ALTHOUGH OFFICIAL FBI REPORTS ON THE RATE OF VIOLENT CRIME INDICATE AN APPARENT DECLINE IN CRIMES SUCH AS ROBBERY, PUBLIC POLLS CONTINUED TO INDICATE A FEAR OF CRIME AMONG MANY CITIZENS. PESSIMISM BY EXPERTS AND LAYMEN IS NOT ASSUAGED BY STATISTICAL DATA WHICH MAY ONLY BE A FUNCTION OF TEMPORARY SOCIAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. THE EXPERTS FREQUENTLY HESITATE TO EXPLAIN ANY APPARENT SLACKENING OF THE CRIME RATE BECAUSE SUCH EXPLANATIONS FOR THIS SITUATION ARE COMPILED IN THIS VOLUME ADDRESSED TO JOURNALISTS AND SCHOLARS INTERESTED IN STUDYING ISSUES AND TRENDS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD. TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE THE RELIABILITY OF CRIME STATISTICS, THE NATURE AND EFFECT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, THE REAPPRAISAL OF PRISON POLICY, AND THE ISSUE OF ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION CONCERNS THE DILEMMA OF CONFRONTING VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WHILE PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO EDUCATION. BIBLIOGRAPHIC MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED. (TWK).