The Nation: President Nixon's New Look at Justice

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Crime Capital. After years of soaring crime rates—an increase of 148% in the '60s—some signs point to a nationwide decline, perhaps, Mitchell hopes, as early as next year. During the first nine months of 1970, crime reductions were reported by 23 cities with populations above 100,000, among them Baltimore, Cleveland, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. For the first time since 1956, crime declined last year in Washington, D.C.. which Nixon had called "one of the crime capitals of the nation."

It is certainly not lost on the Administration that a reversal of the rising crime trend next year would strongly increase Nixon's prospects for reelection. Claims of success in combatting crime could keep Democrats on the defensive. In reality, such claims by any President would be misleading, since state and local law-enforcement agencies, not the Federal Government, have primary responsibility for fighting crime —at least street crimes like murder and robbery, which Americans fear most.

Building Morale. In an interview with TIME'S Dean Fischer last week, Mitchell agreed that his emphasis has shifted from strong support of police to pleas for court and correction reform. "When we came into office, the police forces in this country were completely discouraged," he said. "It was my opinion that we had to build up their morale." Mitchell believes that the cops' morale has so improved that he no longer needs to champion their cause constantly. In addition, a somewhat more conservative Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Burger has increased police confidence.

That heightened morale, bolstered by earlier tough talk, has enabled Mitchell to concentrate on broader issues. More than that, reports Correspondent Fischer, Mitchell's 26 months as Attorney General have revealed in him an intelligent capacity for growth. That, as much as anything else, may account for the new perspective in which he views the relationship between crime and the conditions that breed criminals.