THE YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM (YSP) BEGAN HANDLING CASES IN 1973. GEARED TO YOUTHS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 16, THE PROGRAM GAVE THE POLICE AN ALTERNATIVE TO COURT OR PARENTAL RELEASE FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS. THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THE YSP, THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM (FOP), AND THE COUNSELING UNIT. THE FOP CONSISTS OF A LECTURE/ AWARENESS PROGRAM, WHILE THE COUNSELING PROGRAM IS FOR MORE SERIOUS OFFENDERS, SUCH AS REPEATERS. DURING THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF OPERATION, 2,282 YOUTHS WERE REFERRED TO THE FOP. THERE WERE 1,084 REFERRALS TO THE COUNSELING UNIT. THE PROGRAM REDUCED REFERRALS TO THE COUNTY JUVENILE DEPARTMENT BY 7.2 PERCENT. THESE RESULTS, THE AUTHOR BELIEVES, ARE SIGNIFICANT....BS