THE HOUSE'S JUSTICE SYSTEM INFORMATION ACT OF 1979 ADDRESSES THE SAME MATTERS AS THE SENATE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE REFORM ACT, ALTHOUGH TO A LESSER EXTENT. THE PARTICULAR FOCUS IS ON THE RELATION BETWEEN NATIONAL STATISTICAL PROGRAMS AND FEDERAL SUPPORT OF JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND STATISTICS. THIS REPORT IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR SECTIONS. THE FIRST DESCRIBES THE CURRENT STATUS OF FEDERAL EFFORTS TO PROVIDE NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATISTICS: THE SEVEN MAJOR FEDERAL STATISTICAL PROGRAMS PRODUCING NATIONAL OR MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE DATA (THE NATIONAL CRIME SURVEYS, NATIONAL PRISONER STATISTICS, EXPENDITURE AND EMPLOYMENT DATA FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, NATIONAL COURT STATISTICS PROJECT, UNIFORM PAROLE REPORTS, NATIONAL OFFENDER-BASED TRANSACTION STATISTICS, AND UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS) ARE BRIEFLY SUMMARIZED AND THE SPONSORING AGENCIES GIVEN FOR EACH. THE SECOND SECTION OUTLINES CURRENT FEDERAL PROGRAMS FOR ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION AND STATISTICS. SECTION THREE DELINEATES PROBLEMS IN FEDERAL POLICY AND PROGRAM FORMULATION. STATISTICAL RESEARCH AND STATISTICAL PROGRAMS DEPEND UPON STATE AND LOCAL OPERATING AGENCY DATA SYSTEMS AND STATE AND LOCAL STATISTICAL REPORTING CAPABILITIES. THE CHIEF PROBLEM CONFRONTING STATE AND LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES IS THE LACK OF EXPLICIT RECOGNITION IN CONGRESSIONAL ACTION OF SUCH DEPENDENCE. THE FOURTH SECTION PRESENTS SPECIFIC PROPOSALS TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDS THAT THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH AND STATISTICS SCHEDULE A FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL COORDINATION CONFERENCE AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE STAGE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE REFORM ACT. THERE IS A PRESSING NEED FOR EARLY ACTION TO CONTINUE LIAISON BETWEEN NATIONAL STATISTICAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND FEDERAL FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL STATISTICS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMS.