PART ONE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND DESCRIBES THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH SPECIFIC AGENCIES CARRY OUT THEIR TASKS. PART TWO COVERS THE HISTORY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING ITS ORIGINS IN GREAT BRITAIN; DISCUSSES THE RANGE OF POLICE SERVICES OFFERED AT FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS; AND ANALYZES DEVELOPING TRENDS WITH REGARD TO DELIVERY OF THESE SERVICES. PART THREE EXAMINES THE ROLE PLAYED BY COURTS IN ADMINISTERING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND OUTLINES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH 'ACTOR' IN THE COURTROOM DRAMA, FROM JUDGE TO WITNESS TO COURT REPORTER. PART FOUR TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT CORRECTIONS IN AMERICA, TRACING THE CHANGING CORRECTIONAL PHILOSOPHY FROM ITS FOUNDATIONS IN SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY BRITAIN TO THE MODERN EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY-BASED METHODS. THE FACILITIES, PROGRAMS, ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE, AND PROBLEMS THAT CONSTITUTE THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM ARE STUDIED IN DETAIL. IN ADDITION, THE BOOK'S FINAL PART IS DEVOTED TO THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THROUGHOUT THE TEXT THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF TODAY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE EXPLORED IN THE CONTEXT OF RELATED HISTORICAL, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...ELW