The blue collar industrial society of the 1950's has been replaced by an accelerated technological revolution characterized by computers, satellites, fiber optics, robots, bar coding, and electronic data interchange. This revolution has combined with globalization of the economy, rising competition, and significant social and cultural changes. More jobs now require specialized skills, training, and education. As "muscle work" disappears, fewer openings remain for those at lower socioeconomic and educational levels. Societal changes affect the incidence of crime, particularly in poor urban neighborhoods, and also family structures. People are less bonded to each other such that social disapproval of crime, drug abuse, and sociopathic behavior sometimes lose power over them. When social disapproval fails, law enforcement must take over. Law enforcement agencies must use emerging technologies in a manner that furthers appropriate social and political goals in crime prevention.