Richard Gephardt: “I strongly support this Democratic amendment to the Juvenile Crime Control Act because it accomplishes what the…”

“I strongly support this Democratic amendment to the Juvenile Crime Control Act because it accomplishes what the Republican bill does not: It heeds the cry of law enforcement officers who are asking for help at the local level, in the precinct and on the beat, and it adheres to the values that make our communities safe and our families strong. It provides the resources to those who are on the front lines of law enforcement, at the local level: the police officer, district judges, and DA's and community leaders who are rallying together to stop the scourge of gang violence and drugs in their streets. It confronts the tragedy of juvenile crime through a balanced approach of tough enforcement and smart intervention and prevention. The Republican bill is weak on crime because it starts at the jail-house door.”