One is that the juvenile portion of our population is at a historic low for the last 30 years. Crime rates follow closely the percentage of juveniles in the population. Most people commit crime between the ages of 15 and 26. If that age group is a small percentage of the population, crime rates are low. If that age group is a large percentage of the population, crimes rates are higher.

Also, the economy can take some credit for slowing down crime. People can work now rather than rob or steal to support themselves.

And, as Americans and the supposed leader of the free world, we should all be ashamed of the fact that our incarceration rate is five times that of any other industrialized nation. We love to manufacture criminals.

DAN EASTERLING, Richardson



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