CRIME IS EMPLOYMENT, AND REASONS FOR CHOOSING IT AS A TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT JOB VARY LITTLE FROM THE REASONS FOR ANYONE'S CHOICE OF WORK. FOR THE OFFENDER, THERE ARE THREE PRIMARY ANSWERS TO THE 'WHY DID YOU DO IT' QUESTION: (1) 'WHY NOT?' (2) 'I NEEDED THE MONEY.' (3) 'IT'S THE THING I DO BEST.' MOST PEOPLE, WHEN ASKED WHY THEY DO THE WORK THEY DO, WOULD ANSWER FROM ONE OR MORE OF THESE SAME PERSPECTIVES. PROGRAMS THAT ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE NONCRIMINAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BY COMMITTING A CRIME MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LIFE EXPERIENCES AND SELF-PERCEPTIONS THAT ARE AT THE HEART OF THIS ATTITUDE. PROGRAMS MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE THE POSITION OF OFFENDERS WHO SEE THEIR BEHAVIOR AS PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE AND WHO ARE RESENTFUL OF SOCIETY'S DEFINING THEIR ACTS AS CRIMINAL. MANY OFFENDERS VIEW CRIME IN STRICTLY ECONOMIC TERMS: AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL WAYS (CREDIT CARDS, LOANS, SECOND MORTGAGES, ETC.) OF OBTAINING GOODS WHEN ONE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THE MONEY. CRIME REDUCTION EFFORTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THAT ENGENDER THIS ATTITUDE. PROGRAMS THAT ATTEMPT TO OFFER EMPLOYMENT ALTERNATIVES TO PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS MUST REALIZE THAT THESE OFFENDERS OFTEN HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME MEASURE OF SUCCESS AND SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH THEIR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND ARE NOT LIKELY TO RESPOND TO EMPLOYMENT ALTERNATIVES THAT OFFER FEW REWARDS. CRIME CAN BEST BE PREVENTED, REDUCED, OR CONTROLLED IF VIEWED -- AS IT IS BY MANY OFFENDERS -- AS A FORM OF EMPLOYMENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)