NCJ Number
159375
Date Published
1996
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Although Congress passed a major crime bill in 1993 that established stiffer penalties for violent criminals, allocated more funding for prisons, and increased the number of police officers nationwide, the author argues that these and other measures designed to reduce crime and cut social services will not prevent violence.
Abstract
Rather, such measures will sustain conditions that encourage violence--the decay of human connections and social supports. The author recounts his own violent victimization and discusses his reaction to the debate over the Federal crime bill. He concludes that effective measures are needed to stop violent criminals, regardless of whether one is politically conservative or liberal, and that violence prevention can be achieved by effective social institutions. The end result will be what everyone wants, a safe community.