THIS PAPER IS THE SECOND OF SIX PRODUCTS OF A NATIONAL EVALUATION OF PRETRIAL RELEASE PROGRAMS TO DETERMINE THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR EFFECTIVENESS, TO ASSESS THE USEFULNESS OF THIS KNOWLEDGE FOR PLANNING AND FUNDING DECISIONS, AND TO DEVELOP RESEARCH DESIGNS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR A FULL EVALUATION. THE FRAMEWORK IS ORGANIZED AROUND THE PRINCIPAL AREAS OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSES MEASUREMENT POINTS AND DATA TO BE COLLECTED FOR TESTING THE VALIDITY OF UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS AND MEASURING THE IMPACT OF EACH ACTIVITY ON PROJECT GOAL ACHIEVEMENT. AREAS WHERE EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGNS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR TESTING VALIDITY OF ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING PROGRAM INTERVENTION ARE IDENTIFIED. AN OUTLINE OF THE FRAMEWORK IS INCLUDED TO AID THE READER'S UNDERSTANDING. FOR THE OTHER FIVE PARTS OF THIS PHASE I EVALUATION, SEE NCJ-32738 AND NCJ-32740-43.