Did the Democratic Party believe we should solve the problems that cause crime?

Answer 1

Yes, it did, and yes it does. For decades, Democrats have tended to believe locking people up is not the only solution to crime; issues such as poverty, lack of education, drug and alcohol addiction, and lack of jobs are factors in why there is crime, and solutions must involve addressing these factors as well as punishing offenders.

But that having been said, one of the dangerous myths of politics (and both political parties are guilty of this) is claiming the other side does not care about [choose a subject]. While each party may differ in their proposed solutions to the problem, it is rarely the case that one side cares and the other does not.

The problem is that while Democrats often want to seek a more holistic approach (rightly or wrongly), Republicans have become known for a "Law and Order" stance on crime, leaning towards strict enforcement, longer prison sentences, and so-called "Three Strikes Laws." They have accused Democrats of being "soft on crime" whenever Democrats did not agree with some of the solutions the Republican party proposed. But the issue of how to address the crime rate is more complicated than simple slogans or hardened positions; we can only hope that both sides will support meaningful reforms, rather than continuing to blame each other's policies for the persistence of crime in our society.