Bill Clinton on Crime President of the U.S., 1993-2001; Former Democratic Governor (AR)

End over-imprisonment for non-serious crimes

But now it's time to take a clear-eyed look at what worked, what didn't, and what produced unintended, consequences. So many of these laws worked well, especially those that put more police on the streets. But too many laws were overly broad instead of appropriately tailored. A very small number of people commit a large percentage of serious crimes--and society gains when that relatively small group is behind bars. But some are in prison who shouldn't be, others are in for too long, and without a plan to reintegrate them into our communities.

Survived six assassination attempts in 1994, one by airplane

In Dec. 1994, four more such attacks--perhaps inspired by previous ones--occurred within a few days of one another. A previous incident in Sep. 1994, demonstrated the White House's vulnerability. That evening, after drinking and smoking crack cocaine, Frank Corder found the keys to a Cessna airplane. Corder stole the plane and flew to the White House. He then dove directly toward it at a steep angle. Corder's plane crashed onto the White House lawn just south of the Executive Mansion & skidded across the ground.

Post-prison work training reduces recidivism

Historically, former prisoners have had a hard time starting again. They usually don't get much education or job training while incarcerated and even when they do, many employers are unwilling to hire them. Most don't have a home or stable family to take them in. Without a job, they are likely to commit other crimes. The Ready4Work program is trying to change that. Since 2003, the project has worked with religious and nongovernmental groups and local government in 17 cities to train newly released men and women, place them, and help them keep jobs. The results of their efforts have been impressive. Out of more than 4,800 returnees, only 1.9% of Ready4Work participants were incarcerated for a new offense within six months of their release, and only 5% were in jail within a year. In many states, the average recidivism rate in the first year is 20%.

1980s:Sought pastoral counsel on capital punishment decision

Clinton asked his Baptist minister, Dr. W. O. Vaught, if it was biblically permissible for him to execute a man, and Vaught told him that the death penalty was not prohibited in the original translation of the Ten Commandments. The final decision would be Clinton’s, noted Vaught, but he “must never worry about whether [the death penalty] is forbidden by the Bible, because it isn’t.”

The Republicans are taking police off the streets

Approved Arkansas execution of mentally retarded black man

Pardoned half brother Roger; 1st family member ever pardoned

Crime has dropped, but US is still not safe enough

Expand the death penalty

More community police; more prison construction

• 100,000 New Police Officers: To date, more than 1,200 cities & towns have received grants to hire more police.
• Community Policing. Funding was increased by $1.3 billion for partnerships between the police and the public.
• 3 Strikes and You're Out. Requires mandatory life in prison for career violent offenders.
• Federal Prison Construction. Additional funding was earmarked to house the increased inmate population anticipated from the new 3-strikes law.
• Death Penalty Expansion. The number of offenses punishable by the death penalty expanded by nearly 60 additional categories of violent felons.
• Creation of the National Police Corps, to help put military personnel and unemployed veterans to work in law enforcement.
• Prevention and Rehabilitation. More drug treatment programs for criminal addicts and boot camps for youth offenders.

51-day Branch Davidian siege resulted in 76 deaths

51 days later, on April 19, as much of the country watched on television, Koresh and most of his followers burned to death after FBI agents ordered Army tanks to punch holes in the walls so they could fire tear gas into the structure to end the standoff. Only 9 of the 85 people inside escaped the inferno; 19 children died. 17 victims died of gunshot wounds, some believed to be self-inflicted.

President Clinton immediately ordered the Treasury and Justice Departments to conduct their own investigations of the incident. Clearly, errors and miscalculations had been made by federal law enforcement.

1994 crime bill funded basketball instead of real problem

Three Strikes and You’re Out for violent criminals

Death penalty for 60 violent crimes

More police, punishment, & prevention

We will never eliminate the darkness that lurks in human nature; there will never be a time when there is no crime, no violence in America. My goal is to create an America where news of a serious crime [is a reason for] surprise and shock, not inevitable acceptance.

To reach that goal, I believe we needed a new approach-one that combined all the tools available to us:police, punishment, and prevention.
• My 1994 Crime Bill is fulfilling my commitment to put 100,000 new police officers on the street to strengthen community policing.
• Good policing needs to be matched with tough punishment, [like] our Anti-Terrorism Bill and “three strikes” laws.
• And we must prevent crime before it happens, [like with] the Brady Bill and the new National Drug Control Strategy.

Sister Souljah accepting LA riots was racist

Jackson was enraged, telling others he felt personally violated. Clinton became uneasy. He never liked to make an enemy, even though he wanted to signal his distance from Jackson.