ABSTRACT
To the public, crime seems to be everywhere, from the boardrooms to the bedrooms of the nation, in peoples' homes and on their television screens. Americans worry about criminal victimization, are concerned about the proliferation of illegal drugs, and the transformation of many urban centres into "no-go" areas. An indication of the degree of public concern about the crime issue can be found by examining poll data. In 1994, crime was identified as the number one problem confronting America. Media coverage of crime stories explains much of the public's interest in criminal justice, as well as the limited extent of their knowledge of the criminal justice system. Considering crime and criminal justice naturally leads to debates over crime control policies. Such debates have become ever more heated in recent years, as one solution after another has been adopted or rejected, sometimes adopted then rejected.
