DURING THEIR FIRST DECADE OF EXISTENCE, MOST CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS PAID LITTLE ATTENTION TO DEFINING GOALS OR THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF IMPARTING THE REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE. THE ACADEMY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SCIENCES HAS PROPOSED GUIDELINES FOR ACCREDITING CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND IS WORKING TOWARD THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REVIEW STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES. A REVIEW OF THE PROS AND CONS OF ACCREDITATION NOTES THAT ALTHOUGH ACCREDITATION PROVIDES STANDARDS, IT ALSO LIMITS INNOVATION AND BRINGS WITH IT ALL THE PROBLEMS ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS ALWAYS FACE WHEN WORKING WITH AN OUTSIDE AGENCY. SOME FORM OF EVALUATION, HOWEVER, WILL BE ESSENTIAL. FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS ARE URGED TO BEGIN TO PREPARE FOR ITS EVENTUALITY BY DEFINING MEASURABLE GOALS FOR THEIR PROGRAMS, ESTABLISHING DEFINITE CRITERIA, JUSTIFYING THESE CRITERIA, AND DETERMINING WAYS IN WHICH THE RESULTS CAN BE MEASURED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)