In focusing on street crime, the author identifies the conditions in American society that help mold violent predators. These include the wholesale abandonment of the cities and the concomitant dissolution of the family, along with the growing chasm between the underclass and the overclass. Crime is further fueled by America's unique tolerance for guns, coupled with the demand for drugs and alcohol. The author identifies the weaknesses and the limitations of the current popular approach of "getting tough" on crime by increasing the use and length of incarceration. He advises that the failure to base policy and legislation on research that shows what does and does not work leads to a waste of money and time. Recommendations for short- term solutions focus on improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and a wiser use of legislation. Recommended long-term solutions suggest ways to address the social and economic conditions that underlie the molding of criminal behavior. For individual chapters, see NCJ-168918-31. Subject index