USING THIS REPORT, STATE COURT OFFICIALS, LEAA, AND OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS CAN COMPARE STATE JUDICIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO DETERMINE BENEFITS AND COSTS OF VARIOUS SYSTEMS. REPORT INFORMATION WAS COLLECTED AND COMPILED THROUGH ONSITE VISITS AND REVIEWS OF LITERATURE, DOCUMENTATION, WORKING PAPERS, AND SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES. PRIMARY SOURCES REGARDING INDIVIDUAL STATE JUDICIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (SJIS) ACTIVITIES WERE ASSESSMENTS, SURVEYS, AND DOCUMENTATION FROM THE 23 PARTICIPATING SJIS STATES. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SJIS PROJECT IS PRESENTED, THE FIRST FOUR PHASES OF THE PROJECT ARE REVIEWED, AND THE FUTURE OBJECTIVES OF THE FIFTH PHASE OF THE SJIS PROJECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED. NOTE IS MADE OF THE EXPANSION OF THE SJIS PROJECT TO ALL 50 STATES, TERRITORIES, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BEGINNING IN MAY 1979. THE VARIOUS TECHNOLOGIES AND METHODOLOGIES INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING AUTOMATED COURT INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE DISCUSSED IN NONTECHNICAL LANGUAGE. CHARTS AND TABLES ILLUSTRATE THE CURRENT TECHNICAL STATUS OF SJIS ACTIVITIES IN BOTH PARTICIPATING AND NONPARTICIPATING STATES AND TERRITORIES. INFORMATION PROVIDED INCLUDES COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPING AND OPERATING AN AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEM; VARIOUS SUBMODULES (CIVIL, CRIMINAL, JUVENILE) OPERATING OR BEING DEVELOPED AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1978; DETAILED METHODS OF COLLECTING, PREPARING, AND ENTERING DATA AS WELL AS METHODS FOR GENERATING OUTPUT REPORTS; TYPES AND CONFIGURATIONS OF COMPUTER EQUIPMENT USED TO SUPPORT EACH OPERATIONAL SUBMODULE; AND GENERAL INFORMATION ON TRAINING PRACTICES, SECURITY, AND PRIVACY PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTED IN VARIOUS STATES. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. APPENDIXES PROVIDE A PROFILE OF EACH PARTICIPATING SJIS PROJECT STATE, A DIRECTORY OF STATE COURT ADMINISTRATORS AND INFORMATION SYSTEM DIRECTORS, AND A GLOSSARY OF TERMS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)