THE ECU IS ONE OF 29 PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE EARNED THE EXEMPLARY LABEL OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ECONOMIC CRIME INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS, INCREASE PUBLIC AND POLICE AWARENESS IN ORDER TO PREVENT CRIMES BEFORE THEY OCCUR AND TO RECOGNIZE THEM WHEN THEY DO, AND TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE APPROACH TO THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF ECONOMIC CRIME. ECU CONSISTS OF THREE PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS, FIVE INVESTIGATORS, AN INTERN, AND A CLERICAL ASSISTANT. INFORMATION ABOUT CASES IS FOUND MOSTLY IN NEWSPAPERS AND REFERRALS FROM OTHER AGENCIES. TRAINING COURSES GIVEN TO POLICE AND AN ACTIVE CONSUMER INFORMATION PROGRAM ALSO HELP GENERATE REPORTS TO ECU. DURING ITS FIRST 3 YEARS (1975-1978), ECU RECEIVED 32,315 INQUIRIES, 786 OF WHICH WERE INVESTIGATED; ARRESTS WERE MADE IN EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE; AND 97 INDICTMENTS WERE BROUGHT AND DISPOSED OF--84 DEFENDANTS ENTERED GUILTY PLEAS, 2 WERE FOUND GUILTY AT TRIAL, 4 RECEIVED ACCELERATED REHABILITATION DISPOSITIONS, 2 WERE ACQUITTED, AND 5 CASES WERE DROPPED BEFORE TRIAL. ITS TOTAL OPERATING COSTS DURING THE 3 YEARS WAS $474,778 (WITH LEAA ASSISTANCE OF $125,000 IN EACH OF THE FIRST 2 YEARS, AND $177,300 IN THE THIRD). DURING THIS TIME, THE ECU RETURNED SUBSTANTIAL SUMS IN RESTITUTION TO VICTIMS OF ECONOMIC CRIMES AND TO THE STATE IN FINES IN EXCESS OF ITS OPERATING COSTS. THE UNIT PAID FOR ITSELF AND, IN ADDITION, PROVIDED PROTECTIVE AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR THE BATTLE AGAINST ECONOMIC CRIME. (GLR)