INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS WERE DEVELOPED FOR MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) IN PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES RANGING IN SIZE FROM 7 TO 150 ATTORNEYS. DURING SITE VISITS TO FIVE SELECTED DEFENDER OFFICES, IT WAS FOUND THAT ATTORNEYS WERE RELUCTANT TO USE AN MIS IN THEIR DEFENDER OFFICES. THE CONCEPT OF AN MIS IN WHICH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SHARES INFORMATION WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REQUIRED THE DEVELOPMENT OF CASELOAD-WEIGHTING FACTORS SO THAT DEFENDERS COULD PROJECT THE BURDEN PLACED ON THEIR OFFICES AS EACH NEW CASE WAS ASSIGNED. TO DETERMINE CASELOAD WEIGHTING, THE INFORMATION NEEDS FOR DEFENDERS WERE GROUPED INTO SEVERAL REPORT LEVELS, EACH CONTAINING SPECIFIC REPORTS. AN OUTLINE OF THE VARIOUS REPORTS DEVELOPED BY THE PROJECT IS PROVIDED. IN ADDITION, IN REVIEWING THE CONSIDERATIONS RELEVANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTOMATED MIS FOR DEFENDERS, TWO LINES OF RESEARCH WERE PURSUED: (1) ANALYSIS OF THE PROSECUTOR'S MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (PROMIS) AND MINI PROMIS SYSTEMS DEVELOPED FOR USE IN PROSECUTORS' OFFICES, INCLUDING ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND SOCIAL RESEARCH (THE AGENCY THAT DEVELOPED MINI PROMIS AND PROMIS), ONSITE RECONNAISSANCE OF PROMIS INSTALLATIONS, A DETAILED REVIEW OF EXISTING LITERATURE ON MINI PROMIS, AND ATTENDANCE AT ONE PROMIS USERS GROUP MEETING; AND (2) ANALYSIS OF ALL EXISTING AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEMS CURRENTLY USED BY PUBLIC DEFENDERS. FINALLY, PROJECT STAFF CONDUCTED A MARKET SURVEY WHICH REVEALED THAT PUBLIC DEFENDERS ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS WHICH RESTRICT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY AUTOMATED SYSTEM WITHOUT A SUBSTANTIAL ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES FROM LEAA OR SOME OTHER SOURCE. ALTHOUGH DEFENDERS UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR SOME TYPE OF MIS, PARTICULARLY IF SUCH A SYSTEM CAN BE TIED TO A CASE-WEIGHTING METHOD, LITTLE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PROPOSED, RANGING FROM THE ADVANCEMENT OF A MANUAL SYSTEM TO THE SOPHISTICATION OF MICROCOMPUTER TECHNOLOGY. A TABLE COMPARING THE VARIOUS SYSTEMS STUDIED BY TYPES OF BENEFITS AND COSTS AND AN ORDER FORM FOR OBTAINING COPIES ARE INCLUDED.