Over 1,400 persons (61 percent) responded. Selected respondents were telephoned to clarify their expressed problems and needs. The needs assessment revealed a system under stress; officials felt overworked and underfunded. Caseloads were rising and prisons were overflowing, while budgets for criminal justice agencies had been capped or cut and staffing levels slashed. Practitioners tended to identify workload issues as the most pressing problems. Prison/jail overcrowding was overwhelmingly identified as the most pressing problems confronting State criminal justice systems across all groups, levels of government, and geographic regions. A wide range of most critical needs were reported by practitioners, including improved facility design and security, better use of computers in case management, providing adequate felony representation, and upgrading probation/parole services. Most respondents argued for more adequate funding as the most effective way to meet their needs. Short of more funding, most of the technical assistance and research strategies suggested were intended to make more efficient use of existing personnel, facilities, and equipment. Exhibits; footnotes; and appendixes giving a sample questionnaire telephone interview guide, and technical issues are included.