Specifically, the research, which is to be conducted between 1994 and 1997, will analyze the trends and causes of crime in Lithuania, as well as the effectiveness of criminalistics and penal policy in countering crime in Lithuania. One of the primary tasks of the research is to develop proposals for improving penal policy. Other featured tasks are to create an effective crime control system of rational punishment and civil sanctions, analyze the application of the criminal code and criminalistics in crime investigation, and prepare proposals for criminal investigation procedures. This paper lists the achievements of the research in 1994-95 and provides a more detailed description of the research conducted in 1996. One of the research projects conducted in 1996 focused on crime patterns in Lithuania over the period 1988-1995. Findings are presented, along with recommendations for how to address the growing crime problem. A second research project examined the effectiveness of existing criminal sanctions and developed suggestions for a sentencing- reform strategy. The third research project described examined the status of criminalistics and crime investigation in Lithuania and developed recommendations for improving these criminal justice enterprises.