The application of these paradigmatic perspectives determines how criminals are defined, processed, and treated within the criminal justice system. The authors contend that most systemic problems in the criminal justice system emanate from the application of conflicting multiple paradigms as a basis for policy and programs. A major source of this dilemma is the lack of a clear, conceptual understanding of the nature of and assumptions supporting rival paradigms. The authors conclude that the impact of conflicts among paradigms can be lessened if criminal justice practitioners are educated as practitioner philosophers and are capable of decisionmaking in the context of ethical consistency in a pluralistic society. 26 references and 5 endnotes