Data for this project were collected from criminal justice operations in Contra Costa County, Calif., Dade County, Fla., and Columbus, Ohio between November 1973 and July 1974. This volume outlines the study's objectives, defines its key terms, and describes the research methodology. A discussion of observations pertaining to the entire study focuses on the fragmented and nonsystematic use of physical evidence information, recordkeeping practices, the underutilization of potential criminalistics services, and the lack of communication. The findings reported in three individual volumes are summarized. Areas addressed by two studies are the use of criminalistic aids in a crime investigation and the role of physical evidence information in the adjudication process. A third volume develops measures of effectiveness for crime laboratories and uses data from the study sites to demonstrate their application. Recommendations to improve criminalistics utilization are presented in four categories: communication, training, and control; effectiveness measurement; crime and evidence-specific suggestions; and dissemination of project results. Also reviewed are data problems encountered by the study and its implications for other research. The report includes flow charts and six references. See NCJ 83270 to 83272 for Vol. 1 to Vol. 3.