UNIFICATION OF SYSTEM COMPONENTS IS VIEWED THROUGH THE PAST DECADES'S EMPHASIS ON 'COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING,' THROUGH ONE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE (I.E., CORRECTIONS), AND THROUGH THE 'TOTAL SYSTEM' PERSPECTIVE SPOTLIGHTED BY SEVERAL NATIONAL STUDY COMMISSIONS. ALSO PRESENTED ARE DESCRIPTIONS OF SUCH ORGANIZATIONAL DIMENSIONS AS SYSTEM FINANCING, THE ROLE OF PRIVATE SECTOR SERVICE DELIVERY, AND THE APPLICATION OF COMPLEX ORGANIZATION AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CONCEPTS TO PROPOSED STRUCTURAL REFORMS. A CHALLENGE TO THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM OF GOVERNMENTAL CONSOLIDATION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE UNIFICATION MAKES UP THE LAST PART OF THE WORK. IN GENERAL, THE AUTHOR ENDORSES GREATER STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION OF EACH CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMPONENT AND THE TOTAL SYSTEM; INCREASED STATE SUPERVISION THROUGH STANDARD-SETTING, FINANCING, AND MONOTORING (EVEN WHERE SUBSTANTIAL AUTONOMY OF LOCAL OPERATION REMAINS DESIRABLE); CAREFUL ATTENTION, WITHIN THIS REGIME, TO REGIONAL AND DECENTRALIZED DELIVERY NETWORKS; AND A BELIEF THAT UNIFICATION OF THIS KIND CAN SERVE NOT ONLY VALUES OF GREATER EFFICIENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BUT ALSO OF LOCAL CHOICE AND RESPONSIVENESS. AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)