A NUMBER OF CASES IN WHICH COMPUTERIZED RECORDS SEARCHES ENABLED POLICE OFFICERS TO IDENTIFY AND APPREHEND CRIMINAL SUSPECTS ARE PRESENTED. BEFORE INSTALLATION OF THE SPERRY UNIVAC 90/30 COMPUTER, A MANUAL FILE SEARCH REQUIRED AN AVERAGE OF 10 MINUTES AND RECORDS CHECKS TOOK TWO-THIRDS OF AN OFFICER'S 8-HOUR SHIFT. THIS WAS EQUIVALENT TO LOSING TWO PATROL OFFICERS EVERY DAY. SEARCHES NOW TAKE 10 SECONDS OR LESS. A POINTER SYSTEM IS USED; THAT IS, RECORDS ARE REDUCED TO BASICS WHICH DIRECT THE POLICE OFFICER TO APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS FOR FULL DETAILS. COMPUTERIZATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH FUNDS FROM LEAA AND THE GOVERNOR'S JUSTICE COMMISSION. THE INITIAL SOFTWARE WAS THE WANTS AND WARRANTS PROGRAM DEVELOPED IN PUEBLO, COLO. AS THE PROJECT EXPANDED, SOFTWARE DEVELOPED FOR OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS WAS MODIFIED TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS. A PROGRAMMER WAS HIRED, BUT SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL GENERALLY HAVE BEEN KEPT TO A MINIMUM. VIDEO DISPLAY TERMINALS PROVIDE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NEARBY TOWNSHIPS, AND THE STATE POLICE RECORDS. THE SYSTEM ALSO IS USED TO COLLECT TRAFFIC FINES; THIS PRACTICE HAS RESULTED IN A 60 PERCENT INCREASE IN COLLECTIONS. PRIVACY SAFEGUARDS AND CONTROLS BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. (GLR)