IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH LEGISLATORS AND DECISIONMAKERS IN ORDER TO GAIN THEIR SUPPORT WHEN LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW PROGRAMS OR THE EXPANSION OF OLD PROGRAMS IS NEEDED. THIS RELATIONSHIP IS VITAL SINCE SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON LEGISLATION AND FUNDING. THREE CATEGORIES OF FUNDING ARE LOCAL (CITY AND COUNTY), STATE, AND FEDERAL. AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, IT IS NECESSARY TO KNOW DECISIONMAKERS AND OBTAIN THEIR SUPPORT TO RECEIVE REVENUE SHARING FUNDS FOR USE IN CITY AND COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACT AND OTHER COMMUNITY-FUNDED PROJECTS. FUNDING AT THE STATE LEVEL IS THROUGH STATE APPROPRIATIONS. THERE ARE SEVERAL SOURCES OF FUNDING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, AND TITLE XX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT. PERSONAL CONTACT WITH LEGISLATORS IS ESSENTIAL, AND PROGRAM PROPOSALS MUST BE CAREFULLY AND CORRECTLY DRAFTED. GOOD LEGISLATION SOMETIMES FAILS BECAUSE OF ERRORS OR BECAUSE THE WRONG PERSON INTRODUCES THE PROPOSAL. THE PROCESS OF GETTING A BILL PASSED IS COMPLEX, BUT IT CAN BE SIMPLIFIED BY USING THE RIGHT TECHNIQUES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE LEGISLATORS AND THEIR OPINIONS AND ALSO TO RECOGNIZE AND GIVE CREDIT TO PERSONS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED AND SUPPORTED THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE JUDCIAL REFORM ACT PASSED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND PLANNING EFFORTS TO KEEP A VIABLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OPERATIONAL IN THE STATE ARE DISCUSSED. (DEP)