Microcomputers became common in law enforcement agencies by 1985 and were used for word processing, budget management, crime reporting, computer-aided dispatching, computer-based training, fleet management, fingerprint identification, and many other applications. More recently, technological advances have moved the capabilities of hardware ahead of that of conventional software. As a result, software companies are trying to develop new operating systems, advanced conventional software, and fifth-generation languages involving artificial intelligence and expert systems to use the power of the new hardware. However, law enforcement agencies other than the FBI and some State systems have not yet focused major attention on the possible use of artificial intelligence and expert systems in law enforcement. Nevertheless, these fifth-generation systems will undoubtedly have a major role in law enforcement in the future. 8 references.