Juvenile crime in the state has increased by 20% over the last year. This is because of a flaw in the legislative system: judges are so unwilling to pass strict sentences that young miscreants are no longer afraid of the consequences of their acts.

Which of the following statements most directly contradicts the conclusion drawn above?

The state has recorded a 50% increase over last year in overall crime rate.

Law enforcement by the police has been very lax.

Not all the judges show clemency when passing a sentence on juveniles.

According to a recent poll, 70% of the population in the state voted for leniency toward juveniles.

Several new judges support a strict verdict on young offenders.