American Academy of Political and Social Science

Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice: In Search of a Silver Bullet

Author(s): Sherry Sylvester
Source: The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 494,
Policies to Prevent Crime: Neighborhood, Family, and Employment Strategies (Nov., 1987),
pp. 119-128
Published by: Sage Publications, Inc. in association with the American Academy of
Political and Social Science
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ANNALS, AAPSS, 494, November 1987

Crime Prevention and

Criminal Justice:
In Search of a Silver Bullet

By SHERRY SYLVESTER

ABSTRACT: Current criminal justice policy in the United States costs

billions annually and provides little in return but despair. "Neighborhoods,
jobs, and families," is a catch phrase for a successful crime prevention
formula. Ultimately neighborhoods, jobs, and families must also serve as
the foundation for reform of policing methods, court processes, sentencing,
and corrections.

Sherry Sylvester is the director ofpublic policyfor the Correctional Association of New
York, an advocacy and research organization.

119

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 120 THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY

IF we wanted to sketch a hypothetical A crime control strategy that doesn't incorpo-

portrait of an especially violent soci- rate fundamental, radical changes in the
ety, it would surely contain these ele- style and objectives of policing, in employ-
ments: It would separate large numbers ment policy and programs, in economic
of people, especially the young, from the development strategies and targets, in family
kind of work that could include them policy and in educational policy is not a good
crime control strategy. Because it won't
securely in community life. It would
work. Public officials who try to persuade us
encourage policies of economic devel-
that we don't need those things for crime
opment and income distribution that control are lying.2
sharply increased inequalities between
sectors of the population. It would rap- The conclusion that effective anti-
idly shift large amounts of capital from crime programs must address the sources
place to place without regard for the of criminal behavior in our society-
impact on local communities, causing alienation, economic inequity, and inad-
massive movements of population away equate social supports-has led to the
from family and neighborhood supports corollary that much of the responsibility
in search of livelihood. It would avoid for the prevention of crime lies outside
providing new mechanisms of care andthe purview of the criminal justice sys-
support for those uprooted, perhaps in tem. The political implications of this
the name of preserving incentives to realization are great because of the
work and paring government spending. massive funds that are currently awarded
It would promote a culture of intense to criminal justice in the name of crime
interpersonal competition and spur its prevention, funds that could often be
citizens to a level of material consump- more effective in that effort were they
tion many could not lawfully sustain."' allocated to the inner city to fight the
basic causes of crime.
Elliott Currie's hypothetical portrait,
just quoted, points to the need for It is important, however, that respon-
anticrime programs that counter the sibility for the prevention of crime be
crime-producing effects of the economic retained by the criminal justice system
and social structure he describes. Currie's even as that responsibility is expanded
analysis provides program impetus for to include economic and social program
the Eisenhower Foundation. spheres. Because criminal justice does
The Eisenhower crime prevention little now to reduce crime does not mean
programs address crime at its source by that criminal justice programs cannot
rebuilding eroded grass-roots and neigh- dramatically affect crime rates. This can
borhood power structures, restoring dys- be clearly seen if we draw another
functional family systems, and providing hypothetical portrait, similar to Dr.
adequate employment for those in the Currie's, focused on the traditional crim-
nation's inner cities. inal justice system, as follows.
It is clear that any crime prevention If we wanted to make sure that those
policy that is to succeed must be rooted who commit crimes are encouraged to
in the elements that Eisenhower em- commit them again, we would establish
ploys. Perhaps no one has said this so a slow and frustrating system of justice
bluntly as Michael Smith, director of that apprehends offenders and admin-
the Vera Institute of Justice:
2. Michael E. Smith, Remarks delivered at
"Redefining the Crime Debate," Conference spon-
1. Elliott Currie, Confronting Crime (New sored by the city of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, 7 Mar.
York: Pantheon Books, 1985), p. 278. 1986.

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CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE 121

isters sanctions in a random fashion. to

Wereduce crime. "Neighborhoods, jobs,
and families" has become a catch phrase
would invoke more severe punishments
for poor people and minorities.for
We a crime prevention policy that works.
"Neighborhoods,
would employ community outsiders to jobs, and families"
maintain order, deploying them in mili-
must also drive criminal justice policy if
taristic and alienating ways. We would
it is to be effective in stopping crime. We
ignore substance abuse and other mental
know, for example, that we can promote
health problems of offenders by failing
community cohesion and maintain order
to provide adequate treatment options.
through innovative policing techniques
that attack crime at the source while
We would primarily utilize one punish-
ment, incarceration, for offenders and
maintaining rapid response time and
efficiency. We also know that a timely,
institute systems of automatic sentencing
so that individual circumstances or needs
fair, and accessible judicial process with
could not be taken into account in a broad range of resolution modalities
developing a plan that might facilitate
and punishment options would restore
offender reform. We would separate citizen faith in the criminal justice sys-
offenders from their families and their
tem. Such a process would also provide
communities, thereby depriving thema of
problem-solving model for communi-
the necessary support they would need ties and a hope for resolution that is
to institute changes in their behavior.
currently not available. Finally, we know
We would nourish rage and despairthat by effective corrections programming
forcing the offender to live in crowded
centered on recidivism prevention could
conditions with few options for filling
save billions in victimization and prison-
idle time. We would maintain this policy
building costs while dramatically reduc-
by ignoring the bulk of all criminal ing crime.
The task of reforming the nation's
justice research in the last twenty years.
This hypothetical portrait is a descrip-
enforcement methodology, the court sys-
tion of criminal justice in the United
tem, and the correctional system might
States. It describes a policy that costs
seem overwhelming, but much of the
Americans billions annually and pro- groundwork for this reform has been
vides little in return but despair. laid. It is almost as if a huge pile of
Speaking to a national meeting puzzle on pieces were dumped on a table
drug crime last summer, New York waiting to be assembled.
State Governor Mario M. Cuomo said, What are the elements of a criminal
"There is no silver bullet to kill this justice policy that would ensure that
dracula. We need more police, we need those who commit crimes were encour-
more prisons ... and well do it, but we aged not to commit them again? There
know it's not the answer. Government are many relatively new criminal justice
has to help, how I don't know. Maybe efforts-child abuse prevention is an
there isn't an answer."3 example-that could dramatically
No easy answer. No silver bullet. But reduce crime if adequate resources were
the situation is by no means hopeless. provided. Such strategies should be ex-
We know a lot about what to do in orderplored, evaluated, and expanded. What
I have chosen to discuss in this article,
3. Mario M. Cuomo, Remarks delivered at
"Municipalities' Emergency Narcotics Discus- however, is the need to redirect resources
sion," Conference sponsored by the city of New in existing criminal justice institutions,
York, New York, NY, 26 Aug. 1986. particularly enforcement, the courts, and

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122 THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY

corrections, because the adverse effects

the screaming sirens, and the flashing
of misguided programming in theselights
areas
that are the controlling metaphor
actually contribute to the crime problem.
for the bulk of police tactics today.
Change is urgent. New York City's Community Patrol
Officer Program (CPOP) is one example
ENFORCEMENT of a policing effort that manifests what
most of the research data indicate needs
According to the Public Agenda
to be done to improve the effectiveness
Foundation, citizens feel police protec-
of law enforcement. Developed by the
tion is the most effective strategy pre-
New York Police Department in close
sently being employed to prevent crime.
consultation with the Vera Institute of
Angry faces of citizens demanding more
Justice, CPOP utilizes foot patrols and
police have become the symbol ofcommunity
citi- contacts to integrate police
zens who want more security in their
officers into the life of the city's neigh-
neighborhoods and communities.
borhoods. The goal of CPOP is to effect
But we have known for over a decade
permanent neighborhood change
that the citizens' expectation that more
through the maintenance of order and
police will reduce crime is a false one. In
the support and development of neigh-
1974, the Kansas City Preventive Patrol borhood resources and networks. Unlike
Experiment revealed that increased some large cities in which the institution
police patrol has no effect on crime
of such programs is cosmetic or oriented
rates.4 Subsequent research continues to
toward public relations, CPOP has been
indicate that "police officers driving
methodically instituted and is constantly
around in unfocused patrol largely wait-
scrutinized and adjusted in recognition
ing for calls for service is a mostly of the fact that innovative enforcement
ineffective crime prevention strategy."5
strategies must be undertaken cau-
Still, as we have seen with other failed
tiously. In addition, the city of New
criminal justice policies, the idea that York has allocated sufficient resources
more police are better remains the axiom to CPOP to evaluate its usefulness ade-
of most local leaders. Expensive cars-a
quately and to demonstrate commitment
police car with two officers costs to the idea that police should become
$100,000 annually to operate-are put
part of the neighborhoods they serve.
on the street to react to increasing
Currently, 360 officers in 37 precincts
amounts of crime that police do very
serve as community patrol officers. In
little to prevent.
addition, 37 sergeants and 37 police
This is not to say that the police could
administration aides have been assigned
not play a vital role in the prevention of
to the program.
crime. They can. But in order to do so, CPOP evaluates its own effectiveness
many of their resources must be deployed
by criteria beyond the number of arrests
in policing efforts that are dramatically
made by officers. It is a good first step
different from the militaristic posture,
in deploying priority resources on the
neighborhood level.
4. The Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experi-
The need for a shift in focus to these
ment (Washington, DC: Police Foundation, 1974).
5. Lawrence Sherman, "Policing Commun- localized strategies can clearly be seen
ities: What Works?" Communities and Crime when one looks at a neighborhood crime
(1986). problem such as street drug dealing.

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CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE 123

a serious increase in crime following

Federal efforts directed at "halting drugs
World War II that they managed to
at the source" have proved futile. Before
President Reagan spent hundreds of
reverse; reversal is a feat rarely accom-
millions of dollars in South Florida to
plished utilizing traditional American
stop cocaine smuggling, 60 percent of
policing techniques.
the nation's cocaine flowed through Thus the principles on which policing
South Florida. Now 70 percent is smug-methods should be designed are commu-
gled through that region despite what nity
is involvement and investment with
clearly our best border enforcement equal priority given to solving problems
effort.6 Community-based policing strat-
in the short and long term. Further, the
egies have a much higher chance of
prevention of crime must become a
succeeding because the problem is dealt
primary rather than a secondary policing
agenda. And every effort should be
with in smaller, more manageable terms,
and communities are motivated to help.made to avoid using policing strategies
This cooperative criminal justice andas political tools that are employed
randomly and capriciously wherever a
community effort also lays the ground-
work for the broad range of communitysymptomatic crime issue raises its head.
resources that are vitally necessary toThis reactionary response is not helpful
deal with a problem such as drugs. Suchand only serves to frustrate citizens, who
resources include community-based do not want the short-term relief of a
treatment and self-help groups and other
cavalry rushing in but rather the lasting
neighborhood options that counter theorder provided by police who are in-
alienation that leads to drug abuse. volved in consistently supporting and
The best example of genuinely neigh-
maintaining their communities.
borhood-focused policing is in Japan
where COURTS

police are assigned to small geographic areas While the Public Agenda Foundation
where they often live with their families, try
found that the public sees the police as
to become integrated into neighborhood life,
the strongest link in the criminal justice
make door to door visits and are known as
system, it also learned that citizens view
neighbors of most people there and conse-
the courts as the weakest link. The
quently receive much more cooperation from
citizens-for example, in reporting crime- process that occurs after arrest is gener-
than do American police.7 ally considered to be inefficient and
fraught with inequities. The public holds
The Japanese take care to address crime defense attorneys and prosecutors equal-
problems at their source, and we should ly responsible for these problems.
not negate the potential for the use of Further, it is the observation of com-
this successful policing model in the munity crime prevention practitioners
United States. The Japanese experienced that distrust of the criminal justice sys-
tem is one of the primary causes of fear
6. New York Times, 31 Aug. 1986. of crime.8
7. Lynn A. Curtis, "The March of Folly:
8. Stephanie Greenberg, Informal Citizen
Crime and the Underclass" (Paper delivered at the
Home Office Workshop on Communities and Action and Crime Prevention at the Neighborhood
Crime, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Level (Washington, DC: National Institute of
England, 16-18 July 1986), p. 41. Justice, 1985).

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124 THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY

What happens after a crime is court

com-costs and time and have the poten-
mitted and an arrest is made is critically
tial to reduce violence and jail time as
important in terms of the way the well.
com-More important, these programs
empower individual citizens to solve
munity views the maintenance of justice
their own problems creatively, thus
and order. At this point in the proceed-
ings there is much the criminal justice
reducing the need for police or other
system can do to restore and maintain
professionals to intervene.
community trust by adopting accessiblePerhaps the best model for commu-
and streamlined processes, providing
nity mediation is the San Francisco
adequate options for the offender, and
Community Board Program, an inde-
providing proper support and informa-
pendent program outside the criminal
tion to the victim. justice system that trains community
Timely, open, and orderly court mediators
pro- and handles a broad range of
cesses send a message to the community
neighborhood disputes.9 Last year, the
that chaos does not reign. Such processes
Community Board Program dealt with
also can provide the mechanism to fillcases than the number of jury
more
what may be the greatest gap in thein the local municipal court.
trials
criminal justice system, early interven-
tion. When the courts are responsive CORRECTIONS
and draw from a broad menu of commu-
If we want to make sure that those
nity resources, many offenders, even
who have committed crimes do not
serious ones, can be diverted to pro-
grams that can effectively preventcommit
con- them again, what do we do?
What punishments work best at reducing
tinued criminal behavior. The programs
repeat offenders? How do we hold offen-
for rehabilitating juvenile sex offenders
developed by Fay Honey Knopp ders are aaccountable while promoting indi-
vidual reform? How should we decide
stellar example of such effective alterna-
tives. The sex-offender programswho should participate in sentencing
have
programs
been successfully implemented in many within the community and
who should be incarcerated? How do we
cities and in states including Minnesota,
California, New York, and Colorado.facilitate the maintenance of family ties
Through peer counseling and otherfor those in jail or prison? What kinds of
ther-
employment
apies, the source of the sexual dysfunc- and educational training
tion is isolated in the offender. Then are needed?

steps are taken to realign the youth's These questions are difficult ones, so
sexual perceptions. The recidivism ratedifficult that for the most part they go
for these programs is less than 10 per-unanswered. Instead, more and more
cent. And because most sex offenders people are stuffed into jails and prisons,
commit hundreds of crimes in a lifetime, our most expensive and least effective
Knopp's successful treatment programs punishment for crime.
have already contributed dramatically A million people are currently in state
to the reduction of crime.
Courts should also be involved in 9. See Raymond Shonholtz, "The Citizens'
Role in Justice: Building a Primary Justice and
promoting programs that mediate dis-
Prevention System at the Neighborhood Level,"
putes between individuals in lieu ofthis issue of The Annals of the American Academy
judicial proceedings because they reduceof Political and Social Science.

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 CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE 125

prisons or jails. Only 50 percent of those

to policymakers who are willing to spend
are violent offenders. The rise in these
billions annually on prisons and jails
populations does not parallel a similar
that do not reduce crime or recidivism at
rise in crime rates. Instead, it reflects
all. What is startling, however, is that
changes in sentencing practices insti-the recidivism rates for both groups are
gated, for the most part, by politicians
incredibly high.
who pledge to get tough.'0 Lowering these rates dramatically
The fifth Figgie Report restated what
must be one of the primary goals of
was already known about these get-
criminal justice policy. Our determina-
tough policies: that they do not work. tion
to achieve this goal should be
In
none of the fifty states was any correla-
manifested in programs built on strate-
tion found between incarceration of gies we know to be successful in reducing
offenders and reduced crime. In fact, in the likelihood of an offender's com-
some cases, these policies make it mitting a new crime.
worse. I In a study for the Rand Corpo- Such programs include a variety of
ration, Joan Petersilia found that when options that are built on principles of
she compared the recidivism rates of community, jobs, and family. They pro-
incarcerated offenders to those of similar vide a structured environment in concert
offenders who were placed on probation, with living-skills programs and offer a
those on probation committed fewer significantly increased potential for an
crimes after their sentences were com- offender's reintegration into neighbor-
pleted. Specifically, Petersilia found that hood and family life.
72 percent of the prisoners were rear- Residential corrections programs and
rested, as opposed to 63 percent of the work-release programs are used in some
probationers. New charges were filed jurisdictions as alternatives to incarcera-
against 53 percent of the prisoners, as tion in jail or prison. These programs
compared to 38 percent of the proba- allow offenders to work during the day
tioners. Of the prisoners, 47 percent and return to a monitored facility in the
were reincarcerated, while only 31 per- evening. This deprivation of liberty holds
cent of the probationers were returned offenders accountable for their crimes.
to jail. However, these programs also provide a
It is important to note that these supportive and learning environment
differences were found even when a that can be geared toward dealing with
traditional probation program was stud- the problems of a variety of offenders
ied. Probation programs currentlyincluding those who are alcohol or drug
employed in the United States almostabusers, mentally handicapped or men-
uniformly lack adequate supervision, tally ill, or victims of domestic assault.
treatment, and employment assistance. These programs are also especially effec-
The 10-15 percent differences in recid-tive for property offenders who commit
ivism rates that Petersilia found should economically motivated crime because
prove significantly important, especiallythe programs support self-discipline
while inculcating work skills.
10. Roger Lauen, "Differential Use of Incar-
Less severe punishments that have
ceration among States," Birds in a Cage Forget to
Sing (Manuscript, n.p., 1987). also proved immensely successful in
11. Figgie Report, no. 5, Parole and Probation rehabilitating offenders are supported
(Santa Monica, CA: Rand, 1985). work programs and community service

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 126 THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY

sentencing programs. These programs

tion we take in sanctioning offenders,
provide offenders a supervised employ-
efforts to prevent offenders from com-
mitting crimes again, after they leave
ment situation within either the public
or private sector. They instill account-
our institutions, would be the primary
ability and good work habits andgoal.
haveUnfortunately, the state of the
been shown to be effective with many
nation's overcrowded prisons and jails
nonviolent offenders, particularly has
drugnot changed much since the Presi-
offenders. dent's Crime Commission wrote in 1967
In addition to these alternatives, that
pro-
bation programs, which monitor offend-
life in many institutions is at best barren and
ers who are released to the community,
futile, at worst unspeakably brutal and de-
should be substantially enhanced to
grading. To be sure, the offenders in such
improve their effectiveness. In 1986, the
institutions are incapacitated from commit-
Correctional Association of New York
ting further crimes while serving their sen-
issued a report, entitled The Road Nottences, but the conditions in which they live
Taken, that outlines a design for aare the poorest possible preparation for their
model probation program. Called the successful reentry into society and often
Community Protection Program, this merely reinforce in them a pattern of manipu-
lation or destructiveness.13
program would increase offender
accountability and facilitate rehabilita- This pattern must be reversed. There
tion through requisite employment, cur- is no excuse for incarcerated offenders
fews, drug checks, and increased moni- to spend their time in idle and self-
toring. In addition, the Communitydestructive ways. Prison education and
Protection Program would require thatemployment programs are available, but
the offender be involved in counselingrarely to everyone. In New York State,
or substance-abuse treatment.
for example, only about 10 percent of
Development and utilization of these the prison population is involved in such
program alternatives to incarcerationprograms. As prisons become more and
would do much to eliminate the over-
more overcrowded, program space is
crowding that plagues the nation's jailstaken away, converted to space for beds.
and prisons while reducing the revolving-The average annual prison cost per
door syndrome of offender recidivism. inmate is about $20,000. Jail costs are
The same principles of the programeven higher. Such spending is totally
alternatives-the maintenance of family wasted if prisoners sit idle.
and community ties, meaningful employ- Educational and employment pro-
ment, and freedom from alcohol or druggrams should be required of all prisoners
addiction-should guide the program- who are capable of working or attending
ming for offenders who are incarcerated. school. All inmates should have an
Recidivism rates in this country areeducational and employment plan to
disturbingly high. Almost half of those guide them during their sentence. Voca-
who are released from prison return.12
tional and employment counseling
Thus it would seem that, whatever direc-

13. President's Commission on Law Enforce-

12. Robert Greenfield, Recidivism Rates in ment and Administration of Justice, The Chal-
the U.S. (Washington, DC: National Institute oflenge of Crime in a Free Society (Washington,
Justice, 1985). DC: Government Printing Office, 1967), p. 159.

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 CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE 127

should be available to everyone. In in this area are enormous.

programs
addition to countering recidivism, Perhaps
such no other path is as clearly
programs preserve the tranquility of the as this road to a rapid reduction
defined
individuals who participate, promote
in recidivism. States, however, dedicate
prisoner well-being, and reduce institu-
only minimum resources to the problem
tional violence. of substance abuse in offenders. In many
Another key strategy that must be cases, even the successful self-help pro-
undertaken to reduce recidivism rates grams-Alcoholics Anonymous and
among prisoners is dealing with alcohol Narcotics Anonymous-are not avail-
and drug abuse. According to the De- able to offenders. Substance abuse must
partment of Justice, 54 percent of all become a priority of the criminal justice
inmates convicted of violent crimes were system. Every criminal justice agency
drinking prior to the offense; 25 percent should develop the capacity to identify,
had used drugs. Of those convicted of at an early stage, offenders at risk for
assault, 62 percent had been drinking alcohol or drug abuse. Full-fledged treat-
prior to the offense; 22 percent had used ment programs for these offenders must
drugs. Of those convicted of manslaugh- be developed.
ter, 68 percent had been drinking prior Substance abuse problems are often
to the offense; 19 percent had usedrooted in family dysfunction, and drug
drugs. Of those convicted of robbery, 48 and alcohol programs provide an excel-
percent had been drinking prior to the lent way to deal with the final factor that
offense; 31 percent had used drugs.'4 can contribute to reduced recidivism-
In 1982, after Joseph Califano, Jr., strong family ties for offenders.
completed his study of drug and alcohol In virtually all the research completed
abuse in New York, he warned that "the on recidivism in the last twenty years,
link between alcohol and crime is real perhaps no factor has proved a more
and too often ignored or brushed under consistent predictor of reduced recidi-
the carpet... there should be no dispute vism than the maintenance of the offend-
about the need to take action against the er's family ties. Unfortunately, the crimi-
misuses of alcohol in our overall efforts nal justice system is often a constant
to fight crime."'5 However, in most stumbling block to this process. Prisons
cases, offenders with alcohol or other are generally located far from the urban
substance abuse problems may enter inner cities that are home to most offend-
and leave the criminal justice system ers. Visiting practices are difficult to
many times without ever being diag- establish, and information about prison
nosed or treated for addiction. Recidi- procedures and access are difficult if not
vism is the result. impossible for families of inmates to
Because of the prevalence of this obtain. Even correspondence is difficult.
problem and the fact that it goes largely There is rarely appropriate space for
unaddressed, the potential for successful prisoners to visit with their children, and
child care is rare. There are few transi-
14. Jail Inmate Survey (Washington, DC: tion programs that help prisoners return
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statis-
from institutions to their families. These
tics, 1983).
needs and more must be attended to if
15. Joseph Califano, Jr., Report on Drug
Abuse and Alcoholism (Albany: State of New we are serious about helping offenders
York, 1982), pp. 51-52. live crime-free lives.

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128 THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY

Parenting classes for both men and

ties where prisoners will reside upon
women offenders along with family-release.
reunion programs that provide offenders
Effective parole programs must focus
with space for long-term family visits not only on supervision, but also on
are among the strategies currently being
family ties, drug abuse, and employ-
explored to strengthen the family tiesment.
of The Neighborhood Work Pro-
offenders. gram, a parole program developed by
Some estimate that as many as 70 the Vera Institute of Justice, is a good
percent of all offenders come from fami-
start. Neighborhood Work supports and
lies where they were physically or sexu-
monitors employment for parolees. The
ally abused or both. Because the poten-program grew out of the Vera Institute's
tial for re-creating the cycle of family
finding that not only ajob, but ajob that
violence and abuse is so great, intensive
provided a way out of a dead-end labor
family counseling is also vital for offend-
market, was crucial in reducing offender
ers. As much as possible must be donerecidivism.
to
support the creation and maintenanceThere are many other crime preven-
of a family life for offenders that pro-
tion efforts that can be appropriately
vides incentives to abandon a criminal undertaken by the criminal justice sys-
life-style. tem. Expanding programs for victims of
Along with aggressive programs to crime, violence-prevention classes in
strengthen family ties, provide adequate schools, and the prevention of domestic
educational and employment training, assault are a few. However, the most
and deal with alcohol and drug abuse, immediate need is to redirect the huge
strong prerelease programs must be fiscal resource currently appropriated to
established to assist offenders in making enforcement, the courts, and corrections
the difficult transition from jail or prison to efforts that will reduce crime.
to the community. Prerelease counseling The Eisenhower Foundation leads
programs to assist inmates in developing the way in pointing to crime prevention
job interviewing and work-related skills programs based on strong and cohesive
and in making the emotional adjustment neighborhoods, healthy families, and
that release entails should be available. ample employment options. Criminal
Temporary release programs that allow justice programming should be based on
prisoners to reintegrate into the commu- these same principles. There are no easy
nity gradually while still in jail or prison answers, no silver bullets. But there is
should also be employed. These work much the criminal justice system can do
programs must be located in communi- to prevent crime.

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