MULTIFACTORAL APPROACHES (ESPECIALLY IN THE NETHERLANDS) TO THE EXPLANATION OF PROSECUTORS' ACTIONS USE LEGAL BRIEFS AND SUCH TECHNIQUES AS STATISTICAL, FACTORIAL, AND MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS TO ASCERTAIN THE EFFECTS OF SUSPECTS' AND VICTIMS' SOCIOBIOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS (E.G., CLASS, SEX, THE NATURE OF VICTIM-OFFENDER CONFLICTS) ON CASE RESULTS AT THE LEVEL OF PROSECUTOR. THE PRESTRUCTURING OF DECISIONS BY CRIME FACTORS AND THE PROSECUTORS' ROLE AS DECISIONMAKERS ARE EXPLORED IN SURVEY STUDIES. ORGANIZATIONAL STUDIES CONSIDER SUCH MATTERS AS SELF-REGULATION, WORK LOAD, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STRUCTURES OF CRIME AND OF DECISIONMAKING, PROFESSIONAL AND INFORMAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES, TREATMENT OF NEW FORMS OF CRIME, AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING ACTIONS OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. STUDIES ON INTERAGENCY RELATIONS FOCUS ON THE CONTROL OF THE PROSECUTOR OVER INVESTIGATIVE POLICY, THE INFLUENCES OF PROSECUTORS ON JUDGES, POLICE VERSUS PROSECUTOR ASSESSMENT OF CRIME SERIOUSNESS, AND SENTENCING. STUDIES SEEKING TO MEASURE OPINIONS OF PROSECUTORS ON THE BASIS OF ORAL SURVEYS INVESTIGATE PROSECUTORS' ASSESSMENT OF THE GRAVITY OF CRIMES AND APPROPRIATE REACTIONS TO THE CRIMES, PROSECUTORS' USE OF INFORMATION AND ITS EFFECTS ON DECISIONS, AND THE CLASSIFICATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. POLITICAL-HISTORICAL RESEARCH REVEALS THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE INTENTIONS OF LIBERAL REFORMERS AND ACTUAL DEVELOPMENTS IN PROSECUTORS' POSITIONS, THE RELATIONSHIP OF PROSECUTORS TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, AND MODIFICATIONS IN JUDICIAL ORGANIZATION BROUGHT ABOUT BY NEW LAWS OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. OTHER STUDIES PERTAIN TO SELECTION CRITERIA FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, FACTORS INFLUENCING REQUESTS FOR PREVENTIVE DETENTION, AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. FURTHER RESEARCH IS RECOMMENDED ON PROSECUTORS' ATTITUDES, SOCIAL ORIGINS AND SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PROSECUTORS, CONDITIONS WHICH FACILITATE CHANGES IN THE APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL LAW, THE EVOLUTION OF THE POSITION OF PROSECUTOR, THE INFLUENCE OF FACTORS RELATING TO ORGANIZATION ON PROSECUTORS' ACTIONS, AND THE ORIGIN OF NONPENAL MECHNISMS FOR RESOLVING PROBLEMS. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS SUPPLIED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)