Race and Violent Crime: Toward a New Policy (From Violent Crime, Violent Criminals, P 139-170, 1989, Alan Weiner and Marvin E Wolfgang, eds. - See NCJ-118975)

• NCJ Number: 118978
• Author(s): L A Curtis
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 32 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis of the relationships between race and violent crime and of the most feasible and effective policy strategies that can reshape this relationship recommends a three-part approach to the reduction of violent crime that involves overcoming economic deprivation and racial discrimination.

Abstract

In the 1960's the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence and the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders concluded that the racial disadvantage that produces disproportionately high rates of violent crimes is mainly a social and economic disadvantage and not a result of biological forces. Thus, the traditional approaches of deterrence, rehabilitation, and incapacitation will be ineffective in reducing violent crime and will require huge costs. In contrast, neighborhood development, education, and employment are the appropriate approaches to use. Three exemplary community-based programs based on these approaches are the Argus Community in the South Bronx of New York City, Centro Isolina Ferre in Puerto Rico, and the House of Umoja in West Philadelphia. These programs provide the occupational, cognitive, and emotional skills required to make the transition from nonsecure employment sectors of the labor market to secondary and then to primary employment sectors. 57 references.