NCJ Number
12943
Journal
CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (OCTOBER 1973) Pages: 1-10
Date Published
1973
Length
10 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSION OF AMERICAN HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, THE INFLUENCE OF CRIME STATISTICS, THE SOCIAL DYNAMICS SUPPORTING CRIME, THE ROLE OF POLICE AND THE NEED FOR CHANGE.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR POINTS OUT HOW POLICE AND SOCIETY HAVE FAILED TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO PREVENT CRIME, AND THE NEED FOR MASSIVE SOCIAL EFFORT TO DEAL WITH THE INCREASINGLY SEVERE SOCIAL PROBLEMS. CITING OUR HISTORICAL ABHORRENCE YET GLORIFICATION OF VIOLENCE, HE SUGGESTS THAT GUNS MAY BE OUR BIGGEST CRIME PREVENTION CHALLENGE. HE NOTES THE NEED TO STOP PLAYING POLITICS WITH CRIME, TO IDENTIFY THE TRUE EXTENT OF THE CRIME PROBLEM AND TO STOP USING WITH STATISTICS BASED ON MANIPULATED, INCOMPLETE OR INACCURATE DATA. HE CONTENDS WE MUST IDENTIFY THE SOCIAL PHENOMENA UNDERLYING OUR CRIME PROBLEMS, E.G., THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREDUCATION OF BLACK YOUTH, AND BUILD PROGRAMS TO IMPACT THESE NEGATIVE TRENDS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)