A SAMPLE OF KNOWN WITNESSES, DRAWN FROM CASES REJECTED OR DROPPED BY PROSECUTORS BECAUSE OF WITNESS PROBLEMS, WAS INTERVIEWED. THE STUDY WAS BASED ON DATA OBTAINED FROM THE WASHINGTON, D.C., PROMIS (PROSECUTOR'S MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM) AND A SERIES OF WITNESS INTERVIEWS. THE MAJOR CONCLUSION OF THE STUDY IS THAT COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN POLICE/PROSECUTOR AND WITNESSES PREVENTED THE PROSECUTORS FROM ASCERTAINING THE TRUE INTENTIONS OF MANY WITNESSES. HOWEVER, SYSTEMRELATED DIFFICULTIES, INCLUDING TRIAL DELAY, ALSO INFLUENCED WITNESSES NOT TO COOPERATE. THE SOLUTIONS TO THE COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS MUST BE EFFECTED THROUGH BETTER MANAGEMENT OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. VERIFICATION OF WITNESSES NAMES AND ADDRESSES, MAINTENANCE OF ACCURATE WITNESS RECORDS, AND BETTER COORDINATION AMONG POLICE, PROSECUTION, COURT, AND WITNESSES, ESPECIALLY IN CONTINUANCES, ARE VIABLE SOLUTIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)