THE CAPTIS PILOT SYSTEM, IMPLEMENTED IN SELECTED STATES IN EARLY 1978, IS DISCUSSED WITH EMPHASIS ON HOW IT WORKS, CONTRACT LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE SYSTEM'S LEGAL FEASIBILITY, AND LIABILITY PROBLEMS. CAPTIS IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INTERESTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES WITH COMPREHENSIVE, UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THE LOCATION AND AVAILABILITY FOR TRANSPORT OF PRISONERS HELD IN CUSTODY IN SISTER STATES. USING THIS INFORMATION, PROSECUTORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, AND CORRECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS, WHO ARE ALREADY HARD PRESSED BY CITIZEN REQUESTS FOR BETTER FUNCTIONING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND BY THE RISING COSTS OF THE RESOURCES REQUIRED TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, MAY AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER WITH RESPECT TO COOPERATIVE TRANSPORTS ON A COST REIMBURSEMENT OR EXCHANGE-OF-SERVICE BASIS. THE PILOT SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A DATA BASE LOCATED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THIS DATA BASE IS SIMPLY A COMPUTERIZED FILE OR INDEX CONTAINING BASIC LOGISTICS INFORMATION REGARDING PRISONERS AWAITING TRANSPORT. IT IS LINKED TO THE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM. ANY CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT PRISONERS AWAITING TRANSPORT CAN REQUEST INDEX INFORMATION BY SELECTING THE ORIGIN AND DESTINATION AREAS THAT BEST SUIT ITS REQUIREMENTS, ALONG WITH SPECIFIC TIME DURING WHICH IT WISHES TO ACCOMPLISH A COOPERATIVE TRANSPORT. CAPTIS THEN RESPONDS WITH A SUMMARY GEOGRAPHIC LIST OF ALL THE POSSIBLE TRANSPORT. IF THE AGENCY IDENTIFIES A POTENTIAL COOPERATIVE TRANSPORT FROM THIS LIST, IT REQUESTS SPECIFIC ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF INFORMATION (EEI) AND USES THIS DATA FOR A FURTHER EVALUATION AND, POSSIBLY, TO TELEPHONE OR TELEGRAPH THE OTHER AGENCY TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT FOR A COOPERATIVE INTERSTATE PRISONER TRANSPORT. SEE ALSO NCJ 50516-50520.