This program plan is offered as a guide to potential grantees and contractors. It outlines the National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice's priorities for research in fiscal year (FY) 1978 and beyond and spells out other Institute programs and projects to be carried out during the fiscal year. The guide is offered as a first step for a close working relationship between the Institute and criminal justice researchers and practitioners. Following introductory material which outlines the Institute's functions, organization, and long-range agenda, the following eight areas in which research will be coordinated and administered are discussed in terms of previous Institute research, priority issues, and FY 1978 funding: correlates and determinants of criminal behavior, violent crime, community crime prevention, the career criminal, utilization and deployment of police resources, pretrial process (delay reduction and consistency), sentencing, and rehabilitation. Fiscal year 1978 research activities for the Institute's offices of research and evaluation methods, program evaluation, and development, testing, and dissemination are also briefly described, along with various other programs receiving funding. (SH)