AT THE TIME OF ITS INCEPTION, LEAA WAS CHARGED WITH THE TASK OF GUIDING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TOWARD MORE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH MINORITY COMMUNITIES. AS AN ARM OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT REPRESENTED THE MOST SYSTEMATIC ADVOCATE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ACTIVITIES, AND, AS SUCH, IT WAS ABLE TO DISPENSE FEDERAL FUNDS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. EXTENSIVE CRITICISM OF LEAA'S ROLE TOWARD MINORITIES RESULTED IN 1976 AMENDMENTS TO LEAA'S REAUTHORIZATION. ANALYSIS OF LEAA'S CIVIL RIGHTS RECORD RELATES TO FIVE LEGISLATIVE OR OPERATIONAL FEATURES OF THE AGENCY: FUNDING FORMULAS, STATE PLANNING AGENCY BOARDS, SITE SELECTION AND THE PROVISION OF SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATION. CONSIDERATION IS ALSO GIVEN TO THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT IN WHICH LEAA WAS ESTABLISHED, TO THE FUNGIBILITY OF LEAA FUNDS, AND TO LEAA COMPLIANCE WITH FRACTURE. STUDY SHOWS THAT ALTHOUGH LEAA WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO DEVELOP SOME LEADERSHIP FOR IMPROVED CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS, THE AGENCY HAS CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWED THE WHIMS AND WISHES OF A LIMITED CONSTITUENCY, THE POLICE. IN ADDITION, IT ALLEGES MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF LEAA FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED ON A BLOCK GRANT BASIS TO BE ALLOCATED ACCORDING TO THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION EACH STATE REPRESENTS. IN STATES AFFECTED BY AN UNDERCOUNT AND MINORITY POPULATIONS SUFFER THE GREATEST UNDERCOUNTS, MINORITIES CAN EXPECT LITTLE HELP FROM LEAA. STATE PLANNING AGENCY BOARDS SURVEYED IN 12 STATES REPORTED MINORITY REPRESENTATION NONPROPORTIONAL TO MINORITY POPULATION IN THE STATE AND TO PERCENTAGE OF MINORITIES THAT IS VICTIMIZED. ALTHOUGH LEAA MAY HAVE DEALT WITH CIVIL RIGHTS, IT HAS CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO ADDRESS SUCH LARGER ISSUES, AS EQUALITY IN THE DELIVERY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, AN AREA IN WHICH LEAA'S MISSION OF REDUCING CRIME MIGHT BE MOST SUCCESSFUL. MOREVER, LEAA'S PROGRAMS HAVE LACKED IN QUALITY; E.G., THE LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS INCREASED MEDIOCRITY RATHER THAN CREATING EXCELLENCE. BECAUSE OF ITS FINANCIAL RESOURCES, LEAA PROGRAMS HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON THE PUBLIC AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO THREATEN BASIC FREEDOMS; THUS, IT MUST BEGIN LIVING UP TO ITS RESPONSIBILITY OF REDUCING CRIME AND ENHANCING JUSTICE. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (MHP)