RECENT STUDIES IN THE AREA OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION PROCESS HAVE SHOWN THAT THE HIGH COST HAS NOT RESULTED IN A PROPORTIONATELY HIGH CLEARANCE RATE. THE RAND STUDY CONFIRMED THIS FINDING AND FOUND ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THE PROCESS. IN RECOGNITION OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE FUNDED PROGRAMS FOR MODIFYING MANAGEMENT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS IN FIVE CITIES. THE BIRMINGHAM PROGRAM (MCI) FOCUSED ON LARCENIES AND BURGLARIES AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS PROCESS TO OVERALL DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES. THE PROGRAM, ESTABLISHED IN OCTOBER, 1976, HAS INCREASED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PATROL OFFICERS FOR ON-SCENE INVESTIGATIONS AND ENSURED GREATER COOPERATION BETWEEN PATROL OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES. THE EVALUATION OF THE MANAGEMENT AND REALLOCATION COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM FOUND THAT WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR A PARTICIPATIVE APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING. THE PROGRAM'S INITIAL INVESTIGATION COMPONENT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN FURTHERING MCI GOAL ATTAINMENT, WHILE HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OVERALL DEPARTMENTAL PROCEDURES. THE PROGRAM'S CASE SCREENING PROCEDURE HAS MET ITS OBJECTIVES AND HAS RESULTED IN SCREENING OUT 85 TO 90 PERCENT OF CASES IN WHICH DETECTIVES WOULD HAVE BECOME INVOLVED. WHILE MANAGEMENT OF CONTINUING INVESTIGATIONS HAS IMPROVED, THERE IS STILL A NEED FOR IMPROVED SUPERVISION. BIRMINGHAM PROSECUTORS HAVE SHOWN NO INTEREST IN HAVING POLICE USE RAND'S 39 EVIDENTIARY QUESTIONS. PROSECUTORS HAVE ISSUED CONDITIONAL WARRANTS IN CASES WHERE BOTH THE POLICE AND PROSECUTORS RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED, IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THE OFFENDER INTO CUSTODY. REFERENCES AND STATISTICAL TABLES ARE INCLUDED. DETAILED STATISTICAL DATA ARE APPENDED.