---
category: PROMIS Scandal
created: 2024-04-25
summary: Dean C. Merrill co-founded the Institute for Law and Social Research (ILSR)
  with Bill Hamilton on October 15, 1973, and served as a Vice President of INSLAW,
  Inc. through at least April 1982, having also been a member of the original 1969
  team that designed the PROMIS software under the direction of Joan E. Jacoby and
  Charles R. Work.
tags:
- Person
- PROMIS
- INSLAW
updated: 2026-05-01
---

Dean C. Merrill was a member of the original 1969 team assembled by U.S. Attorney [Thomas A. Flannery](/people/thomas-a-flannery/) to design a computer-based case management system for the [DC U.S. Attorney's Office](/organizations/us-attorneys-office/). The team was co-directed by [Joan E. Jacoby](/people/joan-e-jacoby/) and [Charles R. Work](/people/charles-r-work/), with [Bill Hamilton](/people/bill-hamilton/) serving as project manager at [Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co](/organizations/peat-marwick-mitchell-co/). The resulting system, deployed January 1, 1971, became the [Prosecutor's Management Information System (PROMIS)](/programs/promis/).[^2]

On October 15, 1973, Merrill co-incorporated the Institute for Law and Social Research (ILSR) with Hamilton at 1125 15th Street, N.W., Suite 6000, Washington, D.C. ILSR was a nonprofit corporation established to serve as the steward of the PROMIS software and to conduct empirical criminal justice research under [LEAA](/organizations/leaa/) funding.[^2]

When INSLAW, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in January 1981 as the for-profit successor to ILSR, Merrill continued with the new entity as a Vice President. He held that position through at least April 1982, during the period when the company negotiated and executed its March 1982 implementation contract with the [DOJ's](/organizations/department-of-justice/) Executive Office for United States Attorneys.[^2]

[^1]: Cannavale, Frank J. *Witness Cooperation: With a Handbook of Witness Management.* Lexington Books, 1976.
[^2]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary. *The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report.* House Report 102-857, 102nd Congress, 2nd Session, September 10, 1992.