a variety of purposes, including crime prevention.

The House bill is less preferable to the administration because it has no money for crime prevention.

Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, did not address Reno’s remarks, but expressed frustration at a lack of progress Thursday by his committee in considering amendments to the bill. Only two of a possible 100 changes were taken up by the panel, with more sessions scheduled in coming days.

“People are expecting us to do something about these violent teenagers,” Hatch said. “We’ve got to move on this.”

Reno, recognizing that senators and House members must agree on any juvenile crime legislation eventually sent to Clinton for his signature, said Congress must go beyond giving police more powers and providing for more jails and prisons.

“It’s important that we develop a comprehensive system that looks at the process, from beginning to end, and says, ‘Look, we can do something . . . with these kids and keep them from getting in trouble in the first place,”’ Reno said.