THE EVOLUTION OF THE PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT OVER THE YEARS HAS ISSUED IN AN EVER EXPANDING ARRAY OF DATA WHOSE VERY VOLUME HAS BEEN EXPECTED TO EXPLAIN CRIMINALITY AND ENABLE JUDICIAL AND CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL TO MAKE WISER DECISIONS IN OFFENDER SENTENCING AND REHABILITATION. THE LEAA-FUNDED PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT PROGRAM, WHICH BECAME OPERATIONAL IN THE FALL OF 1979 AT NINE LOCAL SITES, AIMS AT STREAMLINING PRESENTENCE REPORTS BY PINPOINTING THE DATA MOST HELPFUL IN JUDICIAL AND CORRECTIONS DECISIONMAKING. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES INCLUDE THE INCREASED USE OF PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORTS BY JUDGES, LESS DUPLICATION OF DATA GATHERING BY PERSONNEL IN THE SAME OR OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, REDUCTION IN CONFINEMENT DAYS FOR DEFENDANTS AWAITING THE COMPLETION OF REPORTS PRIOR TO SENTENCING, MORE RATIONAL BUDGET DECISIONS REGARDING PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION FUNDING, AND REALLOCATION OF STAFF TIME TO THE PROBATION SUPERVISION FUNCTION. THE PROJECT IS A NATURAL FOLLOWUP TO THE PRESENTENCE REPORT HANDBOOK PUBLISHED IN 1978 THAT PRESENTS GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS FOR PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS. ALL PROJECT SITES WERE OPERATIONAL BY NOVEMBER OF 1979 AND EXPECT AN 18-MONTH FUNDING CYCLE. MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD INVOLVING REPRESENTATIVES FROM LEAA, THE SITES, AND THE EVALUATION RESEARCH TEAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES THAT WILL SERVE EVALUATION ENDS. OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED AT THE MEETINGS WERE THE CONCEPT OF USING A SYSTEMWIDE APPROACH TO PROJECT OPERATIONS, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PRESENTENCE PROGRAM AND THE JAIL OVERCROWDING/PRETRIAL DETAINEE PROGRAM, CASE CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES, AND APPROPRIATE HANDLING OF FISCAL MATTERS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)