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Article: Official stories: media coverage of American crime policy. (Race, Crime and the Media) (Cover Story)
- Article from:
- The Humanist
- Article date:
- January 1, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 American Humanist Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Crime, it seems, will always be with us. A dozen years ago, Ronald Reagan launched new, "get tough" policies on crime which unleashed police departments across the nation. These policies were rationalized in the name of crime victims; more law and order--a tougher official stance--would protect victims and end the scourge of crime. Seven years later, George Bush defeated Michael Dukakis after painting him as soft on crime" with his notorious Willie Horton ads. During the Bush administration, a federal crime bill was enacted, further escalating our violent response to crime.
Almost four years after Bush's election, Los Angeles exploded in riots--the result of ...