A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM IS FOLLOWED BY DATA ON LEAA EXPENDITURES, AND NATIONAL SPENDING PATTERNS. THE AUTHORS NOTE THAT THE SPENDING OF LEAA MONEY BETWEEN THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM AND MAY 1973 REVEALS TRENDS IN THE UTILIZATION OF THESE RESOURCES. THE BUDGET CONTROL CATEGORIES INDICATE EQUIPMENT PURCHASES ARE A LOWER PRIORITY WITH THE LATER GRANTS. THE DIVISIONS BY FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY SHOW THAT POLICE-RELATED PROJECTS CONSUME A LARGE PORTION OF EACH GRANT. HOWEVER, A DISCERNIBLE SHIFT FROM POLICE PROJECTS TO UNDERTAKINGS SUPPORTING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE OTHER PARTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS NOTED. BOTH THE CORRECTIONAL AND JUDICIAL CONNECTED AGENCIES RECEIVE A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF EACH SUCCESSIVE GRANT. FURTHERMORE, A CONCERN FOR JUVENILE CRIME IS EVIDENCED BY THE INCREASES IN THE SHARE OF SUCCESSIVE ALLOCATIONS USED FOR PROGRAMS INTENDED TO DEAL WITH THE PROPENSITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. THE DATA ALSO SHOW THAT ITEMS WHICH ARE POLICE RELATED (SUCH AS EQUIPMENT PURCHASES, DETECTION AND APPREHENSION, AND UPGRADING LAW ENFORCEMENT) TEND TO DECREASE IN VARIATION WITH SUCCESSIVE GRANTS. IT APPEARS THAT SPENDING FOR THESE PURPOSES IS SUBJECT TO NATIONALIZING FORCES. AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, STATE-BY-STATE SPENDING FOR SOME OF THE OTHER ENDEAVORS SUCH AS PROSECUTIONS-COURTS, CORRECTIONS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY DIFFERS TO A GREATER EXTENT WITH THE 1971 ALLOCATION THAN WITH THE EARLIER INSTALLMENTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC