CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARE DESCRIBED, INCLUDING PROFILES OF THE POLICE, PROSECUTOR, COURT, AND CORRECTIONS SECTORS. ALSO DESCRIBED ARE ARRESTEES, VICTIMS, AND THE FLOW OF CRIMINAL EPISODES FROM VICTIMIZATION TO INCARCERATION. THREE CHAPTERS ADDRESS FACETS OF THE CENTRAL ISSUE OF THIS STUDY: WHY ARRESTS SO OFTEN FAIL IN COURT; FACTORS PERTAINING TO THE ARREST AND THE POLICE OFFICERS; AND LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS. A FURTHER TOPIC OF DISCUSSION INCLUDES THE INNOVATIONS IN POLICE OPERATIONS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THAT REFLECT A BROADER PERSPECTIVE BY THE POLICE OF THEIR OWN ROLE: POLICE USE OF COURT DATA; IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF WITNESSES; A POLICE UNIT THAT REVIEWS ARRESTS REJECTED BY THE PROSECUTOR AT THE INITIAL SCREENING STAGE; AND A SPECIAL POLICE-PROSECUTOR OPERATION THAT CONCENTRATES RESOURCES ON REPEAT OFFENDERS. THE REPORT CONCLUDES WITH A DISCUSSION OF POLICY IMPLICATIONS. EACH CHAPTER IS SUPPLEMENTED BY NOTES AND REFERENCES, AND AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)