IN ADDITION TO REVIEWING HOW INTAKE SCREENING GENERALLY OPERATES, THE FIRST SECTION PRESENTS THE ADVANTAGES THAT SCREENING OFFERS AND DESCRIBES THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE IN IMPLEMENTING SCREENING, TOGETHER WITH ATTENDANT POLICY CONSIDERATIONS. CHANGES IN MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO ACCOMMODATE A PROSECUTOR SCREENING PROGRAM ARE SUGGESTED. THE SECOND SECTION OF THE REPORT DEALS SPECIFICALLY WITH INTAKE SCREENING AS IT WOULD RELATE TO THE SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT, CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATIVE JURISDICTION. THE INFORMATION GATHERED IN SPRINGFIELD AND THE PROCEDURES RECOMMENDED FOR IT ARE INTENDED TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN THE STATE. INCLUDED IS STATISTICAL DOCUMENTATION OF THE FLOW OF UNSCREENED CASES THROUGH THE DISTRICT COURT AND THE HAMPDEN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT FOR A SELECTED PERIOD OF TIME. THE ATTENDANT WITNESS COST FOR THESE CASES IS ALSO DETAILED. THESE FIGURES ARE CONSIDERED TO PROVIDE A BASE LINE AGAINST WHICH THE SUCCESS OF ANY SUBSEQUENT SCREENING PROGRAM CAN BE MEASURED. A PROPOSED PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING SCREENING IN THE SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT IS PRESENTED, WHICH INCLUDES A BUDGET, AN OUTLINE OF AN OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL, AND EXAMPLES OF THE FORMS THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO CONDUCT A SCREENING OPERATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)