The federal response to the problem of crime in America: 1968 to 1972

dc.contributor.advisorMatusow, Allen J.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWiener, Martin
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHyman, Harold M.
dc.creatorWalmsley, Andrew Stephen
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-18T21:28:08Z
dc.date.available2018-12-18T21:28:08Z
dc.date.issued1982
dc.description.abstractIn the mid-196s, a crime wave of epic proportions was perceived to be sweeping across the United States. The increase in crime, if such an increase took place, was probably due to the greater proportion of young (18 to 24 year olds) people in American society. The statistical evidence, upon which the perception of rising crime rested however, was extremely unreliable. Despite calling the problem primarily a local concern, the federal government undertook to address directly the issue of rising crime. Advised by liberal, sociologically oriented criminologists, the Johnson administration began a program of federal spending aimed at creating more legitimate opportunities through which would-be delinquents could express themselves in a less anti-social manner. During the passage of the legislation, conservative Congressmen, influenced by the public violence and hysteria of 1967 and 1968, attached non-liberal, more overtly punitive, provisions to the measure. In operation, the act proved to be an expensive and wasteful failure. Crime increased steadily from 1968 to 1972 despite the program. Money was either hoarded by local bodies, or spent hastily on projects the efficacy-of which as far as reducing the incidence of crime was concerned was never proven.
dc.format.digitalOriginreformatted digital
dc.format.extent131 pp
dc.identifier.callnoThesis Hist. 1982 Walmsley
dc.identifier.citationWalmsley, Andrew Stephen. "The federal response to the problem of crime in America: 1968 to 1972." (1982) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104666">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104666</a>.
dc.identifier.digitalRICE2302
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/104666
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
dc.titleThe federal response to the problem of crime in America: 1968 to 1972
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialText
thesis.degree.departmentHistory
thesis.degree.disciplineHumanities
thesis.degree.grantorRice University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts
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