The question of the Federal funding role must be approached from a historical perspective. The history of the Omnibus Crime Control Safe Streets Act of 1968 must be reviewed before a better approach can be developed. Although the work of the Attorney General's Task Force on Violent Crime, which will be conducting a review of LEAA and related activities, is not complete, it is clear that State and local criminal justice expenditures have not all been directed at appropriate targets. LEAA failed in this effort because funds were neither concentrated on priority needs nor used in effective ways. Federal funds must be targeted narrowly at areas identified as national priorities; their use must be linked to the results of research which evaluates both existing and new program concepts, and they must be dispensed to implement those that work. Amendments to the Omnibus Act should not be put forth until the results of the Attorney General's task force report are completed. Areas that the task force will explore are mentioned.