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If we were really tough on crime, we'd do more to stop it from happening in the first place.

We can't just rail against crime. We must speak of the root problems - devastating family breakup, an insidious culture of violence that cheapens human life, skyrocketing prisoner recidivism rates that rob our communities of husbands and fathers - and recognize that there is a societal role in rehabilitation and restoration.

Given the devastation that crime can visit on families and communities, I will err on being a little too tough on crime than being too soft on crime.

I think if we give kids a break in education, we would have fewer crimes being committed. If we keep them on track, they know that they have options. It's important for me because, you know, my life would've been different had I not had the education that I had.

Poverty is the mother of crime.

Over the years you encounter just about every kind of crime. It doesn't harden you, but you become capable of reporting on just about anything human beings can do. However, any time we're dealing with the murder of a child it is always difficult.

Why not, when it can be done without exposure or expense, let me rescue some of America's miserable children from vice and guilt?

To be smart on crime, we should not be in a position of constantly reacting to crime after it happens. We should be looking at preventing crime before it happens.

It stands to reason that unloved and unwanted children are going to get into crime.

Squeeze human nature into the straitjacket of criminal justice and crime will appear.