THE BRITISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT OF 1972 ESTABLISHED THE DAY TRAINING CENTER BY PROVIDING THAT A MAXIMUM 60-DAY TRAINING PERIOD COULD BE INCLUDED IN A PROBATION ORDER, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PROBATION OFFICER AND A TRAINING CENTER STAFF. THE INNER LONDON PROBATION AND AFTER CARE SERVICE (ILPAS) PROPOSED THAT THE CENTER GIVE PREFERENCE TO CLIENTS NOT YET SEVERELY INSTITUTIONALIZED OR ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, HELP CLIENTS IMPROVE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL SKILLS, AND ENCOURAGE CLIENT DISCIPLINE AND CONTROL THROUGH SMALL GROUP WORK, TASK COMPLETION, AND PROBLEMSOLVING. OF THE 275 CLIENTS WHO HAVE TAKEN PART, 25 ARE WOMEN. HALF HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY DEALING WITH LIFE PROBLEMS AND ARE LIKELY TO REAPPEAR IN COURT AS PETTY OFFENDERS; ANOTHER LARGE GROUP ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS WANTING TO SETTLE DOWN; A THIRD AND SMALLER GROUP, NOT YET IN PRISON, HAVE PROBLEMS REQUIRING INTENSIVE INTERVENTION. MOST OF THE MEN ARE IN THEIR LATE 20'S WITH AN AVERAGE OF 12 PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS. THE WOMEN ARE SLIGHTLY YOUNGER, INVOLVED IN LESS SERIOUS OFFENSES SUCH AS SHOPLIFTING AND DRUG ABUSE, AND HAVE HAD MORE DEPRIVED AND CHAOTIC CHILDHOODS. THE CENTER PROGRAM EMPHASIZES WORKING OUT OF INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS OR AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PROBATION OFFICER AND CLIENT; ATTENDING SMALL GROUP SESSIONS WHICH MEET UP TO 12 TIMES A WEEK, EXPRESSING FEELINGS THAT HAVE LONG BEEN SUPPRESSED, THROUGHT MUSIC AND DRAWING; AND ADJUSTING TO LEAVING. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO HELP CLIENTS UNDERSTAND THEIR BEHAVIOR AND USE NEW WAYS OF WORKING AND LIVING WITH PEOPLE. TO THIS END, THEY ATTEND SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING AND LITERACY CLASSES, PLAN FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND DO WORK IN THE CENTER. THE FUTURE OF TRAINING CENTERS WILL DEPEND ON PUBLIC BALANCING OF ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON AND A WILLINGNESS TO PAY THE ADDITIONAL COSTS. (AOP)