A STRUCTURED, SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO THE POLICY DECISION PROCESS IS PRESENTED. THE NOTION IS ADVANCED THAT THE FUTURE CHALLENGE OF CRIME CONTROL WILL BE FOR THE UNITED STATES TO IMPROVE ITS ECONOMY AT ALL LEVELS. WHILE A CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING ECONOMY WILL BY NO MEANS ERADICATE ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR, IT WILL SERVE TO MINIMIZE THE OPTIMAL NET COST OF CRIME TO SOCIETY THROUGH SUCH TECHNIQUES AS INCREASED JUSTICE SYSTEM EFFICIENCY AND RESTITUTION PROGRAMS. THE ARTICLE ARGUES, HOWEVER, THAT THESE EFFORTS WILL NOT OVERCOME THE THREATENED INCREASE IN THE NET COST OF CRIME THAT WILL ACCOMPANY THE IMPENDING DEPRESSED STATE OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. GRAPHS AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT CLEANED-UP-DS)