Conservatives recognize that communities, and their attitudes regarding juvenile crime, are critical variables for fighting crime, yet inconsistent with that recognition, they call for a profound increase in imprisonment to control juvenile violent crime. Unfortunately, taking measures to lock up a community's children undermines community support for law enforcement. It peaked in 1980, reflecting the passing of the baby boomers from their peak crime committing age, and came down until the crack epidemic. Robbery has shown similar ups and downs. Burglary, however, has been coming down since 1980 fairly steadily.
Robbery is more convenient than burglary.
The crack epidemic developed a need for quick cash. America's incarceration rate was largely stable from 1925 to 1975. However, Robert Martinson also wrote an influential paper in 1973 arguing that as far as rehabilitation in prison goes, nothing works. Liberals responded by saying, if nothing works, intervene less. Conservatives said, if nothing is working, don't let them out.