The major crime concern in the United States is random, deadly violence committed disproportionately by a large, alienated, and self-destructive underclass. Such crime committed by such persons can be partially addressed by problem-oriented policing that analyzes identifiable crime patterns and develops a proactive strategy that can be implemented by police. The goal of such policing would be to reduce, in a manner consistent with fundamental liberties, the opportunity for high-risk persons to do those things that increase the likelihood of their victimizing others. This policing would include both antigun and antidrug police patrols, along with the enforcing of truancy and curfew laws. In the area of corrections, the swift and certain use of prison can both deter crime and incapacitate criminals, but this will require vast increases in correctional costs and a lessening of judicial resistance to mandatory sentencing laws. The key issue is whether prompt and more effective early intervention can stop high-rate delinquents from becoming high-rate criminals at a time when their offenses are not yet serious. Perhaps early and swift, although not necessarily severe, sanctions could deter some high-risk juveniles. In the area of social structure, there must be an effort to reduce the number of young, single parents raising their children alone. One alternative is to tell a girl who applies for welfare that she can only receive it on condition that she live either in the home of two competent parents or in a group home where competent supervision and parent training will be provided by adults unrelated to her. Such homes would be privately managed but publicly funded by pooling welfare checks, food stamps, and housing allowances. Some obstacles to needed policy changes are discussed, and future projections of the crime scene in America are made. 10 notes