THIS REPORT CONCERNS STATISTICS AND ISSUES CONFRONTING ALLEGHENY COUNTY THAT RELATE TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COUNTY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE STATISTICAL ANALYSES COVER REPORTED CRIME, VICTIMIZATION, POLICE SERVICES, AND COURT ACTIVITIES. IN THE PRESENTATION OF REPORTED CRIME RATES, AN EFFORT IS MADE TO PINPOINT SPECIFIC CRIME PROBLEMS IN EACH GROUP OF COMMUNITIES FOR THE YEAR 1976 AND 1977. DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION IS REVIEWED IN CONJUNCTION WITH REPORTED CRIME. INFORMATION ON JUVENILE AND CRIMINAL COURT CASE FLOW IS REPORTED AND ANALYZED. SINCE VARIOUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES WITHIN THE COUNTY HAVE DEVELOPED THEIR OWN DATA SYSTEMS AND REPORT THEIR OWN DATA ANALYSES TO THE PUBLIC SERVED, THIS VOLUME CONTAINS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS STATISTICAL ANALYSES THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THE PUBLICATION SPACE THUS MADE AVAILABLE HAS BEEN USED TO DISCUSS CURRENT PROBLEMS AND ISSUES RELATED TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE OPERATIONS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. THE ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THIS VOLUME ARE REGIONALIZATION OF POLICE SERVICES THROUGH CONSOLIDATION OF LOCAL AGENCIES AND A REPORTING OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON STATUS OFFENDERS IN THE COUNTY TO BE USED IN STUDYING THE PROCUREMENT OF APPROPRIATE RESOURCES FOR SUCH OFFENDERS AS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW. FUNDED PROGRAMS FOR THE YEARS 1970-1977 ARE LISTED AND DESCRIBED BY AREA OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVED, AND AMOUNTS OF MONEY PROVIDED FOR EACH PROGRAM AREA ARE REPORTED. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDED STATISTICS ON CRIME IN THE COUNTY BY REGION, AND PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE ALLEGHENY REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL FROM 1970 TO 1978 ARE LISTED IN TABULAR FORM ACCORDING TO PROGRAM TYPE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS GRANTED. (RCB)