It is generally acknowledged by researchers that the punitive enforcement of the law, making liberal use of incarceration, does not curtail crime since it fails to deal with the social and psychological conditions underlying criminal behavior. A comprehensive approach to social defense involves individualized sentencing based upon an analysis of the offender's needs and the use of noncustodial treatment whenever possible, so as to eliminate the debilitating effects of imprisonment and encourage the development of normative behavior in the context of the community. If such a social defense approach is to be effective, the police must cooperate with other components of the criminal justice system. This means the police must have a change of attitude regarding their functions. Regarding the handling of juveniles, the police should establish a juvenile unit that will investigate all juvenile crimes and have the discretion to deal with juveniles in accordance with individual need and characteristics. The police must also tailor their contacts with parolees, probationers, and ex-offenders to be supportive of the rehabilitative aims of the agencies primarily responsible for them. Twenty-two references are listed.