SENATOR WILL DISCUSS JUVENILE CRIME DURING CAPE GIRARDEAU VISIT

Sen. John Ashcroft, R-Mo., will meet with local law enforcement officers, school officials and students in Cape Girardeau today to discuss juvenile crime.

In September, Ashcroft introduced the Violent and Hard-Core Juvenile Offender Reform Act, which calls for stiffer penalties for youthful offenders and greater access to juvenile criminal records. Ashcroft's visit is part of a two-day series of discussions throughout the state to gather input.

Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd will give the senator a tour of the community prior to a roundtable discussion at the Common Pleas Courthouse concerning the impact of juvenile crime and drug use in the area.

The anti-juvenile crime legislation introduced by Ashcroft would:

-- Make it easier for juveniles age 14 to 17 to be tried as adults.

-- Open juvenile criminal records to school officials, law enforcement agencies and adult court.

-- Provide state and local governments with federal funds anti-crime measures.

-- Clarify federal law to allow schools to unilaterally refer disabled students on school property to juvenile or adult court. A federal judge in Tennessee previously ruled that under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, schools do not have that power.