A DESCRIPTION OF ANCIENT, MEDIEVAL, ENGLISH, AND AMERICAN LAW INTRODUCES A HISTORY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT INCLUDES EARLY TRIBAL AUTHORITY, THE ENGLISH COURT SYSTEM, AND THE POLICE REFORMS OF SIR ROBERT PEEL. THE CRIME PROBLEM IN AMERICA IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF A LEGAL DEFINITION OF CRIME, TYPES OF CRIME AND CRIME CLASSIFICATIONS, CRIME DATA INCLUDING THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS, DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF CRIMINOLOGICAL THOUGHT, AND FACTORS THAT CAUSE OR ALLEVIATE CRIME. AN OUTLINE OF THE MODERN POLICE DEPARTMET CONSIDERS THE POLICE ROLE; PATROL, CRIME INVESTIGATION, AND YOUTH DIVISIONS; ORGANIZED CRIME AND VICE CONTROL; TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION; POLICE SERVICE ALLOCATION; AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW IS REVEALED IN AN ANALYSIS OF PROSECUTION, DEFENSE, AND THE COURTS. ANCIENT AND MODERN ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON ARE REVIEWED IN A DISCUSSION OF THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND DESCRIPTIONS OF STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES FOCUS ON SPECIALIZED TYPES OF POLICE SUCH AS THE U.S. COAST GUARD AND THE FBI. ADDITIONAL TOPICS INCLUDE POLICE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS, THE PROBLEM OF FINDING A BALANCE BETWEEN SECURITY AND LIBERTY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND SOME CONTEMPORARY ISSUES THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FACE DAILY SUCH AS MINORITY GROUP ATTITUDES, POLITICAL CORRUPTION, AND RELATIONS WITH THE NEWS MEDIA. AN APPENDIX COVERS THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION'S STANDARDS AS THEY RELATE TO THE URBAN POLICE FUNCTION. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED, AND NOTES FOR EACH CHAPTER ARE PROVIDED. (AOP)