HEARINGS WERE HELD BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE PURPOSE OF THE HEARINGS WAS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE SHOULD IN FACT BE A FEDERAL ROLE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CRIME RESEARCH, AND IF SO, WHAT SHOULD BE THE PRIORITIES OF A FEDERAL RESEARCH PROGRAM. CRIMINAL JUSTICE RELATED RESEARCH EFFORTS OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION (LEAA), THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (NILECJ), AND OTHER RESEARCH-ORIENTED INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS WERE REVIEWED. THE GENERAL CONSENSUS WAS THAT THERE DEFINITELY IS A ROLE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE AREA OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CRIME RESEARCH. ADDITIONAL TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDED A REORGANIZATION OF LEAA AND NILECJ, FUNDING MECHANISMS, RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION. PROBLEMS IN LEAA AND NILECJ ADMINISTRATION ARE EXAMINED, AND THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE IS PROPOSED. THE NEED FOR INCREASED EMPHASIS ON EVALUATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT APPROACHES, ACTION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES, BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT, DEVELOPMENTAL AND BASIC RESEARCH, INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, TRAINING, AND STANDARDS IS DISCUSSED. A 2-YEAR PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, DEVELOPED BY THE OFFICE FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, IS ALSO PRESENTED. APPENDIXES INCLUDE STATEMENTS FROM THE FORENSIC SCIENCES FOUNDATION, LEAA SUBMISSIONS, AND RELEVANT CORRESPONDENCE AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL. (JAP)