THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM WERE TO REDUCE TRUANCY RECIDIVISM AS WELL AS JUVENILE CONTACTS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THIS REPORT CONSTITUTES THE PROJECT DIRECTOR'S RESPONSE TO A PROGRAM FIELD REVIEW AND EVALUATION CONDUCTED IN APRIL 1974. DISPUTED ARE THE CONTENTIONS THAT PROGRAM CONTACT DID NOT LEAD TO A DECREASE IN TRUANCY AND SERIOUS COURT REFERRALS AND THAT THE ROLE OF THE PROJECT STAFF APPEARED TO BE TO PHYSICALLY RETURN A YOUTH TO SCHOOL AND IMPRESS UPON HIM THE FACT THAT IF HE IS TRUANT, HE WILL BE PICKED UP BY THE POLICE. IT IS CONTENDED THAT THE FIRST CONCLUSION IS PREMATURE CONSIDERING THE SHORT DURATION OF THE PROGRAM AND THAT OBSERVATION OF A YOUTH'S PROCESSING THROUGH THE CENTER DOES NOT FULLY REPRESENT STAFF EFFORTS, SINCE MOST OCCUR OUTSIDE THE CENTER SUBSEQUENT TO THE YOUTH'S APPREHENSION. A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN, IN REALITY AN ITEM-BY-ITEM RESPONSE TO EVALUATION REPORT CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, COMPLETES THIS REPORT. FOR THE PROJECT FIELD REVIEW AND EVALUATION, SEE NCJ-36496.