THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCREENING/INTAKE FUNCTION IN JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAMS IS STRESSED. THE CRITICAL DECISION MADE AT THIS LEVEL AFFECTS THE INDIVIDUAL'S FUTURE AS WELL AS THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY. THE IMPACT OF JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAMS IS TWO-FOLD. IT RESULTS IN A SIZEABLE SAVING OF PUBLIC FUNDS, AND IT RELIEVES MUCH OF THE OVERCROWDING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE COURTS. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER FOR VOLUNTEERS IN COURTS DEFINES THE VOLUNTEER AS ONE WHO OFFERS HIS SERVICES WITHOUT PAY OR PROFIT. EXPENSES CAN BE REIMBURSED, HOWEVER, AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR TO CONSIDER IF YOUTH AND MINORITIES ARE TO BE USED IN THE PROGRAM. VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS DO COST MONEY (ABOUT $1.07 PER HOUR PER VOLUNTEER), BUT THEY CAN BE SET UP AND OPERATING MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN PROGRAMS USING PAID PROFESSIONALS. VOLUNTEERS ARE NON-COERCIVE BY NATURE, AND THEY CAN BE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE. CURRENTLY, THE AVERAGE DIVERSION PROGRAM USES ABOUT 50 VOLUNTEERS, WITH 1 VOLUNTEER PER 15 DIVERTEES. THE RATIO SHOULD BE ONE TO TWO. MOST REFERRALS COME TO JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAMS FROM COURTS, POLICE, SCHOOLS, PARENTS, AND SELF-REFERRALS IN THAT ORDER. MOST VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS HAVE A MULTIPLE FUNDING BASE. HOWEVER, 80 PERCENT OF THE MONEY COMES FROM PUBLIC FUNDS, AND MOST OF THAT COMES FROM LEAA. FOR MORE TAPES IN THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ-38832-35....PLO