THE OUTREACH DETENTION PROGRAM IS AN EXPERIMENTAL ALTERNATIVE TO SECURE DETENTION AND IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE VERY CLOSE SUPERVISION TO A SELECTED PORTION OF THE DETENTION HOME POPULATION; I.E., THOSE WHO ARE ALLOWED TO LIVE IN THEIR OWN OR A SURROGATE HOME PENDING A DISPOSITION BY A COURT OF CHARGES THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED AGAINST THEM. THE SECOND-YEAR PROGRAM WAS EXTENDED FOR A 15-MONTH PERIOD, FROM APRIL 1973 TO JUNE 1974. DURING THIS TIME, 24 OF A TOTAL 204 YOUTHS WHO WERE TERMINATED FAILED TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM; 18 YOUTHS WERE CHARGED WITH NEW OFFENSES, AND 6 RAN FROM SUPERVISION AND DID NOT SHOW UP FOR THEIR COURT HEARINGS. ALTOGETHER 223 YOUTHS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE OUTREACH DETENTION PROGRAM DURING THE 15-MONTH PERIOD, 19 OF THOSE WERE STILL ACTIVE CASES AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM YEAR. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OUTREACH DETENTION OPERATED AT 56.43 PERCENT OF ITS POTENTIAL CAPACITY. THIS TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THAT SERVICE WAS GRANTED TO ONE OUTREACH CITY ON NOVEMBER 1, 1973; PRIOR TO GRANTING SERVICE TO THAT AREA, PROGRAM CAPACITY WAS LESS THAN 50 PERCENT. THE COST PER DAY FOR CHILDCARE IN THE PROGRAM WAS COMPUTED TO $8.23 COMPARED TO APPROXIMATELY $28 PER DAY IN THE PARENT DETENTION CENTER; THE LATTER FIGURE DOES NOT INCLUDE EXPENSES FOR BUILDING DEPRECIATION AND MAINTENANCE. THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND THE AGENCIES WITH WHICH THE PROGRAM HAS FREQUENT CONTACT, APPEAR TO HOLD THE PROGRAM IN HIGH ESTEEM. OTHER YOUTH SERVICE AGENCIES ARE QUICK TO CONTACT THE OUTREACH WORKERS ABOUT YOUTHS ON THE PROGRAM WITH WHOM THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTIES. EXTENSIVE TABLES SUPPLEMENT THIS EVALUATION.