AN INTRODUCTORY LETTER TO THE WASHTENAW COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF THE SIGNIFICANT 1979 ACTIVITIES: 1) PLACEMENT OF THE PRETRIAL INVESTIGATION PROGRAM UNDER THE CIRCUIT COURT ADMINISTRATOR, 2) A HIGH CASELOAD LEVEL, AND 3) INNOVATIONS IN TRAINING NEW INVESTIGATORS. A STATEMENT OF APPRECIATION IDENTIFIES THE NUMEROUS COURT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WITH WHICH THE PRE-TRIAL INVESTIGATION PROGRAM IS COORDINATED. A DESCRIPTION OF THE PRE-TRIAL INVESTIGATION PROGRAM'S OPERATION INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF THE PRETRIAL INVESTIGATOR'S INVOLVEMENT WITH EACH ALLEGED FELON'S CASE, AND A GLOSSARY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEFINITIONS PERTINENT TO PRETRIAL INVESTIGATION WORK. SALIENT FEATURES OF THE 1979 CASELOAD ARE DISCUSSED, AND STATISTICAL DATA PRESENTED IN TEN ACCOMPANYING TABLES INCLUDE: 1) CLIENT LOAD BY SEX, RACE, AGE, DISTRICT COURT, AND CIRCUIT COURT; 2) CLIENT EDUCATIONAL LEVEL; 3) CLIENT EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATES; 4) BENCH WARRANTS ISSUED; AND 5) 1979 CLIENTS SENTENCED TO PRISON. BASED ON A SAMPLE OF 631 CASES OUT OF A TOTAL OF 1119 CASES, PRETRIAL INVESTIGATORS' RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OR AGAINST RELEASE WERE REFLECTED IN JUDICIAL DECISIONS 83.3 PERCENT OF THE TIME IN 1979. ADDITIONAL TABLES PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC AND CRIMINOLOGICAL PROFILES OF WOMEN ALLEGED OFFENDERS, WHO COMPRISED 11.4 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL 1979 CASELOAD. OTHER TABLES PROVIDE DATA ON: FINAL DISPOSITIONS OF CASES HANDLED BY PRETRIAL INVESTIGATORS, PRETRIAL RECOMMENDATIONS IN AGREEMENT WITH NEITHER THE COURTS NOR THE PROSECUTOR, AND RECOMMENDATIONS COMPARED TO BOND DETERMINATIONS AND NONCOMPARABLE CASES. TABLES AND APPENDIXES ARE PROVIDED.