This article describes the lengthy and complicated process of developing the three Unided Nations crime trends surveys, starting from the early comparative studies in the late 1940's to the later survey of crime trends, operations of criminal justice systems and crime prevention strategies undertaken in 1982, all of which have remained rather unnoted in the criminological literature. Both the substantive and methodological aspects of these surveys are discussed in order to trace the changing emphasis of these surveys from a principally one-dimensional, legalistic undertaking to multidimensional, “developmental” analyses. Let it be emphasized that these recurrent surveys meet an oft-expressed request by Member States for broad cross-national analyses of crime trends and have become over time more encompassing, illustrative and systemic. Some of the major results of these surveys are presented here. Finally, the author suggests that despite specific shortcomings which exist in cross-national analyses of crime trends and operations of criminal justice systems, such analyses are nonetheless very useful in selecting particular policies. To this end, the results of the Second United Nations Survey (1975-1980) will be submitted for consideration and action to the Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders to be held in Milan, Italy, 26 August - 6 September 1985.
