NLETS IS A NONPROFIT GROUP GOVERNED BY STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. USERS INCLUDE MOST STATES, INTERNATIONAL POLICE ORGANIZATIONS, THE U.S. NAVY, AND OTHERS. NLETS PROVIDES THE CAPABILITY TO EXCHANGE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND RELATED INFORMATION ACROSS STATE LINES VIA A COMPUTER-CONTROLLED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK (STORE-AND-FORWARD MESSAGE SWITCHING). THE TYPES OF INFORMATION EXCHANGED INCLUDE VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND DRIVER'S LICENSE INFORMATION, CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION, AND FREE-FORM CRIMINAL JUSTICE MESSAGES. STARTED IN ARIZONA, NLETS WAS EVENTUALLY FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATES HAVING RETAINED CONTROL BY BEING ABLE TO HIRE OR FIRE THE DIRECTOR. SIX PROBLEM AREAS DISCUSSED FOR NLETS ARE (1) MAINTAINING PRIVACY AND SECURITY, (2) DEALING WITH MULTIPLE STATE AGENCIES; (3) HANDLING SYSTEMS CHANGES IN THE FACE OF VARIED USER NEEDS; (4) MANAGING OUT-OF-HOUSE SYSTEMS OPERATORS; (5) MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF AN INCREASINGLY COMPLEX SYSTEM; AND (6) HANDLING THE COMPLEXITIES OF UPGRADING THE SYSTEM. FUTURE CHALLENGES TO NLETS ARE NOTED. (PAP)