Local governments in the Washington area have joined their state and federal counterparts in trying to ensure that computer systems operate properly on Jan. 1, 2000. In many cases, entire computer systems are being replaced, resulting in networks that not only are Y2K compliant but also have much greater capacity. Below is a summary of the effort in certain key areas, according to local and regional officials.

P U B L I C    S A F E T Y D I S T R I C T Computer systems handling 911 emergency dispatching and police records are being replaced. By March, the Corrections Department should complete installing a new inmate tracking and records system, costing about $1.5 million.

V I R G I N I A Arlington: Software that handles computer-aided dispatching and criminal justice and fire records is already Y2K compliant, but $80,000 worth of repairs on hardware is needed. Alexandria: The city is spending $200,000 to repair its criminal justice information system. Computer-aided dispatch already was slated for replacement, at a cost of $3.6 million. The detention center security system is also being replaced, for $1 million. Fairfax: Eight public safety computer systems have already been fixed or replaced, three are under repair, and a final, noncompliant system is slated for repair this month. Computers are used for tasks ranging from crime analysis to parking tickets. The total cost is estimated at $540,000. Loudoun: New 911 emergency dispatching and records management systems eliminated Y2K problems, at a cost of $1.3 million. Prince William: A new 911 emergency dispatching system is to be installed by October 1999, for $1.2 million. If it i delayed, the county is considering repairing the old system. The police records management system also needs repairs. The fire records system is already compliant. M A R Y L A N D Howard: Police and fire records, animal control, computer-aided dispatch and the state's attorney computer systems need Y2K repairs. Some new systems are being installed and others upgraded, costing about $660,000. Montgomery: Nineteen public safety computer systems are not Y2K compliant, including criminal justice information, 911 emergency dispatch and animal control. The criminal justice computer system is being replaced, and others are being repaired. In addition, 500 personal computers will be replaced. Prince George's: The computer-aided dispatching and police reports database systems are scheduled to be replaced by March.