THIS MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY IS PERHAPS THE FIRST TO DEAL EXCLUSIVELY WITH CROSS-CULTURAL APPROACHES TO CRIME. THE STUDY ENABLES STUDENTS OF CRIMINOLOGY - INCLUDING WELFARE WORKERS, CORRECTION EXPERTS, JUVENILE SPECIALISTS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS - TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE IDEAS OF FIFTEEN RENOWNED CRIMINOLOGISTS, WHO ANALYZE CRIME AND REHABILITATION IN ELEVEN COUNTRIES. THE ANALYSIS SPANS BOTH DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING NATIONS, EAST AND WEST, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERES. THE INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER DEFINES THE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY OF CRIME, AND IN ITSELF CONSTITUTES A 'MINI-CRIMINOLOGY'COURSE. THE INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSIONS OF THE VARIOUS NATIONAL APPROACHES TO CRIME OFFER A UNIQUE MEANS OF INTRODUCING THE STUDENT TO NEW IDEAS. EACH AUTHOR DISCUSSES HIS OWN COUNTRY'S EFFORTS, EXPLAINING IN DETAIL LAW ENFORCEMENT METHODS AND CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS ADOPTED. THE ARTICLES ARE NOT CURSORY DISCUSSIONS, BUT RATHER IN-DEPTH ANALYSES AVERAGING 100 PAGES EACH. THE RESULT IS A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF CRIMINOLOGY AROUND THE WORLD. THE MATERIAL IS PRESENTED SYSTEMATICALLY, WITH EACH CONTRIBUTOR DISCUSSING THE SAME TOPICS: CRIMINAL LAW, CRIME STATISTICS, THEORIES OF CRIME CAUSATION, PENAL PHILOSOPHY, THE FUNCTION OF THE COURTS, THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES, THE FUNCTION OF PRISON, PROBATION AND PAROLE, AND GENERAL SOCIAL POLICIES. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS THE CONTRIBUTION ON CZECHOSLOVAKIA, A RARE DISCUSSION OF THE STATE OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIME PREVENTION IN A SOCIALIST STATE BY AN INSIDER. (SNI ABSTRACT)