In recent years a general need for policy-oriented criminology has become quite obvious. The existence and the new foundations of corresponding institutions in supranational organizations and in a great number of countries give proof of this development. In this volume are represented contributions on institutions of - the United Nations - the Council of Europe - the United States of America, Australia, Japan and China - various countries of Europe with a special focus on - the Federal Republic of Germany. An introduction gives an overview of the organizations and functions of these institutions. The volume is complemented by an index of the authors and their institutions.