Even as they got tougher on violent offenders, Americans began to rethink their attitude toward drug crimes. The use of marijuana, in particular, was common among young people and seemed to have few ill effects for society. Even first ladies Betty Ford and Rosalyn Carter admitted that their children probably tried marijuana. Rather than impose criminal penalties for marijuana, in 1973 Oregon decided to impose a fine. Seven other states soon followed Oregon's example, but the decriminalization movement faded as the government in the 1980s reasserted the necessity of a "war on drugs."

Rethinking Domestic Violence.

The women's movement also redefined the boundary between social convention and criminal behavior. Domestic violence, especially wife beating and child abuse, often went unnoticed by the public. An unspoken tolerance for these acts and fear, guilt, and shame on the part of the victims often kept domestic violence from public...