Despite all the tough talk and the 1995 "special session," crime is worse under Tom Ridge. Juvenile crime (according to the Philadelphia Inquirer four part series 9/28-10/1) is up drastically - increased 35% to 256%, depending on category and region. Among girls in Southeastern Pennsylvania, violent crime is up 114% and property crime up 42%. Among boys, violent crime is up 39%. Juvenile property crime is down 4%. Suburban and rural drug use are also up, even in Amish areas.

These are not inspiring statistics.

Increases in adult crimes are not so drastic, but rape is up 4.2%, according to the State Police, and gun crimes are up an average of 4%.

Why? Because violent offenders are being paroled early and existing mandatory sentences are not being enforced. There is, for example, a mandatory 5 year sentence for using a gun while committing a crime; this is applied in 0.5% of cases. Criminals know that the laws were written to make politicians look good, and that they are not being enforced, so the laws have little deterrent effect.

The Luksik Crime Plan

Any intelligent crime policy must begin with prevention. A major factor in juvenile crime is family breakdown. Anti-family welfare policies must be corrected. Also, parents must be held accountable for their children's behavior.

Restitution works; property crimes are effectively discouraged by a strict policy of "you break it or steal it you pay for it."

In sentencing, violent offenders ought not to be granted parole. Existing mandatory sentencing laws must be enforced. In Boston, when officials decided to enforce mandatory juvenile sentencing laws (no plea bargains, no sentence reductions for gun crimes), juvenile homicide went from 74 a year to 0 for the next 2 1/2 years. The Governor signs the checks and can "adjust" the budgets of judges who habitually ignore mandatory sentences.

Finally, support for police must be increased. Our police deserve the finest equipment and the most up-to-date training, and we cannot settle for less.