A CASE STUDY IS CITED TO DEMONSTRATE HOW A RECURRING PATTERN OF POLICE CONTACTS, ARRESTS, AND COURT APPEARANCES CAN TURN YOUTHS WITH PROBLEMS INTO CRIMINALS. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT MANY OF THE YOUTHS WHO PROGRESS THROUGH THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING 'REALLY BAD' AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR LEADING PRODUCTIVE LIVES IF GIVEN A CHANCE. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THE PLIGHT OF STATUS OFFENDERS (ESPECIALLY FEMALES) WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. PRETRIAL DIVERSION IS DESCRIBED AS A WAY OF POSTPONING THE USUAL PROGRESSION THROUGH THE COURT SEQUENCE SO THAT THE OFFENDER CAN BEGIN TO REASSESS AND REARRANGE HIS OR HER LIFE. PROJECT CROSSROADS, A WASHINGTON, D.C., DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON FINDING JOBS FOR FIRST OFFENDERS, IS DESCRIBED. PROJECT CROSSROADS, BEGUN IN 1968 AS A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT, IS PART OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C., COURT SYSTEM. SIXTY-TWO PERCENT OF PROJECT CROSSROADS PARTICIPANTS ASK FOR AND RECEIVE CASE DISMISSALS BY THE COURT. THE PROJECT'S RECIDIVISM RATE (CASES RETURNED TO COURT ON REARREST CHARGES) IS 22.2 PERCENT. A BALTIMORE, MD., PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROJECT THAT EMPHASIZES COUNSELING IS ALSO NOTED, AS ARE YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS, REFERRAL AGENCIES FOUND IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. (LKM)