The interdependent nature of criminal laws formulation, public discovery of criminal events, and criminal justice processing of criminal events as well as the interdependency of criminal justice agencies are discussed. Criminal law defines criminal acts and punishments. Public discovery makes criminal law reality and selective public reporting causes case attrition. Attrition also occurs at various case-processing points in the criminal justice system. Police, courts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, the judiciary, and corrections are all part of the criminal justice system. The absence of any central criminal justice system command necessitates interagency bargaining relationships and influences decisionmaking among agencies. Since no guarantee exists that courts will comply with police decisions, police try to ensure that their decisions meet court evaluation criteria; in turn, police charges directly determine court caseload and the type of cases tried. Police rely on prosecutors to expedite cases through court, while prosecutors rely on police for charges, evidence, good investigations, and to act as witnesses. Defense counsel indirectly influences police decisions because defense and prosecuting attorneys must agree on what criteria constitute bringing cases to trial. The number of people courts and correctional facilities can handle often affects judicial decisions. Judges sometimes dismiss charges to change police practices, and judicial decisions often control poor police performance. 11 footnotes and 81 bibliographical references.