FACTORS DISCUSSED IN CHOOSING RESEARCH PRIORITIES ARE: RELEVANT TRENDS FOR CRIME AND ITS SERIOUSNESS; THE EFFECTS OF CRIME ON SOCIETY; POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS; TRENDS IN SOCIETY'S RESPONSE TO THE CRIME PROBLEM; TRENDS IN RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS; WHAT SEEMS TO WORK OR NOT WORK IN REDUCING CRIME; AND HISTORICAL CYCLES TO KEEP IN MIND. THE EMPHASIS OF THE ANALYSIS IS ON SYSTEM KNOWLEDGE RATHER THAN ON THE TRADITIONAL DISCUSSIONS OF POLICE, PROSECUTION, DEFENSE, COURTS, PRISONS, PROBATION, PAROLE, CAUSES OF CRIME, AND CRIME PREVENTION. RESEARCH TRENDS ARE EXAMINED IN LIGHT OF SOCIETY'S RESPONSE TO THEM. A REORGANIZATION OF RESEARCH EFFORTS IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE RESEARCH GOALS IS PROPOSED. AN APPENDIX PRESENTS A CHECKLIST ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE; NOTES AND A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).