CONCENTRATION ON CAREER CRIMINALS, UTILIZING THE MULTIPLE OFFENDERS LAW, HAS RESULTED IN A CONVICTION RATE OF 92.6 PERCENT FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS, WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF CRIMES. THIS POLICY IS CREDITED WITH HELPING NEW ORLEANS' CRIME RATE DROP 15-30 PERCENT (DEPENDING ON CATEGORY) BETWEEN 1974 AND 1976. A SPECIAL DIVISION CONCENTRATED ON ECONOMIC CRIME AND ANOTHER WAS SET UP IN DECEMBER 1976 TO HANDLE SHOPLIFTERS. A CHILD PROTECTION UNIT HAS BEEN SET UP TO ENCOURAGE REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE CASES. THE 3-YEAR-OLD DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM CONCENTRATES ON RESTITUTION TO THE VICTIM AND PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE FOR NONVIOLENT FIRST OFFENDERS. A RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE PROGRAM HAS ENABLED POOR DEFENDANTS TO BE RELEASED PENDING TRIAL WITHOUT CASH OR SURETY BOND; ONLY 16 FAILED TO REPORT OF 1000 RELEASED. IN 1975, WITH LEAA FUNDS, A SPECIAL VICTIM AND WITNESS SERVICE BUREAU WAS ESTABLISHED; ITS PURPOSE IS TO EXPLAIN COURT PROCEEDINGS, HELP VICTIMS OBTAIN SPEEDY RETURN OF PROPERTY, AND NOTIFY THESE CITIZENS OF COURT DELAYS AND OUTCOME OF THE TRIAL. IN 1976, THIS DIVISION HELPED 12,000 WITNESSES.