PROCEDURES USED BY THE MVU INCLUDE (1) VERTICAL PROSECUTION, WHEREBY A SINGLE PROSECUTOR HANDLES A CASE THROUGH ALL OF ITS STAGES; (2) REDUCED STAFF CASELOADS TO ENABLE PROSECUTORS TO PAY GREATER ATTENTION TO EACH CASE; (3) REDUCED USE OF PLEA BARGAINING; (4) POLICY OF RECOMMENDING SEVERE SENTENCES FOR CONVICTED DEFENDANTS; AND (5) EMPLOYMENT OF EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS. THE UNIT, INITIATED IN 1975 AND FUNDED BY LEAA'S CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM, RECEIVES CASES FROM THE 13 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, ALTHOUGH PRIMARY SOURCES OF CASES ARE THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNTY SHERRIFF'S OFFICE. COMPONENTS OF THE UNIT'S OPERATION ARE INITIAL CASE INTAKE, CASE SCREENING AND ACCEPTANCE, THE DETERMINATION OF CHARACTERISTICS OF DEFENDANTS PROCESSED BY THE MVU, AND CASE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES. THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE MVU MEETS CRITERIA FOR EXEMPLARY PROJECT SELECTION IS ANALYZED WITH REGARD TO MEASURABILITY, GOAL ACHIEVEMENT, EFFICIENCY, REPLICABILITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY. PROJECT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ARE NOTED. SUPPORTING FIGURES AND TABLES ARE PROVIDED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN FURTHER INFORMATION ON EXEMPLARY PROJECT SUBMISSION MATERIALS OF THE MVU IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND ON PROJECT OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS, AS WELL AS CAREER CRIMINAL CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA FOR A ROBBERY DEFENDANT AND DATA ON GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CAREER CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS. (DEP)