THE BENEFITS, COSTS, AND RISKS TO SOCIETY OF CURRENT PRIVATE SECURITY PRACTICES ARE EVALUATED, AND STATUTORY AND POLICY GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE INDUSTRY ARE RECOMMENDED. THE EXTENT OF PRIVATE POLICE FORCES IN THE COUNTRY IS EXAMINED, ALONG WITH GROWTH TRENDS, EXPENDITURES, AND PROFILES OF SELECTED SECURITY CORPORATIONS. THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE POLICE -- THEIR INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICTS -- ARE DISCUSSED. A PROFILE OF THE PRIVATE POLICE DEALS WITH THEIR PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS, WORKING CONDITIONS, EARNINGS, AND TRAINING. STATE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND MEANS OF REGULATION OF THE INDUSTRY ARE SUMMARIZED. RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF PRIVATE SECURITY EMPLOYEES ARE ANALYZED; TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE TRAINING, SUPERVISION, KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR LEGAL AUTHORITY, ATTITUDES, AND HANDLING OF CRIME INCIDENTS. THE LEGAL ISSUES AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH PRIVATE POLICE PERFORMING VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES ARE DISCUSSED. GENERAL LEGAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS INVOLVED IN PATROLLING NEIGHBORHOODS, PROTECTING MERCHANTS, AND INVESTIGATING CRIMES ARE OUTLINED. SPECIFIC PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THOSE ARISING FROM SEARCHING PRIVATE PROPERTY, ELECTRONIC EAVESDROPPING, AND PRIVATE POLICE ACCESS TO PUBLIC POLICE RECORDS, ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. ABUSE OF AUTHORITY, IMPERSONATION OF PUBLIC POLICE, FALSE ARREST, IMPROPER SEARCH AND INTERROGATION, AND OPERATING WITHOUT A LICENSE ARE REAL AND POTENTIAL ABUSES WHICH ARE EXPLORED. THE AUTHORS MAKE SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED AND TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PRIVATE SECURITY FORCES, INCLUDING STATE LICENSING AND STRENGTHENED REGULATION OF OWNERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES OF PRIVATE SECURITY FORCES; JOB-SPECIFIC TRAINING; PROVISIONS FOR SANCTIONS; TORT REMEDIES; APPLICABILITY OF CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS; AND SPECIFIC STATUTORY PROVISIONS. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (VDA)