The massive use of imprisonment is an ineffective social policy and should be curtained. Instilling fear in offenders and potential lawbreakers through the threat of imprisonment cannot succeed as the central strategy around which the criminal justice system is to operate. There is an urgent need for alternative and less harsh measures to be employed, along with the sparing use of imprisonment for violent offenders. Even more important, the first line of defense against crime is a society that provides meaningful social and economic rewards for all of its citizens. Principles of crime control are examined in the context of the limits of punishment as social policy. The extent of crime in the United States and in other countries such as Japan is compared to illustrate the ineffectiveness of the overly punitive approach in the United States. New directions in crime control are considered, and the need for major social and economic reforms in contemporary society is emphasized. 36 references and 2 notes