ASPECTS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY -- CONSUMERISM, MATERIALISM, ETC. -- THAT INFLUENCE THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF CRIME ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS NOTED THAT CRIMINAL COURTS SHOULD BE, BUT ARE NOT, SOCIETY'S LAST RESORT IN THE SOLUTION OF ITS SOCIAL PROBLEMS. AN ANALOGY IS DRAWN BETWEEN SOCIETY'S DEMANDS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ABANDONMENT OF DIPLOMACY IN FAVOR OF GOING DIRECTLY TO WAR. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS IN FACT A SYSTEM, BUT THAT IT CANNOT DEAL WITH COMPLEX SOCIAL PROBLEMS. SPECIFIC PROBLEMS OF THE JUDICIARY ARE DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO THE SHORTCOMINGS OF OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (POLICE, PROSECUTION, PROBATION) AS THEY AFFECT THE COURTS. (LKM)