STAFF MEMBERS OF THE POLICE PROJECT OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTER OF PHILADELPHIA, PA. (PILCOP) SCREEN POLICE ABUSE ALLEGATIONS RECEIVED OVER THE TELEPHONE, INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS THROUGH INHOUSE INTERVIEWS, CONTACT WITNESSES, AND MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING REDRESS STRATEGY (REFERRAL TO ATTORNEYS FOR CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LITIGATION, INSTITUTION OF CLASS ACTION OR OTHER INJUNCTIVE RELIEF SUIT, REFERRAL TO POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, TERMINATION IF NO FURTHER ACTION IS WARRANTED). PILCOP STAFF ALSO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION EFFORTS, PARTICIPATE IN RELATED CLASS ACTION LITIGATION, AND HELP TO DEVELOP LEGISLATION INTENDED TO MODIFY POLICE PROCEDURES FOR INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS OF ABUSE. THE EVALUATION REPORT, WHICH STRESSES THE CONTROVERSIAL NATURE OF THE PROJECT AND THE SOMETIMES HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN WHICH THE PROJECT AND ITS EVALUATION HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT, TOUCHES ON ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES, THE EXTENT TO WHICH PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE BEING MET, AND THE PERCEPTIONS OF OTHER AGENCIES AND PERSONS (CLIENTS, U.S. ATTORNEY'S AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICES, POLICE, CITY SOLICITOR, PRIVATE ATTORNEYS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER VICTIM SERVICE AGENCIES) OF PILCOP. THE PROJECT RECEIVED 566 COMPLAINTS IN 1977, COMPARED TO 436 IN 1975 AND 603 IN 1976. THE NUMBER OF CASES TERMINATED WITHOUT AN INTERVIEW INCREASED FROM 167 IN 1976 TO 266 IN 1977. OVER HALF OF THE 268 CASE SUMMARIES AVAILABLE TO THE EVALUATOR SHOWED NO DISPOSITION. PROJECT STAFF PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CITY ORDINANCE REGARDING POLICE DEPARTMENT INTERNAL INVESTIGATION OF ABUSE/MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTS. THE EVALUATORS CONCLUDE THE PILCOP'S ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH THE OBJECTIVES FOR WHICH THE POLICE PROJECT WAS FUNDED, AND THAT THERE IS NO CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PROJECT'S OBJECTIVES AND THE OVERALL GOAL OF IMPROVING POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PILCOP TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS: UPGRADE ITS SYSTEM OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT; ALTER STAFF CONFIGURATION TO PERMIT RESEARCH GOALS TO BE PURSUED, FOCUS COMMUNITY WORK ON TRAINING CITIZENS TO SERVE AS ADVISORS FOR PEOPLE SEEKING REFERRAL IN CASES OF ALLEGED POLICE ABUSE, INCREASE THE FORMALITY OF REFERRAL PROCEDURES AND ALLOCATION OF STAFF TIME, CONTINUE ITS LEGISLATIVE WORK (INCLUDING A SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF COMPLAINT PROCEDURES IN OTHER CITIES), AND USE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE'S NEW POLICE BRUTALITY UNIT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S NEW COMPLAINT PROCEDURES FOR CASES THAT APPEAR TO HAVE MERIT, FOLLOWING UP EACH CASE REFERRED TO EITHER AGENCY. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)