NCJ Number
153420
Date Published
1994
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Focusing on Dallas, Tex., this analysis of violence focuses on how rape, robbery, assault, and murder are affecting life in the United States.
Abstract
In the United States, nearly 1.9 persons were victims of rape, robbery, or assault last year, and more than 25,000 were murdered. Dallas has the highest crime rate of any United States city with a population above 500,000. Its homicide rate is five times the national average, while its rate of other violent crime is triple the national average. The videotape program opens with political advertisements in which Texas candidates emphasize the importance of taking a tough stance against crime. The film continues by showing a hospital emergency room, citizens who patrol their neighborhoods, a funeral of a young homicide victim, and a camp that promotes positive youth development. It also follows a police officer who patrols one of the most dangerous beats in Dallas. The program also features interviews with a youth caseworker, a victim's rights advocate, and the Dallas police chief, who discuss gun control, police-community relations, education, and other topics related to crime.