TYPES OF PROGRAM EVALUATION METHODOLOGIES MOST FREQUENTLY USED IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARE DISCUSSED AND THE CRITICAL PROGRAM EVALUATION PROBLEMS THAT HAVE TO BE OVERCOME ARE ANALYZED. THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE LACK OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN EVALUATORS AND DECISION MAKERS WHO MAY HAVE SOME USE FOR EVALUATION PRODUCTS, THE INCOMPATIBILITY OF EVALUATION PRODUCTS WITH THE USER'S NEEDS, AND THE DECISION MAKER'S LACK OF AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF PROGRAM EVALUATION AND ITS UTILITY. A PROGRAM EVALUATION STRATEGY DESIGNED TO COMBAT THESE PROBLEMS IS THEN PRESENTED. IN ADDITION, THE VARIOUS PHASES WHICH MAKE UP THE EVALUATION STRATEGY BEING VALIDATED ARE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS SEVEN CASE STUDIES FROM THE EVALUATION UNIT PRESENTED TO KEY DECISION MAKERS FUNCTIONING AT THE STATE, REGIONAL, COUNTY, AND LOCAL LEVELS, AS WELL AS A GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (THIS EVALUATION STRATEGY WAS DEVELOPED AND VALIDATED BY THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY (MD) CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION UNIT.)