Background on Crime

The 1996 National Crime Victimization Survey found the lowest overall crime rate since the survey began in 1973. Despite the falling crime rate, taking into account both violent crime and property crime, 83 percent of Americans can expect to be a victim of crime at least once in their lifetime.

‘Three Strikes’ Laws ‘Three Strikes’ laws mean that people convicted of a third felony receive a mandatory life sentence. Some candidates advocate ‘Two Strikes’ or ‘One Strike,’ which generally means more mandatory sentencing, less judicial discretion, and less chance of early parole. ‘Broken Windows’ Laws ‘Broken Windows’ laws mean that police focus on ‘quality of life’ issues as much as on crime itself. By addressing even minor crimes such as broken windows, according to this theory, a community is less likely to tolerate any crime, and overall crime rates should fall. ‘Community Policing’ ‘Community Policing’ refers to a policy of crime prevention replacing incident response. It is often accompanied by a ‘broken windows’ policy, or by increased police presence on the streets. Tort Reform A ‘tort’ means a civil infraction as opposed to a criminal violation. ‘Tort reform’ includes capping lawsuit rewards; banning ‘frivolous lawsuits’; or some other change in civil lawsuit procedures. Capital Punishment The death penalty is currently implemented in 30 states. It was re-legalized by a Supreme Court decision in 1977. Since then, 552 people have been executed. About 3,335 inmates remain on ‘Death Row.’ Texas is by far the national leader in executions -- it has executed 178 people as of June 1999, 32% of the national total.

Much of the current controversy about the death penalty focuses on the circumstances where it should be applied, and on its unequal application among racial and socioeconomic classes. About 52% of death row inmates are Black or other minority, versus 17% in the general population. Over 98% of death row inmates are male.

Hate Crimes Congress defines ‘Hate Crimes’ as a crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a victim because of the actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability or sexual orientation of that person. Hate Crimes are covered primarily as racial or anti-gay issues under Civil Rights. Amendments V and VIII to the US Constitution V. No person shall... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.... (1791)
VIII. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. (1791)

Related issues:
Juvenile Crime
Drugs
Gun Control
Civil Rights

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Background documents:

Three Strikes, full text of CA law.
Broken Windows, original 1982 article.
Community policing, original 1989 article.
Death penalty, Supreme Court decisions.
Death penalty, up-to-date statistics.
Pro-Death penalty, opinion page.
Anti-Death penalty, opinion page.
Execution Watch, ACLU info page.
Issues Library from Policy.com
Public Agenda, crime statistics

Click here for The Forum discussion on Crime. Click here for policy papers on Crime.
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