Factors likely to fuel a crime increase are (1) growing deprivation in the midst of growing affluence and (2) diminishing opportunities for stable, rewarding work that provides a living wage. To these negative influences can be added the adverse consequences of current social policies in income support, family planning, and health care, all of which undermine the socioeconomic and physical stability of the American family. The declining proportion of younger people in the United States population could help reduce crime, but beginning in the early 1990's, the proportion of young people will begin to rise again with the offspring of the 'baby boom' generation. Reduced legitimate economic opportunities will increase the attractiveness of illicit drug trafficking, and current criminal justice policies which overemphasize the use of overcrowded and brutalizing prisons will increase rather than decrease criminality. Both 'street' and business crimes are likely to increase under current trends. Public policy should halt the growing split between the rich and poor, provide early education for disadvantaged children, supply family economic and social supports, and encourage crime prevention programs. 31 references.