PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES NEW FUNDS FOR VALUE-BASED EFFORTS TO PREVENT YOUTH VIOLENCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Clinton today announced that communities in 16 cities will share $2.2 million to combat juvenile crime through programs that help instill positive values in young people. The new Value-Based Violence Prevention Initiative will support family-based, community crime prevention efforts that include law enforcement, courts, and civic and religiously affiliated organizations. The President was joined at today's announcement by Deputy Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Boston Police Commissioner Paul F. Evans, and representatives from the 16 cities.

"Crime is now at a 25 year low," said President Clinton. "Now we must take advantage of these good times to strengthen America for the 21st Century. We can begin by strengthening our oldest values -- and bringing them to bear on our toughest challenges."

The Value-Based Violence Prevention Initiative will support existing community-based crime prevention efforts in Los Angeles and Salinas, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; Miami, Fla.; NW Austin, Ill.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Baltimore, Md.; Detroit, Mich.; Kansas City, Mo.; Hempstead, N.Y.; Portland, Ore.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Charleston, S.C.; San Antonio, Tex.; Richmond, Va. and Seattle, Wash.

"The strength of any crime prevention effort comes not just from resources, but from the time and commitment of the community," said Deputy Attorney General Holder. "Our new initiative will help support this commitment to ensure that young people have positive alternatives to gangs, drugs and violence."

The initiative will provide funding to support programs such as mentoring, school violence prevention, job training, mediation, gun abatement, and substance abuse prevention.

The 16 communities, all of which are participating in the Justice Department's Weed and Seed program, will receive approximately $135,000 each from the Executive Office for Weed and Seed (EOWS), which administers the program. Community-based programs will be able to apply for funding through their local Steering Committee. The Justice Department's Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services contributed $1 million to support the EOWS initiative.

"The exciting aspect of this initiative is that it will highlight extraordinary programs that are making a difference in their communities, " said EOWS Director Stephen Rickman. "The initiative will help these programs build on what they have already accomplished."

Weed and Seed is a key component of the Justice Department's anti-violence program. Community policing and law enforcement are central to Weed and Seed, as are prevention, intervention and treatment. Neighborhood restoration and revitalization are also important.