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“UPDATE ON CRIME CONFERENCE AND THE RELEASE OF REPORT ``CRIME COMMITTED WITH FIREARMS''” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S11028-S11029 on Sept. 16, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
UPDATE ON CRIME CONFERENCE AND THE RELEASE OF REPORT ``CRIME COMMITTED
WITH FIREARMS''
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I want to comment briefly on the status of the youth violence bill conference. Conferees from the House and Senate had planned to meet later today to complete consideration of the conference report. Last night, conference staff met jointly with Administration officials. And discussions on firearms and culture related issues are moving forward. Chairman Hyde felt that his talks with Mr. Conyers are going very well. Accordingly, I felt we should keep working. however, my hope and plan is to meet next week so we can complete action on this bill this month.
I also want to comment briefly on why this bill is so important. Too many violent crimes involve juveniles. According to the Justice Department, the number of juvenile arrests for violent crime, including crimes committed with a firearm, exceeds 1988 levels by 48 percent. Our youth violence problem is a compel problems that demand comprehensive solution. Our legislation makes our schools safer; it empowers parents; it recognizes the importance of prevention; and it emphasize the need for enforcement and getting tough on violent criminals. Part of any comprehensive solution to deal with crime must be a commitment to enforcing the laws on the books. Actions speak louder than words, whether we're talking about how the government deals with gun offenders or how it deals with terrorists.
I am deeply saddened by the news out of Texas concerning a crazed gunman's senseless, hate-for-religion rampage at a Forth Worth church which left seven innocent people dead and many others wounded. My prayers go out to the victims and their families and my energies will be all the more dedicated towards trying to reach a consensus on the youth violence bill. This event--and others like it in recent months--
have energized a well-deserved and beneficial debate about the criminal use of firearms. Limiting criminal access to firearms, beefing up prosecutions, and responding to a popular culture which glamorizes firearms violence should all be parts of our response. But as I just noted, violent crime--violent juvenile crime, in particular--is a complex problem which deserves a comprehensive response.
In today's Washington Post, which appropriately reports on the Texas shooting on its front page, is buried an article about how a Maryland juvenile court judge released from custody--over the objections of prosecutors--a 16-year-old, confessed violent sex offender who had been sent to Maryland's maximum security prison. He was released because the he was not receiving ``individualized counseling.''--Washington Post, Sept. 16, 1999, B-7. According to the article, the judge's view is that the purpose of the juvenile justice system is to ``rehabilitate rather than punish young offenders.'' The teenager in question--whose identity has been protected, by the way--was one of six teenagers who, in March of last year, lured a 15-year-old girl from a bus stop to a vacant apartment where they took turns raping, sodomizing, and beating her for three hours. Three teenagers who participated in the rape were sentenced to life but this offender has been set free by a soft-headed juvenile justice system. According to the article, this violent sex-
offender (whose fellow offenders are serving life-terms) will live with his relatives in near-by Prince George's County and will be enrolling in High Point High School.
Where's the greatest threat to the public? Ask the parents of High Point High School this question. The greatest threat to the public is from criminals who are set free by a soft-headed justice system, be they rapists or terrorists. And criminals who commit crimes but are not prosecuted are left free to commit more crimes. yesterday, I released a report reported entitled ``Crimes Committed With Firearms--A report for Parent, Prosecutors, and Policy Markers.'' Our report found that over 90% of criminals age 18 to 24 who had an substantial arrest record prior to being imprisoned are rearrested within three years for a felony or serious misdemeanor.
I mention this article and our report to illustrate, as I have said repeatedly, that this is a complex problem which demands a comprehensive solution. Simply passing more laws which get printed in DOJ's law books but which go unenforced will not nothing to fight violent crime, let alone violent juvenile crime. And legislation which fails to make meaningful reforms which promotes juvenile accountability and juvenile record disclosure--as the Hatch-Sessions bill does--will prove to be a hollow accomplishment.
In closing, we must do all we can to come together and resolve our differences and reach consensus. When I hear members drawing lines in the sand over specific provisions in the youth violence bill, I get concerned because it tells me that the politics of party are trumping the obligation to lead and do what's right.
That is what I intend to do in this juvenile justice conference. I hope we have the cooperation of everybody on both sides. I hope the rumors that some want to play this as a political matter are not true. I think we need to pass a juvenile justice bill this year, and we need to do the very best we can do in doing that. I intend to get that done, and I thank all those who cooperate in helping to get it done.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Fitzgerald). The Senator from California.
Mrs. BOXER. Thank you, Mr. President. For the benefit of my colleagues, I will be finished in 5 minutes.
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