FELONY COURTS IN BALTIMORE, CHICAGO, AND DETROIT WERE SELECTED BY THE AUTHORS FOR STUDY, BECAUSE THEIR ORIGINAL INTEREST WAS IN PLEA BARGAINING, AND THEY HAD DETERMINED THAT THESE CITIES HAD QUITE DIFFERENT PROCEDURES FOR NEGOTIATING PLEAS AND USED IT TO VARYING EXTENTS. THE AUTHORS OUTLINE IN DETAIL THE ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL THAT PROVIDES THE ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FELONY DISPOSITION PROCESS. THIS PERSPECTIVE IS SUPPORTED BY USING OBSERVATIONS AND INTERVIEWS FOR EACH OF THE THREE CITIES. THE METHODS USED FOR COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DATA ARE DISCUSSED. THE WORK OF PRELIMINARY HEARING COURTROOM WORKGROUPS IS EXAMINED, AND AN ANALYSIS OF TRIAL WORKGROUPS AS THEY CHOOSE BETWEEN PLEA NEGOTIATIONS AND TRIALS IS OFFERRED. THERE IS ALSO AN ANALYSIS OF THE WAYS IN WHICH PUNISHMENT RESULTS FROM INVOCATION OF THE FELONY DISPOSITION PROCESS. THE AUTHORS NOTE THE DIFFERENCES IN PROCESS AND OUTCOME OF THE TRIALS OF DEFENDENTS ACCUSED OF THE SAME CRIME IN THE SEPARATE CITIES STUDIED. SUGGESTIONS AND GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR REFORM ARE GIVEN....RCB