The PPBS is a decisionmaking tool which helps the police administrator in several ways. It requires a statement of objectives, thus giving the administrator a fresh look at the entire police function. It emphasizes the use of police manpower and how it is distributed to meet objectives and it emphasizes the planning function, thereby requiring a major planning effort. PPBS also gives the administrator a budget justification tool based on logical analysis, and it tends to retain decisionmaking about police operations at the departmental level. The PPBS is a four-step system: analysis of department objectives, analysis of output of a given program in terms of objectives, measurement of the total costs of a given program over several years, and analysis of alternative ways to achieve the stated objectives. PPBS success is dependent upon commitment of the time and resources necessary to develop it fully within the department. A total of 22 references and 7 exhibits are provided. (Author summary modified).