Directors Message
Four decades ago, the Presidents Commission on Law Enforcement
and Administration of Justice issued its groundbreaking
recommendations on how to improve public safety in America.
Interestingly, one of the recommendations in the Commissions
1967 report, The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society,
led to the creation of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
In this issue of the Journal, we celebrate the 40th
anniversary of this seminal study. We consider the reflections
of two researchers on how the Commissions report has guided
criminal justice research and practice over the years, and
we pause to celebrate the career of Professor Alfred Blumstein,
who led the Commissions Task Force on Science and Technology.
As we reflect on the past, we also take a hard look at the
current state of criminal justice in this country. It is
noteworthy to observe that the title of the Commissions
report, The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society,
applies as much today as it did 40 years ago. Threats to
our public safety change. So, too, must our solutions and
responses evolve.
In this issue, we highlight some of our current
challengesprisoner reentry, hate crime,
agroterrorismand explore the new technologies, research,
and evaluation that NIJ offers to meet these challenges on
behalf of Americans. Our cover story, Habilitation or Harm:
Project Greenlight and the Potential Consequences of
Correctional Programming, examines the surprising and
important outcomes of a prison-based reentry program,
offering some crucial lessons learned as we gain greater
understanding about what works and what does not work in
correctional interventions. Hate Crime in America: The
Debate Continues discusses the state of hate-crime research
and legislation, identifying areas for future research.
In AgroterrorismWhy Were Not Ready: A Look at the
Role of Law Enforcement, we investigate what could happen
if there was a terrorist attack on the Nations food supply.
Whether we are seeking new tools to meet new challenges
or discovering new approaches to old problems, NIJ always
tries to focus on the big picture. As we work with our
partners at the State and local levels, we are ever-mindful
of historyhistory as revealed, for example, in our
story on the 40th anniversary of the first-ever report to
the Nation on crime. I hope you enjoy this issue of the
Journal and find valuable discussions and ideas to
help you serve your communities.
David W. Hagy
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs
and Acting Principal Deputy Director, National Institute of Justice