ANOTHER OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO EDUCATE CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS ABOUT THE WORKINGS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ITS COMPONENTS. SINCE 1970, THE PROJECT'S COMMUNITY PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AT NINE SITES FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO NEW YORK. THIS PROGRAM EVALUATION ASSESSES THE PROGRAM IMPACT AND PERFORMANCE, IDENTIFIES PROGRAM STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES, ANALYZES ACTIVITIES AND POLICIES, AND RECOMMENDS FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. STUDY FINDINGS INDICATED THAT, IN FIVE YEARS, THE OFFENDER AID AND RESTORATION (OAR) PROJECT HAD GROWN FROM A LOCAL VOLUNTEER EFFORT IN VIRGINIA COMMUNITIES TO A NATIONAL PROGRAM IN SIX STATES. DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMMING (EACH COMMUNITY PROGRAM DETERMINES ITS OWN PROGRAM EMPHASIS) IS CITED AS THE BASIC STRENGTH OF OAR. EQUIVALENT ONE-TO-ONE SERVICES PROVIDED BY PAID PAROLE, PROBATION, OR INSTITUTIONAL COUNSELORS/WAS SHOWN TO COST OVER FOUR TIMES THE AMOUNT ($250) EXPENDED BY OAR. CLIENT AND VOLUNTEER SATISFACTION WITH THE PROGRAM WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE HIGH. OAR CLIENTS PERFORMED BETTER AT A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OVER THE FIRST 18 MONTHS AFTER RELEASE FROM INSTITUTIONS THAN DID A COMPARISON GROUP OF PROBATIONERS AND PAROLEES. HOWEVER, BEYOND THAT TIME, RECIDIVISM RATES WERE THE SAME. IT IS CONCLUDED OVERALL THAT OAR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ARE ACHIEVING THEIR OBJECTIVES AND ARE AFFECTING THEIR COMMUNITIES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS.