THE COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE NATIONAL SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION AND THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE. AS AN INITIAL TASK, THE COMMITTEE EXAMINED THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A STANDARDIZED OWNER-APPLIED NUMBERING SYSTEM FOR USE IN A NATIONWIDE PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM. THE FOLLOWING ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS PRECLUDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONWIDE NUMBERING SYSTEM: (1) INITIAL COSTS OF ESTABLISHING SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL; (2) EFFECTIVE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION WOULD REQUIRE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPLEX AND COSTLY BUREAUCRATIC STRUCTURE; AND (3) MANY CITIZENS WOULD VIEW THE SYSTEM AS A POTENTIAL THREAT TO THEIR PRIVACY OR AS A VIOLATION OF THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS. THE COMMITTEE CONCLUDED THAT BOTH LOCALLY AND PRIVATELY ADMINISTERED PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION PROGRAMS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT'S ABILITY TO RETURN LOST OR STOLEN PROPERTY TO THE OWNER. THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM ARE NOTED: AN OWNER-APPLIED PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER MUST BE UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZABLE BY THE PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL; AN OWNER-APPLIED NUMBER MUST BE INTERJURISDICTIONALLY TRACEABLE; IT IS IMPORTANT FOR AN OWNER-APPLIED NUMBER TO BE RECOGNIZABLE IN ALL JURISDICTIONS; AN OWNER-APPLIED NUMBER MUST BE A UNIQUE PERSONAL IDENTIFIER; AND AN OWNER-APPLIED PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM MUST BE SIMPLE AND FUNCTIONAL. THE COMMITTEE ANTICIPATES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, PUBLICATION, AND DISSEMINATION OF WRITTEN GUIDELINES AND FOR THE PROVISION OF FOLLOWUP TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL OPERATION IDENTIFICATION PROJECTS. (DEP)