The overview notes that the United States Supreme Court in the 1970's and 1980's has narrowed the rulings of the Warren Court related to due process, including the protection against illegal search and seizure, the right against self-incrimination, and the rights to counsel and trial by jury. In addition, recent social science research has produced conflicting evidence regarding the deterrent effect of severe penalties and may have methodological problems due to the differing accuracy levels of data from different police agencies. The reprinted news articles focus on crime rates and patterns from 1983-85, views expressed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Warran Burger, judicial decisions regarding Miranda warnings and the exclusionary rule, Federal anti-crime legislation, the availability of public defenders, police use of deadly force, jury selection, pretrial detention, and sentencing reform.