NCJ Number
16365
Journal
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR Dated: (NOVEMBER 12, 1973)
Date Published
1973
Length
2 pages
Annotation
PROGRAMS TO REDUCE STREET CRIME, WHICH INCLUDE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT AND INNOVATIVE POLICE WORK, ARE DESCRIBED; RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE, SUCH AS DECREASING ARRESTS FOR NONVICTIM CRIMES AND INCREASING HANDGUN CONTROLS.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH CITIZENS IN THE U.S. AND ELSEWHERE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO EFFORTS AIMED AT MAKING STREETS SAFER FROM CRIME, THE BASIC CAUSES OF CRIME MUST BE ADDRESSED IF THESE EFFORTS ARE TO BE EFFECTIVE. TECHNIQUES SUCH AS BETTER LIGHTING MUST BE COMBINED WITH CONSTANT EFFORTS TO ALLEVIATE THE BASIC CAUSES OF CRIME -- POVERTY, RACISM, UNEMPLOYMENT, DRUG ADDICTION, AND FEAR. IN ANY SOCIETY AS POPULATED AND DIVERSE AS THE U.S., MOST AUTHORITIES CONTEND THAT INDIVIDUAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ACTION MUST BE COMBINED IN A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE OVERHAUL OF THE COURTS, PRISONS, AND BAIL STRUCTURE. AS CRIMINOLOGISTS HAVE POINTED OUT, CONVENTIONAL PATROL BY ITSELF CANNOT PREVENT CRIME. TO EFFECT ANY MEANINGFUL REDUCTION IN STREET CRIME, MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT SPECIALISTS INSIST THAT THREE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES MUST BE RESOLVED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC: (1) HANDGUN CONTROL; (2) THE DRUG PROBLEM; AND (3) THE PROPER ROLE OF THE POLICE IN SO-CALLED NONVICTIM CRIMES SUCH AS INTOXICATION, PROSTITUTION, AND GAMBLING. ALTHOUGH VARIOUS HANDGUN CONTROL MEASURES HAVE BEEN ADOPTED OR PROPOSED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THEY HAVE BEEN LARGELY INEFFECTIVE. A CRITICAL LOOPHOLE CRIPPLED THE SAFE STREETS ACT OF 1968 WHICH BANNED THE IMPORTATION OF CHEAP FOREIGN-MADE HANDGUNS, WHILE OTHER LEGISLATION SUCCUMBED TO LOBBYING BY THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION AND OPPOSITION BY FORMER PRESIDENT NIXON. MANY JUDGES ARE NOW PROPOSING MINIMUM MANDATORY JAIL SENTENCES FOR THE USE OF FIREARMS IN THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME. THE NATIONAL APPROACH TO THE DRUG PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOURFOLD: (1) DRYING UP THE DRUG SOURCES; (2) BETTER LAW ENFORCEMENT; (3) TREATMENT FOR ADDICTS; AND (4) PUBLIC EDUCATION. NEW YORK STATE HAS ENACTED TOUGH DRUG LAWS PROVIDING SEVERE SENTENCES FOR DRUG USERS AND ELIMINATING PLEA BARGAINING, WHILE GROUPS SUCH AS THE ALLIANCE FOR A SAFER NEW YORK ARGUE THAT THE LEGALIZED, CONTROLLED SALE OF DRUGS TO ADDICTS IS A MORE VIABLE APPROACH. FINALLY, PROPONENTS OF ALTERNATIVES TO THE HANDLING OF NONVICTIM CRIME ARGUE THAT THE DECRIMINALIZATION AND/OR LEGALIZATION OF SUCH OFFENSES AS PUBLIC INTOXICATION, PROSTITUTION, GAMBLING, AND VAGRANCY -- CRIMES WHICH ACCOUNT FOR 40-45 PERCENT OF POLICE ARRESTS -- WOULD FREE THOUSANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS FOR SERIOUS CRIME PREVENTION. (KBL)