THE STAFF STUDY OPENS WITH AND OVERVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND ITS GROWTH IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. THE STUDY THEN EXAMINES FINDINGS OF THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO) REGARDING PROBLEMS AND INEFFICIENCIES IN COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS. TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT THE COMMITTEE STAFF FEELS ARE INCONSISTENCIES AND QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES IN FEDERAL COMPUTER PROGRAMS, THE STAFF STUDY REPORTS ON INFORMATION GAINED IN CONNECTION WITH A REHABILITATION AND TRAINING PROJECT IN THE U.S. PENITENTIARY AT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. THERE, INMATES ARE TRAINED TO BE COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS. PROBLEMS IN COMPUTER SECURITY AND COMPUTER CRIMES RAISED BY THIS PROGRAM ARE NOTED. SIMILAR PROBLEMS FOUND IN OTHER AGENCIES ARE ALSO NOTED. FINALLY, THE STUDY PRESENTS COMMENTS BY SEVERAL FEDERAL AGENCIES ON COMPUTER PROBLEMS. THE STAFF STUDY SUPPORTS THE CONCLUSION OF THE GAO THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH NEEDS TO IMPROVE ITS SAFEGUARDS AGAINST CRIMINAL EXPLOITATION OF AND DAMAGE TO AUTOMATED DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS. SPECIFIC PROBLEM AREAS NOTED IN THE REPORT INCLUDE COMPUTER SECURITY FOR OPERATIONS INVOLVING THE DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC FUNDS, COMPUTER SECURITY FOR PROGRAMS OFFERING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIVERT HIGHLY PRIVATE OR ECONOMICALLY VALUABLE DATA, PERSONNEL SECURITY, AND PHYSICAL SECURITY....DMC