THERE IS A WEALTH OF STANDARDS CONCERNING THE DETAILS OF POLICING, BUT DETAILS APPARENTLY ARE NOT THE ULTIMATE PROBLEM. SOME POLICE OFFICIALS EXPRESS CONCERN THAT PREOCCUPATION WITH STANDARDS OF OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY IS POINTLESS WITHOUT A DEFINITION OF THE GOALS AND FUNCTIONS THAT PROVIDE THE CONTEXT FOR MEASURING SUCCESS. OPERATIONAL STANDARDS CANNOT SERVE THE POLICE OFFICER WHO LACKS A CLEAR SET OF PRIORITIES AND A FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING, SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY HE SERVES, OF HIS ROLE IN SOCIETY AND HIS RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ASPECTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. CERTAIN PRIOR QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE ITS PERFORMANCE THROUGH ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIFIC STANDARDS. THESE PRIOR QUESTIONS CONCERN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY; ACCOUNTABILITY; LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION; CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT; RELATIONS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; RELATIONS BETWEEN POLICE JURISDICTIONS; AND POLICE ORGANIZATION. THE RELEVANCE OF THESE ISSUES AND THE CONNECTIONS AMONG THEM ARE DISCUSSED. THE NEED FOR SOUND RESEARCH TO SEPARATE FACT FROM CONJECTURE IS POINTED OUT. THE WILLINGNESS OF POLICE, ATTORNEYS, COURTS, VICTIMS, AND ACCUSED PERSONS TO COOPERATE WITH THE CENTRE OF CRIMINOLOGY IN TORONTO IN ITS RESEARCH EFFORTS IS NOTED. -- IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH.