THE STUDY IS BASED ON 1-1/2 YEARS OF INTENSIVE FIELD RESEARCH COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 1977. PROGRAM EXAMPLES INCLUDE: COURT WATCHING, CITIZEN-BAND RADIO PATROLS, A NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME REPORTING PROGRAM CALLED WHISTLE STOP, 'BLOCK MOTHERS,' YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS, VICTIM/WITNESS ADVOCACY, RAPE CRISIS CENTERS, POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS FOR VICTIMS AND EX-OFFENDERS. THE STUDY GROUP FOUND THAT, WHERE THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAVE NOT MADE ADEQUATE PROGRESS AGAINST PRESSING CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROBLEMS, CITIZENS HAVE INITIATED THEIR OWN MEASURES AND HAVE, IN EFFECT, BECOME A 'FOURTH POWER' IN THE TRADITIONAL THREE-WAY GOVERNMENTAL BALANCE OF POWERS. THIS EFFORT IS BASED ON LITERATURE REVIEW, INTERVIEWS WITH MORE THAN 400 CITIZEN GROUP PARTICIPANTS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OFFICIALS, AND 18 IN-DEPTH STUDIES. THE RESULT IS AN ORIGINAL TYPOLOGY OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PROGRAMS BASED ON THEIR GOALS, TARGETS, AND TACTICS AND ON DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE OPERATIONS OF THESE PROGRAMS, PLUS THE OBSTACLES THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED AND THE SOLUTIONS THEY HAVE FOUND. THE STUDY ALSO EXPLORES THE HISTORY OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC MATTERS IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE COLONIAL DAYS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).