THREE SPEAKERS - THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU - GROUP IN BOSTON, A PROSECUTING ATTORNEY FROM FLINT, MICHIGAN, AND A TEXAS DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT JUDGE - ANALYZE EXISTING DIVERSION PRACTICES. ISSUES CONSIDERED INCLUDE WHAT HAPPENS TO JUVENILES WHO FAIL TO APPEAR OR PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY IN DIVERSION PROGRAMS, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE JUVENILES WHO ARE DIVERTED, AND THE NEED FOR AND VALUE OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS. THE DIVERSE DIVERSIONARY PRACTICES NOTED INCLUDE REFERRAL TO YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS, INFORMAL PROBATION, AND A WARNING DISPOSITION PROGRAM, IN WHICH YOUTHS ARE ISSUED WARNINGS IN LIEU OF BEING TAKEN IN TO CUSTODY. AN ANAYSIS OF SOME PREVAILING ATTITUDES AND FUNCTIONING OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS IN RHODE ISLAND CITES LESS FORMAL PRACTICES SUCH AS THE 'STATIONHOUSE ADJUSTMENT'. A CASE HISTORY DESCRIBES HOW THE HARRIS COUNTY (HOUSTON) IMPROVED ITS JUVENILE COURT INTAKE PROCEDURES THROUGH STANDARDIZATION AND BY HOUSING REPRESENTATIVES OF COMMUNITY RESOURCE AGENCIES WITHIN THE JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICES. OTHER TOPICS EMPHASIZED ARE THE KEY ROLE OF INTAKE PERSONNEL IN DIVERTING THOSE WHO DO NOT BELONG IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE NEED FOR A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE JUVENILE COURT. FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES, SEE NCJ-38813-18....ELW