FOLLOWING AN INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER EXAMINING THE CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING THE CRIMINAL COURTS, AN EXTENSIVE OVERVIEW IS PROVIDED OF THE LEGAL BASIS OF THE CRIMINAL COURTS, WITH ATTENTION TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, CRIMINAL LAW, AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COURT SYSTEM. SUBSEQUENT SECTIONS INTRODUCE THE LEGAL ACTORS--JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS--WHO MUST MAKE DECISIONS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, FOLLOW THE GENERAL STAGES CASES PASS THROUGH FROM ARREST TO DISPOSITION, AND EXAMINE THE DYNAMICS OF THE BAIL SYSTEM, THE LOGISTICS OF TRIAL PREPARATION, AND WHY SOME CASES ARE REMOVED FROM THE PROCESS AND STILL OTHERS ARE BARGAINED OUT. ISSUES INVOLVING THE COURT'S SENTENCING FUNCTION DOMINATE THE SUBSEQUENT CHAPTERS, WHICH EXAMINE THE LEGAL BASIS OF JUDICIAL DISCRETION, FACTORS IN SENTENCING, THE CHOICE BETWEEN PRISON AND PROBATION, THE PROBLEM OF SENTENCE DISPARTITIES AND DISCRIMINATION IN SENTENCING, AND THE GROWING CLAMOR BY THE POLICE AND OTHERS FOR JUDICIAL SYSTEM REVIEW. FINALLY, THE ROLE OF THE LOWER COURTS, PROBLEMS IN COURT ADMINISTRATION, AND THE OUTLOOK FOR COURT REFORM ARE CONSIDERED, PARTICULARY IN TERMS OF THE CONTINUING DILEMMA OF COURT DELAYS. REFERENCES, SKETCHES, AND TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)