Data for 1995 indicate that Russia and the United States remained far ahead of other nations in the extent to which they used incarceration, with an incarceration rate of 690 per 100,000 in Russia and 600 per 100,000 in the United States. The U.S. rate was higher than at any previous time and was 6 to 10 times the rate of Western European nations. The near doubling of the incarceration rate in the decade between 1985 and 1995 had little discernible impact on crime. While the incarceration rate increased steadily during the 10-year period, overall crime rates rose by 13 percent between 1985 and 1991 and then declined by 11 percent between 1991 and 1995. By the end of the period, overall crime rates were as high as in 1985 and the rate of violent crime was 23 percent higher. Preliminary figures for 1996 indicate murder rates declined by 8 percent between 1985 and 1996, but there was little change in overall crime rates and violent crime was still 14 percent higher. Incarceration rates in Western Europe, with several notable exceptions, generally rose between 1985 and 1995 but at a much lower rate than the 92 percent increase in the United States. The author concludes dramatic increases worldwide in the use of incarceration over the past decade have likely created a situation of diminishing returns in crime control as progressively less serious offenders are sentenced to prison. This is likely to be the case in particular for drug offenders. The author also indicates punitive trends in public policy may be counter to the community's interest in safety. He notes other crime prevention strategies appear to be more promising than incarceration. The alternative strategies focus on reducing gun violence, implementing targeted policing, addressing substance abuse, and mobilizing communities. 22 footnotes, 8 tables, and 2 figures