Data were gathered via questionnaires administered to participating agencies and during a 1985 conference on civilian oversight, held in Toronto. Survey results suggest three major categories of complaint systems: internal police department investigation and disposition; external, independent civilian investigation and review; and hybrid systems in which the police department investigates a civilian complaint with external citizen input. The sample included 23 internal affairs systems, 5 independent agencies, and 10 hybrid systems. These systems are described in terms of their intake, investigation, and disposition procedures and policies. Some specific approaches of special interest are described in detail. Quantitative results of the survey are appended, as are forms and brochures for some of the programs examined. Tables and attachments.