THE PROGRAM CALLED THE POSITIVE APPROACHES FOR SEX OFFENDERS (PASO), BEGAN OPERATION IN 1972. UNTIL 1975 IT PROVIDED SERVICE TO SOME 300 SEX OFFENDERS. ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE REFERRALS CAME FROM THE COURTS OR PROBATION/PAROLE SYSTEMS. AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM'S FIRST YEAR, IT HAD A RECIDIVISM RATE OF FIVE PERCENT. THIS ROSE TO 11 PERCENT AT THE END OF THE THIRD YEAR. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM WAS TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION FOR SEX OFFENDERS. A RANGE OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES INTERFACED WITH PASO MAKING IT A SUCCESS. THE PROGRAM WAS OPERATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO....BS