IN ADDITION TO REDUCING PROSECUTORIAL CASELOADS, THE ADULT DIVERSION PROJECT (ADP) HAS ESTABLISHED THREE SUBSIDIARY GOALS: TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM, TO ENHANCE THE CLIENT'S OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS AND/OR ACADEMIC STATUS, AND TO HELP PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES DEVELOP SELFACCEPTANCE AND SELF-UNDERSTANDING. SELECTED DEFENDANTS ARE REFERRED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO THE ADULT DIVERSION PROGRAM; CHARGES ARE DISMISSED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT PROSECUTION WILL BE RESUMED IF THE DEFENDANT'S BEHAVIOR DURING THE PERIOD OF DEFERRED PROSECUTION DOES NOT MEET ADP REQUIREMENTS. DURING THE PERIOD OF DEFERRED PROSECUTION, ADP PROVIDES GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING AND JOB OR ACADEMIC PLACEMENTS. IN APPROPRIATE CASES, A RESTITUTION AGREEMENT MAY BE ESTABLISHED AS A CONDITION OF PARTICIPATION. PROJECT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ARE ALSO EVALUATED. PROJECT STRENGTHS WERE THAT: MAJORITY OF THE PROJECT'S PARTICIPANTS AVOID CONVICTION; THE VICTIM AND ARRESTING OFFICER ARE INVOLVED IN THE DIVERSION DECISION; THE PROJECT HAS EFFECTIVELY EMPLOYED A RANGE OF VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE DELIVERY POSITIONS; THE PROJECT HAS SHOWN SENSITIVITY TO THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF ITS CLIENTS; AND THE PROJECT HAS SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF CASES FROM PROSECUTORIAL CASELOADS. PROJECT WEAKNESSES WERE THAT THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON A FAIRLY LOW RISK CLIENTELE, THAT THE PERIOD OF DEFERRED PROSECUTION MAY EXTEND FOR AS LONG AS TWO YEARS, AND THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM'S GOAL OF REDUCING RECIDIVISM OR IMPROVING THE CLIENT'S ECONOMIC STATUS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)