The Guardian Angels, an organization of volunteers dedicated to making city streets and transportation systems safe, are described as an illustration of the fact that in many American cities, the police have not been able to make certain public areas safe. Statistics are also presented showing the frequency of crime, the lack of arrests in more than half of all reported violent crimes, the overcrowding of the correctional facilities, and the large expenditures of the criminal justice system. A case example involving a burglary is presented to show the steps involved following the reporting of a crime and the arrest of a suspect. Emphasis is placed on the procedures used in the court appearances involved in the case. Post-trial procedures, prison conditions, parole decisionmaking, and ways in which the system sometimes fails to function are also highlighted. For two related filmstrips, see NCJ 93025-26.