A SURVEY OF RESIDENTS OF SOUTH BEND REGARDING THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE FEAR OF CRIME IS SUMMARIZED. THOSE RESIDENTS OF DETERIORATING NEIGHBORHOODS GENRERALLY IDENTIFIED JUVENILE OFFENDERS AS THE CAUSE OF THE GREATEST FEAR. MAJOR CRIME TRENDS FOR THE AREA FOR 1970 TO 1975 IN BOTH ADULT AND JUVENILE CRIME ARE OUTLINED, AND THE LOCAL JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED. THE MAIN FINDINGS OF THE LOCAL RESEARCH WERE THAT: (1) 30 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS THOUGHT THE CRIME RATE WAS INCREASING (IN FACT, IT HAD BEEN DECREASING PRIOR TO THE STUDY); (2) 48 PERCENT SAID THAT THERE WERE AREAS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY WOULD BE AFRAID TO WALK AT NIGHT; (3) 75 PERCENT OF ALL CRIME COMMITTED IN THE SOUTH BEND AREA WAS COMMITTED BY JUVENILES; (4) THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADES COMPRISE THE PERIOD WHEN A JUVENILE BEGINS TO ENTER THE OFFENSE SYNDROME; AND (5) ALMOST 50 PERCENT OF THE REFERRALS TO THE COURT WERE JUVENILES WHO CAME FROM FAMILIES WITHOUT BOTH NATURAL PARENTS. RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE RESEARCH FOCUS ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE PREVENTION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND INCLUDE: (1) ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT CRIME SHOULD BE TURNED TOWARD THE JUVENILE SEGMENT OF SOCIETY; (2) NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE THE FOCAL POINTS OF A COALITION OF EXISTING YOUTH SERVICE AGENCIES TO FIGHT CRIME AS A JUVENILE PHENOMENON THROUGH BOTH PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS; (3) STAFF AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES SHOULD BE DECENTRALIZED AND FOCUSED ON CLUSTERS OF NEIGHBORHOODS; (4) A YOUTH SUPPORT CLEARINGHOUSE SHOULD BE CREATED TO COORDINATE EXISTING PROGRAMS AND TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING SPECIFIC PLANNING PROJECTS; (5) MORE INTENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES SHOULD BE OFFERED TO JUVENILES; AND (6) MALE JUVENILES WITH PREVIOUS REFERRALS, FROM HOMES WITHOUT BOTH NATURAL PARENTS, SHOULD BE THE TARGET FOR TREATMENT PROGRAMS. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING CITY PROGRAMS ARE MADE. DATA OBTAINED FROM THE RESEARCH ARE PROVIDED. APPENDIXES INCLUDE BIBLIOGRAPHIES ON THE FEAR OF CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION PROGRAMS, AND PROGRAMS OF EDUCATIONAL REFORM. A LIST OF RESEARCH MATERIALS AND THEIR LOCAL SOURCES, AND GRAPHS OF EACH CATEGORY OF THE TOTAL CRIME INDEX FOR SOUTH BEND, 1970 TO 1975, ARE ALSO PROVIDED. (VDA)