According to figures compiled by the Milwaukee Police Department for 1990, 67.25 percent of homicides were committed with firearms. The actual number of homicides committed with firearms rose from 74 in 1989 to 111 in 1990. In a study of 165 reported homicides in 1990, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office determined that alcohol and drugs had frequently been used by both victims and suspects. Over 90 percent of homicide suspects in 1990 were male, and 72.5 percent were between 19 and 34 years of age. A survey of 100 inmates at the Milwaukee County House of Correction revealed that they attributed their criminal behavior to family breakup and the lack of male leadership in their lives. In statistically looking at crimes committed between 1965 and 1990, the authors found that the murder rate increased by 511 percent, the number of rapes rose by 1,712 percent, the frequency of robberies escalated by 1,990 percent, and the number of assaults rose by 217 percent. They concluded that unemployment, inadequate education, media influences, and ineffective rehabilitation methods were responsible for much of the increase in crime. The concept of social immaturity and incompetence as perpetuating factors in crime is discussed, as well as the important role played by the social and moral disintegration of the family in American society. The need for preventive rather than punitive measures to reduce crime is emphasized. 40 references and 1 table