Pete Sessions: “I have been asked to chair the subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee on juvenile violence. It is an issue and a…”

“I have been asked to chair the subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee on juvenile violence. It is an issue and a problem that I have dealt with for many years. I have been a Federal and State prosecutor for 17 years. I know juvenile judges, I know sheriffs, I know police chiefs, I know juvenile probation officers and those who work with them. I have been involved in organizations that have dealt with youth crime for many, many years. I think it is a rare opportunity to have the possibility of contributing to an issue as important as this one. I am particularly pleased that we have a bipartisan interest in real reform of juvenile justice in America. Not long ago, the Republican conference of this body listed juvenile violence as one of its top 10 priorities. The President has made it so in his remarks and in his recent address to the Nation. Just a few weeks ago, the majority leader, Trent Lott, met with the President, and they agreed to work to pass a good and effective juvenile reform bill. Senator Lott had the occasion to talk with me about that, and his instructions to me were: "Jeff, we want the best crime bill that we can get, something that will effectively reduce juvenile violence in America." Mr. President, let me discuss with you what our problems are. Understanding the situation we are in is important. The incidence of adult crime in America, since the early 1980's, has essentially been flat.”