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Public opinion surveys show that crime is the number one issue on the minds of Americans. Crime dominates evening news broadcasts, demands large shares of governmental budgets, influences our decisions about where to live, and plays a role in our choices on Election Day. Crime also inflicts enormous losses on youths, families, and the Nation's sense of security. Yet there is no consensus about what we should do to meet the challenge of crime and the demand for justice. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has initiated this lecture series to broaden the reach of research conducted under its sponsorship and contribute to the national debate on criminal justice policy. This volume presents the first of NIJ's Perspectives on Crime and Justice Lecture Series-for 1996-1997. Some of the most distinguished academics in our field were invited to offer their thoughts on the topic of their choice. They were expected to challenge conventional thinking, offer candid recommendations, and lead a robust debate. They did not disappoint.