A strategic primer on Atlanta's crime problem

The initial briefing document from Atlanta's anticrime working group paints a much more detailed picture of crime in the city than we get on TV. But it also shows the limitations of immediate action.

The working group convened by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms three weeks ago has a mandate to reduce violent crime immediately. It is not about looking at deep causes and long-term solutions, or about nonviolent offenses like burglaries or cybercrime, or broad criminal justice reform issues. It is about making recommendations that the city can act on right …