AN INTRODUCTORY OVERVIEW OF THE USE OF GRANTS TO ENCOURAGE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION IS FOLLOWED BY REVIEWS OF THE HISTORY AND BLOC GRANT PROVISIONS OF THE OMNIBUS CRIME CONTROL AND SAFE STREETS ACT OF 1968. POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REACTIONS TO THE BLOC GRANT CONCEPT ARE SUMMARIZED. MISSOURI'S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR ADMINISTERING THE BLOC GRANT PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED, AS ARE THE STATE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING MECHANISMS. REACTIONS OF REGIONAL-LEVEL PLANNING PARTICIPANTS TO THE STRUCTURES AND PROCEDURES DEVELOPED TO IMPLEMENT BLOC GRANTS ARE EXAMINED. DETAILS OF THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF BLOC GRANTS RELATED TO UNIFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT, POLICE, ADJUDICATION, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, AND CORRECTIONS ARE PRESENTED. MISSOURI'S EXPERIENCE IS SUMMARIZED RELATIVE TO THE MAJOR PURPOSES OF THE ACT. MISSOURI'S EXPERIENCE IS SAID TO INDICATE THAT BLOC GRANTS DO NOT PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING FEDERAL AID IN THE AREA OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE ACT BE AMENDED TO SUBSTITUTE A CATEGORICAL GRANT SYSTEM FOR THE BLOC GRANT SYSTEM SO THAT CLEAR GUIDELINES CAN BE PROVIDED. IN LIEU OF THIS, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE ACT AT LEAST BE AMENDED TO ELIMINATE THE ADDITIONAL BUREAUCRACY MADE NECESSARY BY LOCAL PLANNING. IF NO CHANGES ARE FORTHCOMING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, MISSOURI IS URGED TO ELIMINATE ITS REGIONAL APPROACH AND ALLOW THE STATE COUNCIL TO CONTROL PLANNING AND FUND ALLOCATION. DETAILS OF MISSOURI'S PROBLEMS AND SUCCESSES WITH BLOC GRANT PROGRAMS, SUPPORTING DATA, AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)