American crime problem has an answer, more criminal control

America's crime problem can be solved by deploying more criminal control. Studies show that the most violent criminals typically have extensive records.

"[O]nly around 400 individuals — or 0.1% of the Oakland's population — were responsible for the majority of the city's homicides." -- Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence Rafael A. Mangual is a contributing editor of City Journal and the Nick Ohnell fellow and head of research for the Manhattan Institute’s Policing and Public Safety Initiative. He is also the author of "Criminal (In)Justice: What the Push for Decarceration and Depolicing Gets Wrong and Who It Hurts Most" (Center Street, July 26, 2022).

Almost invariably, when you read or hear a story about a serious violent crime — especially a shooting or homicide — the suspect will be reported as having a lengthy criminal history or an active criminal justice status (like parole, probation, or pretrial release). This is hardly a new development; and it’s certainly not unique to New York.