THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF THE COURTS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION TO THE ALTERNATIVE PATHS AVAILABLE TO ADMINISTRATORS INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTING A COMPUTER-BASED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. FOLLOWING AN OVERVIEW OF THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS, A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO DEVLOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE NECESSARY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PACKAGES IS OUTLINED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE FOLLOWING: (1) FEASIBILITY DETERMINATIONS, EVALUATIONS OF SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES, AND COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES; (2) ASSESSING THE POLITICAL AND PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS (E.G., PROBLEMS OF USING CENTRAL COMPUTER FACILITIES, INTERAGENCY CONTRACTS, JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE, PRIVACY AND SECURITY OF DATA); (3) DESIGNING THE SYSTEM (INCLUDING POLICY AND GOAL DETERMINATIONS AND ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS); (4) SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE CONCERNS, SUCH AS LEVELS OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, CHOICE OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE, AND SELECTION OF MINI-, MAXI-, AND MICROCOMPUTERS; (5) PROCUREMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND WRITING VENDOR CONTRACTS; (6) PROBLEM AREAS IN IMPLEMENTATION, INCLUDING STAFF AND MANAGEMENT, PRODUCT EVALUATION, AND SITE PREPARATION; (7) THE NEED FOR CONTINUOUS EVALUATION OF THE ONGOING SYSTEM; (8) FUNDING THE PROJECT THROUGH LEAA, STATE, LOCAL, AND OTHER REVENUE SOURCES; AND (9) THE FEASIBILITY, PRACTICALITY, AND POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF A CONSOLIDATED STATEWIDE JUDICIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM. A GLOSSARY, BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND LIST OF CRIMINAL COURTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS IN THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AREA ARE APPENDED.