BASICALLY, THE SAC AIMS TO HELP LOCAL AGENCIES EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE STREETS, HOMES, FACTORIES, OFFICES, AND PEOPLE OF THE JURISDICTIONS THEY SERVE IN ORDER TO IMPROVE DELIVERY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND OTHER SERVICES. TO ENCOURAGE THE INTEREST OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE CENTER IS PREPARING A SERIES OF REPORTS ON THE COSTS OF CRIME AND RELATED PROBLEMS. THE REPORTS WILL SHOW HOW AGENCIES COULD ADDRESS PROBLEMS MORE EFFECTIVELY BY USING BETTER INFORMATION. TO USE THE NEW INFORMATION, BASIC PARAMETERS OF CITY AND AGENCY RECEPTIVITY ARE BEING DEVELOPED WHICH DEMONSTRATE HOW URBAN ANALYSIS SHOULD BE APPROACHED AND WHAT KINDS OF INFORMATION AND COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES WOULD BE MOST SUITED TO ITS NEEDS AND CAPABILITIES. THE CENTER IS ALSO COMPILING A GUIDE TO FEDERAL AND STATE INFORMATION PROGRAMS. TWO PILOT PROJECTS HAVE PRODUCED THREE SEPARATE WAYS TO ASSESS INFORMATION NEEDS, COLLECT INFORMATION, AND ANALYZE IT. THESE ARE (1) SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN MATTERS OF LOCAL CONCERN TO ENCOURAGE WIDER USE OF INFORMATION; (2) ASSISTING URBAN GOVERNMENTS TO BRING BETTER INFORMATION AND INFORMATION USE TO SPECIFIC AGENCIES UNDER A SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSESSMENT PROGRAM; AND (3) CITYWIDE DATA BASE ASSISTANCE. (MJW)