Losing legitimacy
Subtitle: street crime and the decline of social institutions in America
By: Gary LaFree.
Series: Crime & society; Crime & society (Boulder, Colo.)
Publisher: Westview Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Boulder, Colo
Language: eng
Number of pages: 240
Subjects: Crime -- United States; Crime prevention -- United States; Social control; United States -- Social conditions -- 1980-
Description: Using unique data that span half a century, Gary LaFree argues that social institutions are the key to understanding the U.S. crime wave. Crime increased along with growing political distrust, economic stress, and family disintegration. These changes were especially pronounced for racial minorities. American society responded by investing more in criminal justice, education, and welfare institutions.

Stabilization of traditional social institutions and the effects of new institutional spending account for the modest crime declines of the 1990s.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.