Despite variations by jurisdiction, crime category, and offender age, United States rates of violent crime are the lowest since the early 1970s. Corrections and law enforcement officials and some researchers have theories the explain the phenomenon. But, this article argues, a much more ambitious research agenda is needed to understand crime in its local context as the challenge for the next century. Recent research findings that help shape the direction of both research and practice include the relationship between community, crime, delinquency, family and individual development. Several cities have initiated projects aimed at coping with and predicting changes in crime patterns at the neighborhood level. Mentoring programs, police and other criminal justice interventions targeting young people at high risk of gang involvement and conflict resolution may be effective components of such programs. However, researchers are not presently able to conduct research in a way that reflects the complexity and potential power of real life and real communities. References