THE PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED TO REDUCE COSTS AND TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR DEALING WITH YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WHILE ADDING TANGIBLE CONSEQUENCES TO PROBATION. THE ILLINOIS JUVENILE COURT ACT ALLOWS THE ORDERING OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AS A CONDITION OF PROBATION OR COURT SUPERVISION; THE WORK MUST BE PERFORMED FOR A GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. FIRST OFFENDERS CAN PARTICIPATE VOLUNTARILY IN THE PROGRAM IN LIEU OF FORMAL COURT PROCEEDINGS BY SIGNING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE INTAKE OFFICER OF COURT SERVICES. IN SUCH CASES, YOUTHS AND THEIR PARENTS ALSO AGREE TO COOPERATE WITH THE ASSIGNED COURT OFFICER BY ATTENDING ANY PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES WHICH HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS. THE COOPERATION OF PARTICIPANTS CAN BE ENFORCED THROUGH CONTEMPT OF COURT PROCEEDINGS. AN ALTERNATIVE TO PLACEMENT IN CHILDCARE FACILITIES, THE PROGRAM MAKES OFFENDERS MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ADHERING TO THEIR PROBATION ORDERS, ALLOWS THEM TO LEARN HOW TO GET ALONG IN THE COMMUNITY IN A LAW-ABIDING MANNER AND TO GAIN SOME FEELING OF SELF-WORTH, PROVIDES VALUABLE COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK, AND GIVES THE PUBLIC THE CHANCE TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN DEALING WITH YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS. FUNDING INFORMATION, A REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS, AND AN APPENDIX CONTAINING SAMPLE FORMS AND LIABILITY INFORMATION ARE INCLUDED.