NCJ Number
101745
Date Published
1986
Length
13 pages
Annotation
U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese discusses crime, its impact on society, and what can be done about it.
Abstract
He notes that crime rates have been rising dramatically since 1965, as has the fear of crime which afflicts Americans in their neighborhoods and communities. This coupling of high crime rates and widespread fear of crime affects the way people choose to live, work, shop, and relax. It has affected the economy of urban areas and has altered investment and business decisions. Thus, fear of crime represents losses in both quality of life and hard cash. He argues that Federal intervention is not the answer to these problems. Rather, what is needed is better management of the criminal justice system, particularly in the areas of prioritization, resource allocation, and prison capacity. The balance between public safety and the rights of the accused must be better balanced so that defendants' rights are not at the expense of law-abiding citizens. He urges society to develop new strategies and direct more resources to reclaiming neighborhoods from disorderly and criminal elements. Finally, he notes that citizen involvement is needed to supplement police resources in controlling crime.