The 1991 reported crime figures show that the surge in reported violent and property offenses has continued unabated. The rising crime rate is attributed to the emergence and spread of crack cocaine, other socioeconomic and demographic factors, and the State's response to the illicit drug problem, characterized by increased numbers of arrests, convictions, and prison admissions. However, the rising prison population has forced officials to increase the number of releases; as a result, length of time served in prison has declined to the lowest point in 20 years and the courts have experienced an erosion of their sentencing credibility. The proportion of inmates returning to prison within one year of release rose to 19.6 percent in 1989 from 13.5 percent in 1986. The report concludes that a combination of a "get tough" anti-drug policy and an early release program may be exacerbating the State's crime problem by negatively reinforcing deviant behavior. 8 figures