AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT WAS HIRED TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM AND THUS DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM AND ITS MERIT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION. THE CONSULTANT ALSO IDENTIFIED SUCCESSFUL ELEMENTS OF P&R CENTER PROGRAMS FOR CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION AND POSSIBLE TRANSFER TO OTHER CENTERS AND MADE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE THREE PRESENT PROGRAMS AS WELL AS GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR OVERALL IMPROVEMENT. EVALUATION TASKS WERE TO (1) DEVELOP DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS/ EVALUATOR COORDINATION; (2) DEVELOP A P&R CENTER EVALUATION PLAN; (3) MEET WITH DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS' PROGRAM STAFF; (4) REVISIT CENTERS; (5) OBTAIN AND ANALYZE DATA RUNS; AND (6) DOCUMENT EVALUATION RESULTS. THIS REPORT INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF THE OVERALL PROGRAM HISTORY, A DISCUSSION OF THREE CENTERS, PROFILES OF CENTER PARTICIPANTS, AND A REVIEW OF MANAGEMENT ELEMENTS AND SYSTEMS AS THEY DIFFER FOR EACH CENTER. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ARE REVIEWED, AND DATA AND OBSERVATIONS ARE COMPILED IN THE OPERATIONAL AREAS OF INTAKE, RELEASES, RESIDENT CHARGES, RESIDENT EARNING, AND CENTER COSTS COMPARED TO OTHER PROGRAMS. CONCLUSIONS ARE SUMMARIZED IN THE AREAS OF REFERRAL AND INTAKE, RELEASES, JOB PLACEMENT AND EARNINGS, RESIDENT CHARGES, AND COUNSELING STRUCTURE. ACHIEVEMENTS ARE ALSO SUMMARIZED, AND AN APPENDIX CONTAINS THE PROCEDURE WHICH HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR MEASUREMENT OF RECIDIVISM OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. CHARTS, GRAPHS, AND TABULAR DATA ACCOMPANY THE TEXT. (WJR)