THE LEAA WAS CREATED BY CONGRESS TO ENCOURAGE STATES AND OTHER UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO PREPARE AND ADOPT COMPREHENSIVE PLANS BASED ON THEIR EVALUATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS, TO AUTHORIZE GRANTS TO STATES AND OTHER UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR IMPROVING AND STRENGTHENING LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTED TOWARD THE IMPROVEMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE METHODS FOR PREVENTING AND REDUCING CRIME AND FOR DETECTING AND APPREHENDING CRIMINALS. THE AGENCY'S HISTORY SINCE 1968 HAS BEEN SHAPED BY CONGRESSIONAL INTENT AND BY BUDGETARY SUPPORT AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, AS WELL AS BY THE NEW FEDERALIST PHILOSOPHY OF THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION THAT EMPHASIZED THE RESTORATION OF LOCAL CONTROL OVER LOCAL PROGRAMS. BETWEEN 1969 AND 1973, LEAA APPROPRIATIONS INCREASED FROM ABOUT $60 MILLION TO $850 MILLION. DIVISIONS WITHIN THE LEAA ARE CONCERNED WITH AUDITING, INSPECTION AND REVIEW, CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLIANCE, AND PUBLIC AND CONGRESSIONAL LIAISON. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS THE RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE LEAA. OTHER IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONAL ENTITIES WITHIN THE AGENCY ARE THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE, THE OFFICE OF OPERATIONS SUPPORT, AND THE NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION AND STATISTICS SERVICE. THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE LEAA ENCOMPASSES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSISTING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN CONTROLLING CRIME, CIVIL DISORDERS, AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THE NEED FOR SYSTEMS INTEGRATION, THAT THE LEAA MUST FOSTER AND FACILITATE, EVOLVES FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO COORDINATE SEVERAL SETS OF RELATIONSHIPS: THOSE WITHIN AND AMONG COMPONENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (POLICE, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS), THOSE WITHIN AND AMONG COMPONENTS OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM, THOSE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY (VICTIMS, WITNESSES, OFFENDERS, VOTERS, JURORS, AND TAXPAYERS) AND OTHER SYSTEMS. THE POWER ENVIRONMENT OF THE LEAA INCLUDES THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, AND CONGRESS. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LEAA IS EVALUATED, AND PRESSURE GROUPS FOR AND AGAINST THE WORK OF THE AGENCY ARE CONSIDERED. ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)