THE NILECJ IS THE RESEARCH ARM OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER THREE BILLION DOLLARS TO STATE AND LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECTS IN ITS FIRST FIVE YEARS OF EXISTENCE. IN RESPONSE TO INCREASED ATTENTION TO THE EVALUATION PROCESS USED TO DETERMINE THE AGENCY'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND FAILURES, THE NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM (NEP) WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE INSTITUTE. THE PROGRAM WAS PLANNED IN TWO STAGES TO FULFILL BOTH SHORT- AND LONG-TERM INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS. THE PHASE I ASSESSMENTS WERE DESIGNED AS A MEANS OF DEMONSTRATING THE NEEDS FOR EITHER FURTHER RESEARCH IN PARTICULAR TOPIC AREAS OR THE DISCONTINUATION OF RESEARCH EFFORTS. BASED ON THE PRODUCTS OF THE PHASE I INVESTIGATIONS, PHASE II EVALUATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN TOPIC AREAS WHERE A NEED AND FEASIBILITY FOR GATHERING MORE INFORMATION HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATED....EB