In the past 20 years, society's concern with tougher anti-crime measures has resulted in mandatory penalties, "three strikes" sentencing and expansion of the death penalty. Incarceration rates in U.S. prisons are at an all-time high and criminal justice costs continue to escalate. The author seeks to determine whether society is getting its money's worth in terms of putting criminals out of business and protecting the citizenry. The book examines punishment options for convicted criminals; the objectives of punishment; reducing childhood transition crime; anticipating the sequence in vice control; curbing crimes of rage; suppressing sex crimes; removing crookedness from legitimate occupations; incapacitating professional, career and psychopathic criminals; and optimum investments to reduce crime rates. Figures, tables, notes, references, index