THE SECURITY MONITORING SYSTEM IS A TOOL USED TO REDUCE CRIME WITHIN PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS IN WILMINGTON BY PROVIDING DATA NEEDED TO ENSURE MAXIMUM SATURATION OF HIGH CRIME AREAS BY COMBINATIONS OF LOCAL POLICE AND HOUSING AUTHORITY SECURITY PATROLS. THE SYSTEM GATHERS STATISTICS ON REPORTED BURGLARIES, ROBBERIES, DRUG ABUSE, AND OTHER CRIMES. THE REPORTS PRODUCED BY THE SYSTEM TELL WHAT TYPE OF CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED; WHERE, IN RELATION TO THE HEAVY CRIME AREAS; WHEN; AND AGAINST WHOM. THEY ARE STRUCTURED SO THAT THE PRIVACY OF THE INDIVIDUAL IS PROTECTED AND SO THAT NO DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL IS PRODUCED. THEY REFLECT ONLY DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON SEX, AGE, AND GENERAL LOCATION WITHIN THE HOUSING AREA. THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEM AND ITS DESIGN PROCESS ARE OUTLINED. MAJOR PROBLEM AREAS ENCOUNTERED INVOLVED DEVELOPMENT OF A METHOD TO EXTRACT MEANINGFUL STATISTICS AFTER OBTAINING INFORMATION ON ALL CRIMES TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROPERTIES; AND TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES IN THE TYPE OF DATA PROCESSING USED. BENEFITS WHICH HAVE BEEN REALIZED SINCE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM HAVE INCLUDED A DECLINE IN VANDALISM; IDENTIFICATION OF CRIME TRENDS (WHICH PERMITS PLANNING, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION OF SECURITY PATROLS); AND A SMOOTHER OPERATING AUTHORITY. IMPORTANT STEPS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM HAVE INVOLVED ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES IN VARIOUS DATA PROCESSING FUNCTIONS. (VDA)