APPROXIMATELY 30 STATE AND LOCAL PROSECUTION AND COURT AGENCIES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE IN ONE STAGE OR ANOTHER OF INSTALLING OR OPERATING A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM KNOWN AS PROMIS (PROSECUTOR'S MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM). THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED BY THE INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND SOCIAL RESEARCH (INSLAW), A NONPROFIT CORPORATION ENGAGED IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WORK FOR PROSECUTION AND COURT AGENCIES, UNDER FUNDING FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION. THIS PAPER REPORTS HIGHLIGHTS FROM A MULTI-YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT CONDUCTED BY INSLAW UNDER FUNDING FROM LEAA'S NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THE PROJECT UTILIZES FIVE YEARS OF PROMIS DATA FROM THE LOCAL COURT SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TO ADDRESS POLICY ISSUES IN SIX BROAD PROBLEM AREAS: POLICE PERFORMANCE FROM THE PROSECUTION AND COURT PERSPECTIVE, PROSECUTION PERFORMANCE, JUDICIAL DECISION MAKING, PLEA BARGAINING, SPEEDY TRIAL AND PATTERNS OF CRIMINAL AND RELATED COMMUNITY BEHAVIOR. THE STUDIES ILLUSTRATE HOW DATA BASES CREATED FROM INFORMATION SYSTEMS SUPPORTING DAY-BY-DAY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION CAN BE EXPLOITED FOR INSIGHTS INTO CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS AND HOW THESE RESEARCH INSIGHTS CAN, IN TURN, BE EXPLOITED TO RESHAPE THE ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM ITSELF. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)