VOLUNTEER YOUTH RESEARCH (VYR) WAS LIMITED TO BOYS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 17 WITH SUBJECTS RECRUITED FROM PROBATION ROLLS AND GIVEN AN OPTION OF PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO STANDARD PROBATION. THE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED AS A MEANS OF SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASING THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS, CONVICTIONS, AND AMOUNT OF TIME INCARCERATED FOR THE TREATMENT GROUP AFTER TREATMENT. RESEARCH GOALS INCLUDED DETERMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS AND FREQUENCY AND QUALITY OF CONTACT WITH THE CENTER AS WELL AS ASSESSING WHETHER THE ACTIVITIES USED WERE DIFFERENTIALLY VALUED BY THE CLIENTS. SUBJECTS ATTENDED AN AVERAGE OF THREE SESSIONS A WEEK AND WERE PAID FOR PARTICIPATION. TREATMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDED RECORDED PERSONAL INTERVIEWS, GROUP DISCUSSIONS, MODELING AND ROLE PLAY IN INTERPERSONAL PROBLEM SITUATIONS, GROUP DISCUSSION OF MORAL DILEMMAS, BEHAVIORAL CONTRACTING, AND OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT. VYR WAS JUDGED EFFECTIVE ON THE BASIS OF COURT RECORDS AND PRE- AND POST-TESTING ON A NUMBER OF COGNITIVE VARIABLES.