Based on data derived from 10 cities of over 250,000 population, the study seeks to determine (1) what characterized the rise of crime in the United States during this period, (2) how attentiveness to crime changed over the period, (3) the connections between the structures and patterns of urban governments and their responses to crime, and (4) how the urban communities' principal responses to crime changed over time. The study selected cities that were extremely high and extremely low in the potency of factors deemed to affect crime rats, as well as cities with average values in these dimensions. Cities selected for the study were Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Newark, Oakland, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Jose. Field directors were hired in each city and assigned tasks ranging from data collection in agency archives to interviewing and the preparation of a narrative urban history of their city. Data collection consisted of (1) baseline information on crime rates in all U.S. cities with a population of 50,000 or more in 1950, 1960, or 1970; (2) an examination of selected sections of newspapers in the cities over the study period; (3) statistical and descriptive materials from the sites; (4) interviews with knowledgeable citizens and officials; (5) legislative policy responses to crime; (6) urban profiles; and (7) an intense examination of newspapers published during election periods. Aspects of the project history were planning, two phases of data collection, data file preparation, and two phases of data analysis and report writing. Data-collection forms are provided.