This article from the January edition of the National Institute of Justice Journal summarizes, in eight packed pages, significant data on crime and punishment in America over the course of the last century, with emphasis on the last few decades. Among other things, the report examines the recent decline in property crimes comparing figures to other countries, discusses the apparent drop in incidents of rape, and looks at the possible correlations between incarceration rates and crime levels -- all in a readable style with many useful graphs and in a manner that avoids simplistic conclusions. The article's author is Jan M. Chaiken, Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).