Publication
California Law Review
Volume
73
Page
212
Year
1985
Abstract
In his latest book, Hans Zeisel argues that "law enforcement, important and essential as it is, cannot by itself significantly reduce crime" (p. 15). Thus, he concludes, we should redirect our efforts toward general prevention, starting with improvements in ghetto schools. Zeisel's thesis is supported by data from his study of the disposition of felony arrests in New York City 1 and is supplemented by his assessment of the results of recent criminal justice research in other jurisdictions. Zeisel, a pioneer in the application of social science research methods to issues of law and public policy, 2 presents a wealth of date in a very clear and readable form, suitable for his primary intended audience: "the concerned citizen" and "those engaged in law enforcement and crime control" (p. 4). If such readers believe that improved law enforcement can drastically reduce crime, 3 they would do well to read this book. Zeisel persuasively demonstrates the unlikelihood of ever achieving such reductions in this country, and perhaps in any Western democracy.
Recommended Citation
Richard Frase, Defining the Limits of Crime Control and Due Process, 73 Cal. L. Rev. 212 (1985), available at https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/faculty_articles/455.
