America has recently seen a drop in its rate of recorded violent crime, which many see as a vindication of tougher sentencing policies, in particular the greater use of prison. Policymakers in Britain are increasingly drawn to the American example. In this examination of contemporary criminal justice policies in the United States, and their wider social implications, leading American criminologist Professor Elliott Currie argues that sending more and more people to prison is not the way to reduce crime. He claims that the most pervasive and expansive penal system in the industrial world has accomplished very little at very great cost. Professor Currie argues that American crime policies have been pursued at the expense of public investment to help the poorest and most disadvantaged communities and that prevention and social investment is the way to bring about a real reduction in levels of crime.