PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF THE 'CRIME PROBLEM' ARE COMPARED TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY KNOWN ABOUT CRIME. THE RECENT HISTORY OF PUBLIC CONCERN WITH CRIME AND THE SOURCES OF THAT CONCERN ARE REVIEWED, ALONG WITH THE COSTS OF RESPONDING TO CRIME FEARS AND THE IMPACT OF THESE FEARS ON PERSONAL HABITS, SOCIAL SOLIDARITY, THE ECONOMY, AND PROCEDURAL RIGHTS. THE MANY PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN TRYING TO GAIN AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF CRIME ARE EXAMINED, INCLUDING RECENT TRENDS IN VIOLENT AND PROPERTY OFFENSES, AND IN WHITE COLLAR, POLITICAL, CORPORATE, AND ORGANIZED CRIME. STUDENTS ARE INTRODUCED TO THE MAIN ISSUES CONCERNING CRIMINOLOGISTS: THE CREATION AND USE OF LAWS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION, PATTERNS OF CRIME, CAUSES OF CRIME AND CRIMINALITY, SOCIETAL REACTION TO CRIME, CUSTODY, PUNISHMENT, AND REHABILITATION OF CRIMINALS. CRIMINALS AND THEIR VICTIMS AND VARIOUS THEORIES ATTEMPTING TO ACCOUNT FOR CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING AN ANALYSIS OF ASPECTS OF VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS. VARIOUS PATTERNS OF VICTIM-OFFENDER INTERACTIONS ARE EXAMINED FOR ANTICRIME IMPLICATIONS. THE FINAL SECTION OF THE TEXT EXAMINES THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE CRIME PROBLEM IS CREATED BY POLITICAL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERESTS WITHIN OUR SOCIETY. LABELING AND CONFLICT PERSPECTIVES ARE EXPLORED AND THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM WITH ITS NEGATIVE ROLE IN THE CRIME SITUATION IS EXAMINED. THE BOOK CONCLUDES BY REEMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR A CRITICAL APPROACH TO CRIME STATISTICS AND THEORIES AS A WAY TO AVOID COSTLY 'KNEE-JERK' ANTICRIME POLICIES. THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE POTENTIAL OF A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE POLICY RESPONSES TO THE CRIME SITUATION--LIMITING PROCEDURAL RIGHTS, INCREASING PENALTIES FOR CRIMES, INCARCERATING CAREER OFFENDERS, AND INSTITUTING GUN CONTROL LAWS--ARE EXAMINED IN LIGHT OF WHAT IS KNOWN AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IS NOT KNOWN ABOUT CRIME IN THIS SOCIETY. EACH CHAPTER CONCLUDES WITH ITS OWN REFERENCES, AND BOTH AUTHOR AND SUBJECT INDEXES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--PGR)