When Brute Force Fails
Do you fight crime by leaving some gangs alone? That's one of the arguments put forth by Mark Kleiman, author of "When Brute Force Fails." In the book, the UCLA public policy professor argues that police forces get better results by focusing most energy on the most prolific criminal gangs, and punishing them swiftly, to motivate other potential criminals to stay inactive. Is this the solution?
Princeton University Press
When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment
Web Resources
Also on this episode
AirTalk on the Road
End-of-Life Care: Which Options and at What Cost?

AirTalk with Larry Mantle, in partnership with the City of Hope, will explore the tough issues surrounding end-of-life care at The California Endowment. The public is invited.
Tuesday, February 9th at 7:00pm
Guest:
Mark Kleiman, author of "When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment." He is a professor of public policy at the University of California in Los Angeles
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3 months, 1 week ago
How has the privatization of American prisons had an effect on justice?
3 months, 1 week ago
Finally! Someone says it!
I have been saying for years to friends and family that what was important was swiftness and certainty not severity. I'm glad now that a scholarly work backs up my intuition and reasoning.
Also, this brings up interesting things from a self defense perspective; if many more people fought back against being victimized there would be a lot less victimization.
Anyway, trackback, on this from my blog:
http://docmerlin.blogspot.com/2009/11/in-terms-of-crime-deterrent-from-state.html