MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) PROVIDE WIDE RANGING INFORMATION FOR MEDIUM-AND LONG-TERM PLANNING. TWO MAJOR OPTIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF AN MIS ARE (1) TO ENHANCE A SMALLER COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM OR (2) TO FRONT-END A MAINFRAME COMPUTER WITH A POLICE-DEDICATED MINICOMPUTER. COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS MONITOR TRAFFIC AND CRIME, AND THEY WOULD PROVIDE AN INITIAL DATA BANK FOR THE MIS. MAGNETIC TAPE FACILITIES AND ADDITIONAL CORE SPACE WOULD BE REQUIRED. MAINFRAME COMPUTERS, HOWEVER, HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF SOPHISTICATED DATA PROCESSING SOFTWARE. A MINICOMPUTER WOULD PROVIDE A 24-HOUR ONLINE ENQUIRY CAPACITY AT A LOW COST. ALSO, LONG-TERM DATA CAN BE STORED ECONOMICALLY ON MAGNETIC TAPE OR LARGE DISC FILES AT THE MAINFRAME. AN MIS MUST BE REGARDED AS AN EVOLVING SYSTEM: DURING ITS LIFETIME ADDITIONAL FACILITIES WILL BE ADDED AS GREATER UNDERSTANDING IS GAINED REGARDING POLICE EFFECTIVENESS AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS. A GRADUAL IMPLEMENTATION ADJUSTS COSTS WITHIN LIMITED ANNUAL BUDGETS. HUMAN FACTORS PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED (1) BY INVOLVING MANAGERS IN DESIGN STAGES IN ORDER TO TEACH THEM WHAT INFORMATION IS RELEVANT AND WHAT THE SYSTEM CAN DO, AND (2) BY TRAINING STAFF TO DEAL WITH EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND TO INTERPRET COMPUTER REPORTS. AN MIS SYSTEM WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IF IT IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF AN INDIVIDUAL POLICE FORCE; STANDARD SOLUTIONS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. APPENDICES WITH CONFIGURATION CHARTS ARE INCLUDED.