EFFORTS AT CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN POLICING HAVE TAKEN FIVE MAIN FORMS: PUBLIC RELATIONS, POLITICAL PRESSURE, CITIZEN REVIEW BOARDS, CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS, AND INTERVENTION AT THE POINT OF CONTACT (INCLUDING ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMUNITY PROFILING). PROBLEMS IN CITIZEN PARTICIPATION COUPLED WITH THE TRADITIONAL SECRECY OF THE POLICE, THE CONTRADICTION BETWEEN THE POLICE AS AN AUTONOMOUS PROFESSION AND A PUBLICLY ACCOUNTABLE AGENCY, MUTUAL DISTRUST, THE MARGINAL NATURE OF PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE EMERGED TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES, AND THE QUESTION OF WHO SHOULD BE CONSIDERED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY. PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PROGRAMS ARE STUDIED BY EXAMINING PARALLEL DEVELOPMENTS IN ANOTHER INSTITUTIONAL SPHERE, THE WAR ON POVERTY. THE LESSONS LEARNED IN BOTH POLICE AND ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS SHOW THAT FIVE REQUISITES MUST BE MET IN ORDER FOR FUTURE EFFORTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL: (1) TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION, (2) ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE COMMUNITY, (3) REPRESENTATIVENESS OF POLICE, (4) REPRESENTATIVENESS OF CITIZEN GROUPS, AND (5) USE OF GENERALISTS AND SPECIALISTS. THE PAPER CONCLUDES THAT TO SECURE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN POLICING, POLICE AND CITIZEN DISTANCE MUST BE REDUCED. THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS ALLOW CITIZEN INPUT INTO POLICYMAKING RATHER THAN ESTABLISHING INDEPENDENT POWER GROUPS. PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE WHICH MEET THE REQUISITES ARE OMBUDSMEN FOR POLICE, POLICE AS COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, CONSCRIPTION OF POLICE, AND FULL-SERVICE NEIGHBORHOOD TEAM POLICING. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)