TASC makes community-based treatment available to drug-dependent offenders convicted of nonviolent crimes. The program was initiated in 1972 and was shown in most evaluations to offer a beneficial and cost-effective alternative to the criminal justice system for handling these offenders. Federal funding was withdrawn in 1980 and restored in 1984 under a block grant program. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice) administers the program and issued regulations for grant applicants in May 1985. Each program must have five organizational elements: (1) broad support within the justice system with a protocol for effective continuing communication, (2) broad support and communication within the treatment system, (3) an independent TASC unit with a designated administrator, (4) policies and procedures for required staff training, and (5) a data collection system for use in program management and evaluation. The program's five operational elements must include (1) eligibility criteria for offenders, (2) identification procedures emphasing early justice and treatment intervention, (3) documented procedures for assessment and referral, (4) documented policies and procedures for random urinalysis and other physical tests, and (5) monitoring procedures. Addresses of members of the national TASC consortium, information on technical assistance and training, glossary, and 19 references.