IN THE 1960'S, UNIFICATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS HAILED AS THE ANSWER TO THE RISING CRIME PROBLEM. BEFORE, THE COURTS WERE STRICTLY SEPARATED FROM THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE POLICE AND CORRECTIONS. STUDIES INDICATE THAT STRUCTURE ALONE WILL NOT SOLVE THE CRIME PROBLEM, NOR IS ANY ONE STRUCTURE NECESSARILY THE BEST FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE MOST RATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES CAN SUFFER FROM FRUSTRATIONS, OVERLOADED COMPONENTS, AND IMPOTENCY. ADMINISTRATIVE SKILL IS EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT AS STRUCTURE, AND CONSOLIDATION CAN OFFER CERTAIN BENEFITS, ESPECIALLY TO SMALL, RURAL AREAS. AT THE SAME TIME SAFEGUARDS NEED TO BE BUILT IN TO ENSURE LOCAL RESPONSIVENESS. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR REDUCTION OF SMALL POLICE FORCES IN FAVOR OF AREA UNITS OR LARGER MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS, AND FOR GREATER STATE REGULATION OF POLICE TRAINING AND STANDARDS. AT THE SAME TIME, DECENTRALIZATION OF DECISIONMAKING WITH MORE AUTHORITY RESTING IN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE DISTRICTS IS ESSENTIAL TO MEET DIVERSIFIED URBAN NEEDS. WHILE THE CONCEPT OF A UNIFIED COURT STRUCTURE IS APPEALING, LOCAL AUTHORITY MUST BE PRESERVED IF THE COURTS ARE NOT TO FALL VICTIM TO COMMON BUREAUCRATIC INDIFFERENCE TO FIELD-LEVEL NEEDS. OVER THE PAST GENERATIONS, FEWER CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN PROSECUTION SERVICES THAN IN ANY OTHER ASPECT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. SOME CENTRALIZED CONTROLS AND STANDARDS SEEM NECESSARY, BUT 'WHO SHALL SUPERVISE' AND 'HOW MUCH SUPERVISION' REMAIN CRITICAL QUESTIONS. DEFENDER SERVICES SHOULD HAVE STRONG DAY-BY-DAY AUTONOMY BUT A CENTRALIZED SERVICE COULD ENSURE THAT ALL JURISDICTIONS HAVE NEEDED DEFENDER SERVICES. AS FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, THE FUTURE SHOULD SHOW A CONTINUING MOVEMENT TOWARD CONSOLIDATION AT THE STATE LEVEL, A REEXAMINATION OF INCLUSION OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES IN LARGE HUMAN SERVICES SUPERAGENCIES, AND THE SETTING OF MORE EXPLICIT STANDARDS FOR CORRECTIONAL ALTERNATIVES. DETAILS OF THESE PROPOSALS ARE EXAMINED. AT PRESENT, TWO CONFLICTING MOVEMENTS ARE OPERATING: (1) A NEED FOR UNIFICATION AND CENTRALIZATION TO ENSURE HIGHER STANDARDS AND BETTER SERVICES AND (2) A MOVE TOWARD DECENTRALIZATION TO RESTORE LOCAL CONTROL LOST IN THE COMPLEXITY OF MODERN SOCIETY. FOR THE COMPLETE FINAL REPORT, SEE NCJ-43339.