PRS WAS DEVELOPED FOLLOWING RECOGNITION IN 1973 THAT CURRENT NEW YORK CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS WERE INADEQUATE. PRS REPRESENTS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AND AMONG THE STATE DIVISION OF PROBATION AND THE 57 SEMIAUTONOMOUS COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENTS. OPERATING UNDER A STATEWIDE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, PRS AIMS TO ASSIST THE PROBATION OFFICER'S INFORMATION GATHERING ROLE AND TO SUPPORT DECISIONS MADE AT ALL LEVELS OF PROBATION MANAGEMENT. THE SYSTEM HAS THREE COMPONENTS: INPUTS FROM PROBATION OFFICERS, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND FILES, AND OUTPUTS. OUTPUTS INCLUDE REARREST NOTIFICATIONS AND MANAGEMENT REPORTS. REARREST NOTIFICATIONS ENTER THE SYSTEM WITHIN HOURS OF RECEIPT OF AN ARREST FINGERPRINT CARD AT THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES. THREE DATA ELEMENTS OF USE TO THE PROBATION OFFICER INCLUDE THE IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION, THE NATURE OF THE ARREST AND ARREST/ARRAIGNMENT INFORMATION. THE INDIVIDUAL PROBATION OFFICER CARRIES MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING THE PRS SYSTEM'S EFFICIENCY. THE SYSTEM IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF STEPS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION FOR DECISIONMAKING. FORMS USED, SYSTEM DIAGRAMS, AND A SAMPLE REARREST NOTIFICATION ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)