The criminal justice system has grown in size, changed in philosophy, and adapted to changing technology since the 1950's. The criminal justice process now faces both severe challenges and significant opportunities for change and advancement. It needs to develop a model that will fill the gap left by the collapse of the medical model and that opposes a return to earlier models based on punishment and repression. A humanist model would be a possibility and would define criminal justice goals in realistic terms, recognizing that the criminal justice process can do little to control crime. The second challenge< facing criminal justice is to move the field from its current status of quasi-professionalism to that of full professional recognition and stature. Eight characteristics distinguish occupations from professions: use of theory, relevance to basic societal values, the training period, motivation, autonomy, sense of commitment, sense of community, and codes of ethics. Areas needing attention to produce this professionalism are the curricula in criminal justice education programs, the development of a uniform code of ethics, and efforts to develop a sense of community across the spectrum of criminal justice. Nineteen reference notes are supplied.