FROM 1971 TO 1975, THE NUMBER OF JUVENILES REFERRED TO THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT INCREASED BY 172 PERCENT. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE REFERRALS INVOLVED IN SHOPLIFTING INCREASED FROM 12.9 TO 20.5 PERCENT. IN EARLY 1977, THE DEPARTMENT BEGAN TO DEVELOP A SHOPLIFTING EDUCATION PROGRAM AIMED AT ACQUAINTING JUVENILES AND THEIR PARENTS WITH THE LEGAL AND FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF SHOPLIFTING, AND AT INFORMING MERCHANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES OF THE WORKINGS OF THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM AND THE ALTERNATIVES FOR HANDLING JUVENILES WHO ARE CAUGHT SHOPLIFTING. THE COUNTY'S DELINQUENCY PREVENTION COMMISSION FUNDED AND PRINTED 5,000 PAMPHLETS ON SHOPLIFTING, WHICH WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT'S DIVERSION UNIT. THE DEPARTMENT RECRUITED SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS WITH PARENTS GROUPS, SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, AND SCHOOLS, AND SOUGHT OUT AUDIOVISUAL AIDS FOR ITS PRESENTATIONS. EVENTUALLY THE DEPARTMENT DEVELOPED ITS OWN SLIDE SHOW CENTERING ON A TYPICAL SHOPLIFTING INCIDENT. A PUBLICITY AND INFORMATION CAMPAIGN WAS MOUNTED CONSISTING OF NEWS RELEASES, AND LETTERS TO MERCHANTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. ALTHOUGH IT IS TOO EARLY TO EVALUATE THE ANTISHOPLIFTING PROGRAM CONCLUSIVELY, THE INCIDENCE OF SHOPLIFTING HAS DECLINED FROM 20.5 PERCENT OF JUVENILE PROBATION REFERRALS IN 1975 TO 12.9 PERCENT IN 1977. A SIMILAR PROGRAM, AIMED AT VANDALISM, IS BEING DEVELOPED. (LKM)