IN THE FACE OF RISING CRIME, A CLIMATE OF ESCALATING SOCIAL CONFLICT, AND PROBLEMS OF URBANIZATION, THE POLICE ARE BEING CHALLENGED TO CHANGE AND ADAPT. THIS COLLECTION OF SIXTEEN ESSAYS AND RESEARCH REPORTS DISCUSSES CURRENT PROBLEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN LIGHT OF CONTEMPORARY VIEWS OF LAW AND ORDER, AUTHORITY, AND JUSTICE. THE OPENING SECTION OF THE BOOK TRACES HISTORICAL TRENDS IN POLICE REFORMS, LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGETING, AND NATIONAL RESPONSES BY THREE WORLD POWERS (THE U.S., SOVIET UNION, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM) TO URBAN CRIME. COMPARATIVE VIEWS ARE GIVEN OF SUCH SENSITIVE ISSUES AS SOCIAL CONTROL VERSUS SOCIAL CONFLICT AND APPROPRIATE LIMITS OF POLICE AUTHORITY, INDICATING THE DIFFICULTIES FOR BOTH THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC IN MUTUAL PERCEPTION AND UNDERSTANDING. A SEPARATE SECTION DEALING WITH THE EMERGENCE OF POLICE PROFESSIONALISM ANALYZES CHANGING POLICE ATTITUDES TOWARDS TRADITIONS OF LOYALTY, SECRECY, AND MUTUAL ASSISTANCE. OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS SECTION EXAMINE THE OCCUPATIONAL IDENTITY OF THE PROFESSIONALLY STRIVING POLICEMAN AND COMMON POLICE ATTITUDES TOWARD CHANGES IN CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE. BROAD-SCOPE CONSIDERATION OF THE POLICE ROLE IS GIVEN IN THE FINAL SECTION. AMONG THE TOPICS DISCUSSED ARE POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF INCREASED DEMAND FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND PROBLEMS IN MAINTAINING DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF POLICE FORCES. A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL RESEARCH IS INCLUDED. (SNI ABSTRACT)