This article reviews sociological and psychological research about the origins of violent crime and how moral sanctions over violence are sustained. It is argued that traditional working-class socialization (moral education) maintained various forms of solidarity and mutuality by means that always included violence or, more commonly, the threat of violence. As these solidarities (trade unions, clubs, neighborhood informal groups, and local loyalties) have fragmented, violence as a means of social control has lost its cultural context, and has spilled over into many other interactions. It is contended that policy on criminal justice, if it is to be effective, must take account of these contextual factors. Political rhetoric on morality and community is relevant for public protection only if it is part of a broader perspective on youth crime, which includes issues of economic development and social change. Demands for retributive and deterrent punishments do not address the important evidence of social scientists on moral development, masculine identity, and productive co-operation.