PROJECT ASSIST WAS PART OF A RESEARCH PROGRAM CONDUCTED BY THE WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF PSYCHIATRY TO STUDY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OLDER PEOPLE AND THE WASHINGTON D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT. PROJECT ASSIST WAS DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE THE UTILITY OF SOCIAL SERVICE PERSONNEL TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHILE DISCOVERING AT THE SAME TIME THE DIMENSIONS OF VICTIMIZATIONS OF THE ELDERLY AND THE ELDERLY'S USE OF THE POLICE AS A 'SOCIAL SERVICE' AGENCY. THREE METHODS OF OBTAINING CASES WERE UTILIZED IN PROJECT ASSIST: DIRECT REFERRALS FROM THE POLICE STATION OF WALK-IN CLIENTS; REFERRAL OF CASES FROM POLICE CASE REPORTS; AND REQUESTS FOR HELP FOR THE ELDERLY BY CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS. PROJECT ASSIST STAFF USED BOTH TELEPHONES AND HOME VISITS TO CONTACT POTENTIAL CLIENTS AND TO OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE PROJECT SERVED 220 CLIENTS IN ITS SEVEN MONTHS OF DIRECT SERVICES. THE MOST COMMON NON-CRIME PROBLEM WAS PHYSICAL ILLNESS. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLIENTS SERVED ARE REVIEWED, AND IMPLICATIONS OF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT ARE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED....DMC