What Newman always found was research showing that, when it comes to crime, getting kids off to the right start makes a huge difference. Flynn thinks he knows why. From the 1970s, when crime exploded through the roof, swamping prison space, through the 1980s, when crack hit the streets, we've reacted with panic. Policymakers and politicians got locked into the now-sterile debate between tougher laws and better social policy. Now, we're taking a breath and looking back over 30 years worth of experience.
Crime remains high.
A demographic bulge that could make it soar again is coming along. Common sense advises us to move out of the old partisan divisions and support programs that work. But now the evidence is clear. We're covering their right flank. It's not about being hard on crime or being soft on crime, but about being effective.