The opening speech by the U.S. Attorney General discussed the impact of urbanization and mass communication on U.S. society as well as the restlessness among young people and urban populations who are poor and unemployed. He characterized law enforcement agencies as being caught in the middle between these factions and those who demand law and order at any price and cautioned police not to overreact. Police chiefs and mayors then expressed their opinions on methods to prevent situations from growing into large-scale disorders and training police to handle civil disturbances. Several felt that the Federal Government should issue a policy statement on law enforcement at the riot scene to guide local governments. Others desired clarification concerning military assistance for the police and criticized the media for inaccurate or distorted reporting. Other topics addressed included the need to train police to deal with young people, cooperation and planning among all local agencies, financial problems faced by police departments, and the mayor's role. A representative from the President's Commission of Civil Disorders assessed police preparedness for handling civil disorders and suggested that police forces needed backup support such as the National Guard. He also commented on the need for improved communications, better intelligence information, and training in the use of nonlethal weapons. In the final group discussions, participants described innovative tactics they used to control disorders in their jurisdictions, such as community relations programs, recruiting minorities, and liaisons with civil rights groups. They also suggested sources of instructors and models for a national training program. A list of participants is provided.