The Campus Times, p. 6 (May 31, 1991).

Abstract

How did a country dedicated to the protection of human rights get into this predicament? There are a number of reasons, but I will mention only a few of the most important.

First, the siege mentality induced by the prevalence of crimes of violence and by the so-called "wars" on crime and drugs produces an atmosphere in which concern for police illegalities is subordinated to the need to "get" criminals. The American public wants the crime problem solved by any means necessary, and they don't care much about what the police do as long as "criminals" are jailed and punished. The police understand this attitude--indeed, they encourage it--and get the message: lawlessness in law enforcement is acceptable as long it is seen to obtain crime-suppressing results.

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