IN THE PAST, RESEARCHERS HAVE NOT STUDIED CORRUPTION, PARTLY BECAUSE THEY ASSUME MANY PERSONS SHARE THEIR HARD-WORKING, CONCERNED, AND REFORMIST ATTITUDES AND PARTLY BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER CORRUPTION A FAILURE OF INDIVIDUALS RATHER THAN SYSTEMS. ONCE CORRUPTION IS PERCEIVED AS A MATTER OF SYSTEMATIC FAILURE, HOWEVER, RESEARCH IS EASIER TO CONDUCT. CORRUPTION CAN BE DEFINED AS A CONDITION, PERHAPS LIKE A DISEASE, WHICH HAS A DEBILITATING EFFECT ON THE DAY-TO-DAY PERFORMANCE OF MANY INSTITUTIONS. THE SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS PROBABLY MORE VULNERABLE BECAUSE ITS OFFICIALS HAVE VAST DISCRETION AND ALMOST A TOTAL LACK OF MONITORING OF THEIR CONDUCT. IN JUST ONE SEGMENT OF THE SYSTEM, THE POLICE, CORRUPTION RESULTS IN THE NONENFORCEMENT OF A WIDE RANGE OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS, IMPACTS ON HOW POLICEMEN ARE DEPLOYED AND RESPOND TO CITIZEN REQUESTS FOR HELP, AFFECTS PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND AFFECTS THE ATTITUDES POLICE HOLD TOWARD THEMSELVES AND THEIR JOBS. CORRUPTION UNDERMINES AUTHORITY, DISCOURAGES THE MORE IDEALISTIC, IS A MAJOR SECRET TAX, GENERATES OTHER CRIME, AND CORRODES OTHERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. CORRUPTION RESEARCH SHOULD MEASURE THE EXTENT AND IMPACT OF THE PROBLEM IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SYSTEM AND IN DIFFERENT CITIES; SHOULD LEARN WHY CORRUPT PRACTICES HAVE COME TO EXIST; AND SHOULD DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO REDUCE CORRUPTION, SUCH AS REMOVING THE CORRUPTION HAZARD THROUGH CHANGES IN THE CRIMINAL LAW. (AOP)