IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 1979, NEW YORK RANKED SECOND IN VIOLENT CRIME AMONG THE 10 LARGEST U.S. CITIES. IN 1979, ALL-TIME RECORDS FOR MURDER AND BANK ROBBERY WERE ESTABLISHED. A TOTAL OF 35 PERCENT OF MURDERS INVOLVED MURDER BY STRANGERS, MAINLY DURING ROBBERIES; 79 PERCENT INVOLVED FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES. ONLY TWO-THIRDS OF ALL MURDER CASES ARE CLEARED (MURDERERS CAUGHT AND PUNISHED). IN ADDITION, HOMICIDE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN NEW YORK CITY MALES AGED 15 TO 44. ROBBERY IN THE CITY IS EXTREMELY COMMON WITH 75-85,000 CASES REPORTED ANNUALLY. HOWEVER, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DEVELOPING PROGRAMS WHICH COULD REVERSE THE PRESENT CRIME TRENDS. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE: CONCENTRATING RESOURCES ON THE DANGEROUS OR PREDATORY OFFENDER; PROVIDING GUIDELINES FOR CRIMINAL SENTENCING; AND EXPANDING AND IMPROVING CITY AND STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD BE SEEN AS A COHERENT WHOLE, AND THE COMMISSION WILL ENFORCE THAT VIEW IN THE 1980'S. PROGRAMS FOR IDENTIFYING AND DEALING WITH PREDATORY CRIMINALS WILL BE STUDIED AND CRIMES OF ROBBERY AND MURDER WILL CONTINUE TO BE ANALYZED AS WELL AS THE USE OF FIREARMS IN VIOLENT CRIME. THE STATE'S TAKEOVER OF RIKERS ISLAND WILL BE MONITORED AND CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS AT NEIGHBORHOOD LEVELS STUDIED (PARTICULARLY ALTERNATIVES TO OVERCROWDED CRIMINAL COURTS). A STUDY OF MIDTOWN CRIME WILL BE INITIATED. BETTER CRIME CONTROL AND BETTER COORDINATION WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN IMPROVE NEW YORK'S QUALITY OF LIFE. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MJW)