Verdict on Crime Control: You Be the Judge (From Criminal Violence: What Direction Now for the War on Crime? P 21-23, 1992, Keith Melville and Betty Frecker, eds.)

• NCJ Number: 166126
• Author(s): K Melville; T Piazza
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: Public Agenda
• Sale Source: Kendall/ Hunt Publishing Co; National Issues Forums
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Even though the United States has been fighting a "war on crime" and pouring significant resources into the effort, the results of tough crime control policies have been inconclusive.

Abstract

There is consensus that crime rates are unacceptably high, but there is no consensus about what should be done. Deterrence, prevention, and selective incapacitation strategies involve certain costs and tradeoffs. The deterrence strategy seems straightforward and practical but is difficult and costly to bolster enforcement and prosecution to the point where substantially more criminals are arrested and convicted. The prevention strategy is expensive, and its impact on crime will probably take a long time to realize. Critics of the selective incapacitation strategy believe the approach amounts to "writing off" some individuals who may need another chance. Practical and moral issues related to crime prevention and deterrence are examined, as well as the need to look at crime and punishment in the context of social values. The upward trend in violent crime between 1960 and 1995 is noted. 1 figure