THE OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE REFORM ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT ACT, IS TO AID STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN STRENGTHING AND IMPROVING THEIR SYSTEMS OF CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE JUSTICE BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH MAXIMUM CERTAINTY AND MINIMUM DELAY. THE ACT EMPHASIZES COORDINATED, COOPERATIVE SYSTEMS PLANNING; INCREASED LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND CONTROL; AND THE ELIMINATION OF RED TAPE. WITH REGARD TO IMPLEMENTATION IN CALIFORNIA, THE REGIONAL AND LOCAL PLANNING UNITS RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY 68.7 PERCENT OF THE PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE STATE; THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING RECEIVES THE BALANCE. A MATTER OF CONCERN WITH RESPECT TO BOTH PLANNING AND ACTION FUNDS FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION TO CALIFORNIA DURING THIS PERIOD IS THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR ALL FUNDS FROM ALL SOURCES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS ALLOCATED TO CALIFORNIA IN FISCAL YEAR 1980 BE ALLOCATED TO THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS COMMENSURATE WITH THEIR LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY. THE CALIFORNIA COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE SHOULD ASSUME A CREATIVE RESEARCH ROLE FOR THE STATE. THE REPORT INCLUDES THREE FIGURES AND NINE FOOTNOTES.