Uneasy Peace: The Great Crime Decline, the Renewal of City Life, and the Next War on Violence

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Over the past two decades, American cities have experienced an astonishing drop in violent crime, dramatically changing urban life. Patrick Sharkey reveals the consequences: improved school test scores, since children are better able to learn when not traumatized by nearby violence; better chances that poor children will rise into the middle class; and a striking increase in the life expectancy of African American men. Many places once characterized by decay and abandonment are now thriving, yet pervasive inequality threatens these gains. At a time when crime is rising again and powerful political forces seek the disinvest in cities, the insights in this book are indispensable. -- Provided by publisher