WHILE POINTING OUT THAT CRIME STATISTICS ARE INACCURATE DUE TO DIFFERING PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING AND RECORDING CRIMES IN THE STATES, THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THERE HAS BEEN AN APPARENT INCREASE IN SERIOUS CRIME IN AUSTRALIA OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. THE POLICE FORCES IN MOST STATES ARE DEEMED TO BE UNDERMANNED AND UNDERQUALIFIED, LARGELY DUE TO A SYSTEM THAT FAILS TO ATTRACT PERSONS OF ABILITY AND MOTIVATION, BECAUSE OF LOW PAY AND PROMOTION PROCEDURES THAT REWARD SENIORITY RATHER THAN TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE. DEFICIENCIES IN LEGAL AID AND SENTENCING AND CORRECTIONAL PROCEDURES ARE CONSIDERED COMMONPLACE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. IT IS ARGUED THAT MUCH OF THE STRAIN ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COULD BE RELIEVED BY DECRIMINALIZING AREAS THAT DEAL PRIMARILY WITH PRIVATE MORALITY, IN ORDER TO USE THE LIMITED RESOURCES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO COMBAT SERIOUS THREATS TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY. WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IS SINGLED OUT AS NEEDING SPECIAL ATTENTION. IT IS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT GENERAL SOCIAL WELFARE REFORMS MUST ALSO BE UNDERTAKEN IF THE CONDITIONS THAT TEND TO BREED CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE TO BE CONTROLLED....RCB