Director's Message, Law Day 1990

by William S. Sessions

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

LAW DAY 1990

By

William S. Sessions

Director, Federal Bureau of Investigations

When President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day by Presidential Proclamation in 1958, he stated, ``It is fitting that the American people should remember with pride and vigilantly guard the great heritage of liberty, justice, and equality under law....'' Law Day has since become an occasion for Americans to rededicate themselves to these ideals.

This year's Law Day theme, ``Generations of Justice,'' encourages us in law enforcement to focus on the youth and the elderly. These two generations of Americans are particularly vulnerable to criminal elements because they are often helpless to defend themselves.

This theme takes on special significance when we consider that the generation gap in America is widening. Those aged 65 and older are the fastest growing segment of America's population; yet, they are perhaps the most forgotten. Unfortunately, the elderly are easy targets for violence and crime because they are vulnerable. Many live in terror of being attacked on the streets and have become virtual prisoners in their homes. Other senior citizens suffer from the psychological and financial abuse inflicted on them by caretakers and even family members.

The children of today, America's most precious resource, are also innocent victims. Tragic cases of child abuse, neglect, and sexual exploitation continue to occur. Even unborn children suffer abuse from the ravages of drugs that plague our society.

While safeguarding these two generations of Americans is not easy, one key element to success is cooperation. However, cooperation should be stressed not only among members of the criminal justice profession but also between law enforcement and the community.

Preventing the abuse of America's youth and its elderly requires the total commitment of the entire criminal justice system--from the police officer on the street to the highest court in the land. Police, prosecutors, and judges must bring the full force of the criminal justice system to bear against those who threaten the well-being of both the young and the old.

Yet, the battle against abuse is not law enforcement's alone. Positive citizen action is society's first line of defense. Through support of and cooperation with the criminal justice system, citizens can enhance law enforcement's effectiveness. Law enforcement must work with the public to promote crime prevention to the elderly. We also must make a full-fledged effort to educate our youth to the dangers of drugs. By making citizens aware of the problem of abuse, they learn to recognize it and hopefully to prevent it. Awareness, education, and prevention are three critical areas that can make a difference in the quality of life for not only youths and the elderly, but also for all generations of Americans.

The first step in meeting the challenges of abuse is to focus on the seriousness of the problem and what we can do about it. Only then, through continuous citizen support and cooperation, combined with the best efforts of law enforcement, can we maintain and preserve the Constitutional rights and freedoms guaranteed to all Americans, young and old alike. As we commemorate Law Day this year, let us reaffirm our pledge to uphold the Constitution and ensure that we nuture and sustain the principles of Law Day every day of the year.