MCDC has been involved in self-supported automation since 1986. The agency serves a county with a population of 253,000 that includes the State capital. Approximately 2,800 individuals are offenders. The jail population averages 380 inmates per day, of whom 89 percent are males; field supervision handles 2,300 active cases, and a separate work center houses another 75 inmates per day. MCDC has 180 employees. The journey toward computer self-determination began with the use of consultants to develop a prototype effort based on the concept of starting small and building incrementally. Basic operational requirements and featured were stabilized during the first year of production use of the first system upgrade in 1989; additional capabilities were developed on an incremental and evolutionary basis. The system was upgraded a second time in 1993. The experience indicates that a corrections agency should own its own data system, that the data and not the hardware or software are important, that the upgrade cycle never ends, that extensive financial and staff resources are required, and that management commitment and training are essential. Author's telephone number and e-mail address