POLITICAL RHETORIC ABOUT THE 'WAR ON CRIME' IS CRITICIZED, AND THE NEED TO DEAL SPECIFICALLY WITH THE CRIMES THAT THREATEN PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE IN THEIR LIVES AND THEIR GOVERNMENT IS POINTED OUT. A MOVE TOWARD REGULATORY, LICENSING, AND OTHER CONTROL MECHANISMS NOT INVOLVING THE POLICE OR THE COURTS IS RECOMMENDED FOR CERTAIN VICTIMLESS CRIMES AND ILLICIT PRACTICES. THE FALLACY OF COMBINING PROBLEMS WITH COCAINE, AMPHETAMINES, MARIJUANA, AND HEROIN INTO ONE CATEGORY -- DRUG CRIME -- IS POINTED OUT, AS IS THE INAPPROPRIATENESS OF INVOLVING THE POLICE AND THE CRIMINAL COURTS IN DEALING WITH THESE PROBLEMS. THE DISCUSSION ALSO TOUCHES ON THE NEED TO REDUCE THE RANGE OF POLICE DUTIES, TO COMPENSATE VICTIMS FOR THEIR LOSSES, AND TO MAKE CHARGE AND PLEA BARGAINING MORE EQUITABLE. DISPARITIES IN SENTENCING IN FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS ARE NOTED. THE ADVANTAGES OF SENTENCING GUIDELINES OVER MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES ARE POINTED OUT. ARGUMENTS ARE PRESENTED FOR SHORTER, MORE CERTAIN SENTENCES AND FOR A REVISED VIEW OF THE PURPOSES OF IMPRISONMENT. IT IS NOTED THAT THE CAUSES OF CRIME ARE LARGELY BEYOND THE CONTROL OF CRIMINOLOGISTS, POLICE, OR THE COURTS. THE PERSON INTERVIEWED WAS DEAN OF THE UNIVERSIY OF CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL AS OF JUNE 1977. (LKM)