The 1979 White Paper summarizes recent trends observable in crime statistics, particularly data from 1978, and evaluates the problem of recidivism in several countries, including the United States, West Germany, and the United Kingdom. The processing of offenders is described next, and covers several stages: prosecution and trial; correctional institutions; and probation, parole, and aftercare. Trends in juvenile criminality and delinquency and the treatment of juveniles are examined, including penal code offenders, special law offenders, child offenders, juvenile offenders, and dispositions by public prosecutors. Also discussed are family court adjudications, criminal court adjudications, juvenile prisons, and juvenile training schools. The final part analyzes legal and administrative problems caused by drug offenses, organized crime, criminal acts of mentally impaired persons, and offenses by women. The analysis found that the recidivism rate among previously convicted offenders continues to decline, whether cases are evaluated in terms of penalty imposed, length of imprisonment, or suspension of sentence. An exception was noted among probationers; that group recidivated at a rate three times as great as those who received suspended sentences without probationary supervision. Drug offenders with suspended sentences were also twice as likely to commit new crimes as other offenders whose sentences were suspended. In addition, Japan and the other countries studied demonstrate that a relatively small number of high frequency recidivists perpetrates an inordinately large proportion of all crime. Graphs, data tables, and footnotes are included. (Author abstract modified)