THIS STUDY FOCUSED ON AN EXAMINATION OF THE FOLLOWING EIGHT KEY ISSUES: 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. IN ADDITION, ANALYSES WERE CONDUCTED OF TEN SELECTED LAW ENFORCEMENT PRODUCTS - 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 OF PRODUCERS, USERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND OTHER AGENCIES WERE ALSO CARRIED OUT. 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. A GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY AND 80 TABLES OF PROGRAM DATA ARE INCLUDED. FOR THE OTHER THREE VOLUMES OF THIS REPORT, SEE NCJ-35014, 16 AND 17.