Here, ranked by frequency of mention, are the crime-drop explanations cited in articles published from 1991 to 2001 in the ten largest-circulation papers in the LexisNexis database: CRIME-DROP EXPLANATION NUMBER OF CITATIONS INNOVATIVE POLICING STRATEGIES INCREASED RELIANCE ON PRISONS CHANGES IN CRACK AND OTHER DRUG MARKETS AGING OF THE POPULATION TOUGHER GUN-CONTROL LAWS STRONG ECONOMY INCREASED NUMBER OF POLICE ALL OTHER EXPLANATIONS (INCREASED USE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, CONCEALED-WEAPONS LAWS,
