SINCE 1972, THE MISSOURI COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REGION FIVE HAS FINANCED, THROUGH BLOCK GRANT FUNDS, THE DESIGN OF A COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL COURT INFORMATION SYSTEM. IN 1976, THE MCCJ-REGION FIVE REQUESTED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO REVIEW AND EVALUATE THE AUTOMATED REGIONAL COURT INFORMATION SYSTEM (RCIS) WHICH HAD BEEN DEVELOPED. IN RESPONSE TO THIS REQUEST, THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WERE UNDERTAKEN: A REVIEW OF RCIS DOCUMENTATION, ON SITE VISITS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE RCIS, INCLUDING JUDGES, ANTICIPATED USERS, AND TECHNICIANS. THE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT WERE ANALYZED. THE PROJECT DESIGN WAS FOUND TO BE EXCELLENT. THE SCHEDULE FOR IMPLEMENTATION WAS FOUND TO BE OVERLY AMBITIOUS, AND AN EXPANSION OF THE SCHEDULE WAS RECOMMENDED. WHILE THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT WAS FOUND TO BE SOUND, IT WAS NOTED THAT A SERIOUS DEFICIENCY EXISTED IN THE ABSENCE OF WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION CONCERNING OVERALL GOALS, OBJECTIVES, STATUS REPORTS, AND OTHER FORMS OF EXTERNAL CONTROL PROCEDURES. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT A DETAILED PHASED PROJECT CONTROL PLAN BE DEVELOPED.