>Take a look at New York City. They arrested their way out of crime. Over 10 years the crime rate dropped by 60% because they drew a line in the sand. As for building jails, look at Joe Arpaio - the Phoenix AZ Sheriff.

There are also arguments that suggest jobs and wealth creation during the nineties had a lot more to do with reducing crime than arrest rates.

It has also been noted that some police departments have been hedging the numbers (FBI says crime going down, local police say up), to grow their budgets.