It is argued that law enforcement should actively seek solutions to the crime problem using established social science methodologies, rather than relying on gut level reactions as to what works and what is ineffective. Police should develop an understanding of what constitutes a good community in contrast to a disorganized community. They should view their role as problemsolvers and should understand that crime is a product of the community and the failure of the community. Dealing with the causes of crime in the community will decrease the amount of crime. Police also should understand that much of the stress they experience in their work is a function of their isolation from the community. Decreasing the distance between police and community will improve both the occupational and the operational environment of policing. The movement toward community-oriented policing places emphasis on this conceptualization of crime causes and the police role in social control. These new approaches now require rigorous evaluation to determine how informal methods of social control may be strengthened and how the police may become more effective in the community. 31 references.