NCJ Number
166199
Date Published
1995
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Public opinion data were collected on the state of the family in the United States and on what people believed public institutions should do to help children, youth, and families.
Abstract
Americans had pessimistic views about the state of the family due to economic reasons, a sense of decline in moral values, and a loss of confidence in the educational system. Families lived in fear for their physical safety because of crime, violence, and drugs and were troubled by the uncertain economic future for their children. Families were also in trouble as the result of a decline in morals and because they were not getting what they needed from the educational system. Americans felt families and individuals were primarily responsible for improving values and strengthening families, but they wanted the public sector to reinforce societal values. Americans had lost confidence in government programs, said education was a top priority, supported welfare reform, and reported a declining interest in direct government involvement in child care services. About 61 percent said crime in their communities had increased, and key worries in schools were violence and drugs. Americans believed more police, harsher sentences, and gun control would reduce crime. About half said crime prevention efforts should be divided evenly between enforcement and prevention. 20 tables