Losing legitimacy

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.