Crime trends are discussed, reasons for increases in crime are suggested, and the policy response made to crime by governments over the past several decades are outlined. The Canadian experience is seen as similar to that of most western democracies, with respect both to the vastly expanded scope of criminal law that has accompanied growth in public sector involvement in the economic and sooial sphere and to the dedication of increasingly large amounts of public sector resources to criminal justice activities. Eight major concerns that encompass the wide range of specific criticisms, problems, and complaints with respect to criminal law and the criminal justice system are identified: (1) the proper role of the victim in criminal law, (2) the effectiveness of criminal law in combating crime and convicting offenders, (3) the enhancement of preventive measures and alternative measures less coercive and intrusive than criminal law, (4) the balance between powers granted to criminal justice agents and the rights and liberties of individuals, (5) accountability in rights and liberties of individuals, (6) accountability in exercise of discretion, (7) sentencing and postsentencing processes, and (8) the proper scope and purpose of criminal law. The importance of employing restraint in addressing specific criminal law issues to be considered by the Criminal Law Review is emphasized. Appendixes present discussions of the jurisdiction and institutions of the Canadian criminal justice system and the Canadian criminal justice system in historical, comparative context. Criminal justice statistics are provided along with a list of data sources. (Author summary modified)