THE PLAN IS INTENDED TO FORM THE BASIS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTH THE ADULT AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS, AND WAS DESIGNED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON REDUCING CRIME AND BETTERING THE OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS DISCUSS THE PLANNING PROCESS, THE METHOD EMPLOYED FOR COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DATA USED IN DEVELOPING THE PLANS AND PROBLEM DESCRIPTIONS, THE SETTING OF OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES, AND THE FORMULATION OF THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN. THEN AN UPDATE OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM CHAPTER OF THE 1978 PLAN IS PRESENTED CONTAINING AN EXPLANATION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND RELATED AGENCIES, THEIR ACTIVITIES, RESOURCES, AND CAPABILITIES. THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF JUVENILE CRIME AND DELINQUENCY IN MARYLAND IS EXAMINED AND INFORMATION ON JUVENILE SYSTEM PROCESSING IS PRESENTED, INCLUDING A FLOW DIAGRAM DESCRIPTION OF THE JUVENILE SYSTEM BY COUNTY, JUVENILE ACTIVITY RATES AND FLOWS, AND JUVENILE JUSTICE INFORMATION. HISTORICAL AND CURRENT TRENDS IN STATUS OFFENDER AND DELINQUENT PROCESSING, DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF JUVENILES AT VARIOUS POINTS WITHIN THE SYSTEM, RECIDIVISM RATES, AND JUVENILE ARREST PROJECTIONS BY COUNTY ARE ALL CHARTED. THE REPORT DISCUSSES SEVERAL PROBLEM AREAS AND SYSTEM NEEDS: UPGRADED PROGRAMS AIMED AT THE PREVENTION OF CRIME, UPGRADED LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES, IMPROVED PROSECUTORIAL SERVICES IN THE CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURTS, EFFECTIVE REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT CAPABILITIES IN THE STATE, AND ENHANCED EFFORTS AIMED AT SPECIFIC CATEGORIES OF CRIME OR AT CRIME IN SPECIFIC AREAS. THE COMMISSION'S 1979 FUNDING PRIORITIES ARE LISTED, AND 1- AND 5-YEAR OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS AND GOALS FOR THE SYSTEM ARE PROVIDED. THE REPORT ENDS WITH AN OUTLINE OF ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS AND ANNUAL ACTION GRANTS PROGRAMS FOR 1978. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (DAG)