Thus, the discipline of criminology moves toward an undetermined ideology, one that cannot be changed by arguments based on experience and logic. Through the systematic articulation of value premises and the recognition that criminological theory is an example of an under-determined or rational ideology, the gap between policy and the practice of social science can be considerably narrowed. This recognition in turn will lead to an appreciation of how the discipline of criminology has been part of the policy arena. The role of history is viewed as one in which public exposure and debate of ideas have sharpened definitions, procedures, and conclusions. History, however, has tended to be interpreted within a framework of mythic science in which earlier theories are simply criticized for their scientific inadequacy. More attention needs to be paid to the contribution of criminological theories to policy and to how policy applications contribute to the development of criminology. Implications of policy for both theory and practice in the field of criminology are discussed. 41 references