THE STUDY WAS ALSO BASED LARGELY ON AN EXAMINATION OF EIGHT KEY ISSUES AND TEN LAW ENFORCEMENT PRODUCTS. THE EIGHT ISSUES INVESTIGATED WERE AS FOLLOWS: THE PRODUCER RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND ENGINEERING PROCESS; LAW ENFORCEMENT MARKETS; INFORMATION TRANSFER AND DISSEMINATION; NEED IDENTIFICATION; COOPERATION BETWEEN USERS; FUNDING AND BUDGETING; THE EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION PROCESS; AND INSTALLATION UTILIZATION, MAINTENANCE, AND ASSESSMENT. THE TEN LAW ENFORCEMENT PRODUCTS SELECTED FOR ANALYSIS INCLUDE BODY ARMOR, HOLSTER UTILITY BELTS, LOW-LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY AND SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT, NONLETHAL WEAPONS, PORTABLE TRANSCEIVERS, VEHICLE LOCATORS, VOICE IDENTIFICATION, WEAPONS DETECTION, BUILDING DESIGN FOR COURTS AND PRISONS, AND COURT RECORDING SYSTEMS. COMPARATIVE ANALYSES ARE ALSO PRESENTED OF PRODUCERS, USERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND OTHER AGENCIES. THE ESIP (EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM) IS CRITICIZED FOR ITS LACK OF POLICY DIRECTION AND SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR REDIRECTION. THE POINT IS MADE THAT NILECJ MUST RECOGNIZE THAT AN EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM INVOLVES MANAGEMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION, DIFFUSION AND DISSEMINATION AS WELL AS THE INNOVATION ASPECTS OF THE TOTAL R&D SYSTEM. THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF MARKET AND USER BEHAVIOR AND CAPABILITY AS POLICY TARGETS IS HIGHLIGHTED. SUGGESTIONS MADE FOR FURTHER WORK OF BOTH RESEARCH AND ACTION ORIENTATIONS, FOR VOLUMES TWO, THREE, AND FOUR, SEE NCJ-35015, 16, AND 17. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)