TO HELP REMEDY THE PROBLEM, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SPONSORS A NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL INFORMATION ON COSTS, BENEFITS , AND LIMITATIONS OF SELECTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS IN USE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. EACH NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM (NEP) ASSESSMENT CONCENTRATES ON A SPECIFIC TOPIC AREA CONSISTING OF GROUPS OF ONGOING PROJECTS WITH SIMILAR OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES. THE INITIAL STEP IN THE PROCESS IS A 'PHASE I' STUDY THAT IDENTIFIES THE KEY ISSUES, ASSESSES WHAT IS CURRENTLY KNOWN ABOUT THEM, AND DEVELOPS METHODS FOR MORE INTENSIVE EVALUATION AT BOTH THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL. IN 1977, THE PHASE I ASSESSMENTS WERE RESTRUCTURED TO INCLUDE A LIMITED PRETEST OF THE PHASE SMALL NUMBER OF TEST SITES. THIS BROCHURE DESCRIBES THE BACKGROUND AND GENERAL APPROACH OF THE NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM AND HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE KEY FINDINGS OF PHASE I ASSESSMENTS TO DATE. THE APPENDIX LISTS THE 27 PHASE I STUDIES FUNDED TO DATE AND THEIR CURRENT STATUS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)....ELW