FUNDED BY A LEAA GRANT, 24 COMMUNITY ISSUES FORUMS (CIF) WERE HELD THROUGHOUT THE NATION DURING THE PERIOD OF NOVEMBER 11, 1975 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1976. THE CIF'S BROUGHT TOGETHER COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL FOR THE PURPOSE OF IDENTIFYING AND PLANNING FOR THE CHALLENGES OF THEIR COMMUNITY, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON PROBLEMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 3,700 CITIZENS OF ALL AGES AND FROM ALL ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL STRATA PARTICIPATED IN THE 24 CIF'S. GRANT STAFF PERSONNEL AND LOCAL INSTITUTE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS (ICA) STAFF WORKED TOGETHER TO RECRUIT AND SET UP FORUMS. CITIES WERE SELECTED, POSSIBLE TARGET COMMUNITIES WITHIN EACH CITY WERE CHOSEN, AND VISITS WERE MADE TO LOCAL PEOPLE WHO COULD SERVE AS SPONSORS. LOCAL ICA STAFF THEN CONTINUED TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITY IN THE PREPARATION. THE CRITERIA FOR CITY SELECTION, SITE SELECTION, AND RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES WERE ADAPTED TO LOCAL SITUATIONS, BUT SOME BASIC SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT CRITERIA USED ARE LISTED. A LIST OF THE 24 CIF'S IS ALSO PROVIDED, GIVING THE DATES HELD, NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AT EACH, AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE COMMUNITY. THREE CIF'S ARE DESCRIBED AS EXAMPLES OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY WHERE EACH WAS HELD--KANSAS CITY, MO., DETROIT, MICH., AND EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. FACTORS CONSIDERED TO CONTRIBUTE TO SUCCESSFUL CIF'S ARE REPORTED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) COMMUNITY GROUPS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL JOINTLY PLANNED THE FORUM; (2) THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS MOTIVATED TO OPEN CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY; (3) LEAA OFFICE AND OFFICIALS OFFERED ASSISTANCE; AND (4) LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND BUSINESSES ASSIGNED PEOPLE TO ATTEND ON A RELEASE TIME BASIS. SOME BUDGETARY AND PROGRAMATIC DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED ARE BRIEFLY MENTIONED. IT IS REPORTED TO BE THE OPINION OF ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE FORUMS THAT THEIR DESIGN AND EFFECT UPON COMMUNITY-LAW ENFORCEMENT RELATIONS WAS POSITIVE. (RCB)